African public health professionals can now apply for the Africa CDC Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM) Fellowship 2026 – Cohort III, a prestigious six-month residential training programme designed to strengthen Africa’s capacity to detect, prepare for, and respond to public health emergencies.
The fellowship, implemented by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), aims to build a highly skilled workforce capable of leading emergency preparedness and response systems across African Union Member States.
The programme forms part of the Africa Health Security and Sovereignty (AHSS) Agenda, which seeks to develop a sustainable public health workforce and strengthen emergency management systems across the continent.
Applications are open to mid-career public health professionals working within government institutions across Africa, and the deadline to apply is 31 March 2026.
About the Africa CDC Public Health Emergency Management Fellowship
The Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM) Fellowship is designed to equip African professionals with the technical knowledge and practical experience needed to coordinate responses to major public health threats such as disease outbreaks, pandemics, and environmental health emergencies.
Through specialized training, mentorship, and field placements, the fellowship prepares participants to lead Public Health Emergency Operations Centers (PHEOCs) and manage emergency preparedness programmes within their home countries.
The programme seeks to:
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Develop a skilled African workforce capable of leading public health emergency response systems
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Provide advanced training in public health emergency management
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Strengthen knowledge of Public Health Emergency Operations Centers (PHEOCs)
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Build leadership and coordination skills for managing public health emergencies
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Support the development of sustainable emergency management systems across Africa
Benefits of the Africa CDC PHEM Fellowship
The Africa CDC-funded fellowship provides fellows with a comprehensive learning experience combining technical training, mentorship, and practical field exposure.
Selected fellows will receive:
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Six months of specialized training in public health emergency management
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Hands-on experience in Public Health Emergency Operations Centers
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Mentorship from global experts in emergency preparedness and response
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Study tours to emergency management centres within Africa and internationally
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Field placements in public health emergency response settings
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Networking opportunities with public health leaders across Africa
The fellowship also provides participants with exposure to global best practices in emergency preparedness and response systems.
Fellowship Structure
The PHEM Fellowship is a six-month full-time residential programme requiring full commitment from selected fellows.
For Cohort III, training will take place at two Africa CDC training sites:
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Africa CDC Headquarters – Ethiopia
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Southern Regional Collaborative Centre – Zambia
The programme consists of four main phases.
1. Classroom Training (14 Weeks)
Fellows will participate in intensive in-person training sessions focused on emergency preparedness, outbreak management, and public health emergency coordination.
Participants will also be paired with experienced mentors to support their professional development.
2. Study Tours (2 Weeks)
Fellows will visit:
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One Public Health Emergency Operations Centre in Africa
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One Public Health Emergency Operations Centre outside Africa
These study tours provide exposure to global emergency response systems and best practices.
3. Field Placement (4 Weeks)
Participants will work directly within Public Health Emergency Operations Centres and emergency response programmes, gaining hands-on experience in managing real-world public health emergencies.
4. Project Completion and Graduation (4 Weeks)
The final phase includes project completion, programme evaluations, and graduation.
After completing the fellowship, participants will return to their home countries to strengthen national public health emergency management systems and support emergency preparedness initiatives.
Who Should Apply
The fellowship targets mid-level public health professionals currently working in emergency preparedness and response within government institutions.
Professionals working in the following fields are encouraged to apply:
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Public health
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Medicine
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One Health
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Health economics
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Health policy
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Animal health
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Environmental health
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Logistics and supply chain
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Emergency operations management
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
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Be citizens of an African Union Member State
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Be 50 years old or younger by 31 July 2026
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Hold a postgraduate degree in public health or a related field
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Have relevant experience in public health or emergency response programmes
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Be a full-time government employee working in a public health institution
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Demonstrate the ability to implement public health emergency management programmes in their home countries
Selection Process
The selection process will be merit-based and conducted by an independent committee consisting of experts from:
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African Union Commission
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Africa CDC
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Technical partner organizations
The fellowship follows an equal opportunity approach to ensure balanced representation across African Union Member States.
Training site allocation will be determined by Africa CDC.
Priority Countries Encouraged to Apply
Applications are particularly encouraged from professionals in less represented African Union Member States, including:
Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Sahrawi Democratic Republic, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, South Africa, South Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, and Zambia.
Important Dates
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Application Deadline: 31 March 2026
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Notification of Successful Applicants: May 2026
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Programme Start Date: June 2026
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit their application through the official Africa CDC application portal.
Apply here:
https://impact.africacdc.org/form/phem-fellowship-cohort-iii
Applicants are encouraged to review the official fellowship brochure before applying.
Why This Fellowship Matters
Public health emergencies such as pandemics, disease outbreaks, and climate-related health crises require strong leadership and coordinated response systems.
The Africa CDC Public Health Emergency Management Fellowship plays a critical role in strengthening Africa’s health security by equipping professionals with the skills needed to lead national emergency preparedness and response programmes.
For public health professionals looking to advance their careers while contributing to stronger health systems across Africa, this fellowship offers a valuable opportunity for professional development and leadership.
Apply before 31 March 2026.
For more information, please download the brochures.
Application link: https://impact.africacdc.org/form/phem-fellowship-cohort-iii
