Youth NTDs Fellowship Cohort 2 2026: 12-Week Hybrid Fellowship for Young Leaders in Tanzania and Kenya
The Youth NTDs Fellowship Cohort 2 is now inviting applications from young people aged 18 to 35 who are interested in or have experience in neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), One Health, community engagement, advocacy, health systems, and related areas.
Organized by One Health Society (OHS), Tanzania, in partnership with the Global Alliance for NTDs Elimination (GANE), Kenya, the 12-week hybrid fellowship is designed to equip young leaders with practical knowledge, skills, mentorship, and opportunities to contribute to NTD elimination efforts.
The fellowship brings together young people who are interested in addressing NTD-related challenges and strengthening community and health-system responses. Participants will receive guidance from expert mentors and work collaboratively on team-based capstone projects.
Application Deadline: 25 September 2026
About the Youth NTDs Fellowship Cohort 2
The Youth NTDs Fellowship is a 12-week hybrid leadership and capacity-building programme focused on preparing young people to contribute meaningfully to efforts to eliminate neglected tropical diseases.
The programme combines learning, mentorship, practical skill development, community-focused approaches, and collaborative project work.
For Cohort 2, participants will have the opportunity to develop practical skills across several interconnected areas, including:
- One Health
- NTD elimination
- Community engagement
- Advocacy
- Health systems integration
- Solution development
Rather than focusing only on theoretical knowledge, the fellowship is structured to support young people in developing practical skills that can be applied to real-world NTD and One Health challenges.
The programme also provides participants with access to expert mentors and opportunities to work with other young leaders through team-based capstone projects.
What Are Neglected Tropical Diseases?
Neglected tropical diseases, commonly referred to as NTDs, are a group of diseases that disproportionately affect populations and communities facing conditions such as poverty and limited access to healthcare and other essential services.
Addressing NTDs requires more than medical interventions alone. Community participation, health-system strengthening, advocacy, awareness, prevention, and collaboration across different sectors can all contribute to effective disease elimination efforts.
This is why the Youth NTDs Fellowship incorporates a One Health approach, connecting human health with broader community and health-system considerations.
What Will the Fellowship Focus On?
The Youth NTDs Fellowship Cohort 2 is designed around several major areas of learning and practical development.
1. One Health
Participants will develop an understanding of the One Health approach, which recognizes the interconnected nature of health and the importance of collaboration across different sectors and disciplines.
This perspective can help young leaders understand NTD challenges within their wider community and health-system context.
2. NTD Elimination
The fellowship focuses specifically on neglected tropical disease elimination, helping participants strengthen their understanding of the challenges and approaches associated with NTD control and elimination.
Participants with existing experience or interest in NTDs can use the fellowship as an opportunity to deepen their engagement in this area.
3. Community Engagement
Community involvement is an important part of addressing NTD-related challenges.
The fellowship will equip young leaders with practical skills related to community engagement, helping them consider how communities can be meaningfully involved in health initiatives and solutions.
4. Advocacy
Participants will also develop skills in advocacy, enabling them to better understand how young people and community actors can contribute to raising awareness and supporting action around NTD-related issues.
5. Health Systems Integration
The programme also focuses on health systems integration, helping fellows understand how NTD-related interventions and solutions can connect with broader health systems.
This provides an opportunity for participants to consider NTD elimination from a wider health-system perspective rather than as an isolated issue.
6. Solution Development
A further focus of the fellowship is solution development.
Through collaborative activities and capstone projects, fellows will have an opportunity to apply their learning to practical challenges and work together to develop potential solutions.
Expert Mentorship and Capstone Projects
One of the key components of the fellowship is the combination of expert mentorship and team-based capstone projects.
Participants will be supported by expert mentors throughout the fellowship while working with other fellows on collaborative projects.
The capstone component provides an opportunity to move beyond learning and apply skills to practical challenges related to NTDs, One Health, community engagement, advocacy, health systems integration, or solution development.
Working in teams can also allow participants to learn from peers with different experiences and perspectives.
Fellowship Duration and Time Commitment
The Youth NTDs Fellowship Cohort 2 will run for 12 weeks.
The fellowship is structured as a hybrid programme, meaning participants will engage through a combination of formats as determined by the programme organizers.
Applicants should be prepared to commit approximately:
6–8 hours per week for 12 weeks.
This means applicants should consider their existing academic, professional, community, or other commitments before applying and ensure that they can dedicate the required time throughout the fellowship.
Who Should Apply?
The fellowship is intended for young people aged 18–35 from Tanzania and Kenya who have an interest or experience in areas related to:
- Neglected tropical diseases
- One Health
- Public health
- Community engagement
- Health advocacy
- Health systems
- Related fields
Applicants do not necessarily need to be established NTD specialists. The opportunity is aimed at young people who have an interest or experience in NTDs, One Health, or related fields and want to strengthen their skills and contribution in these areas.
Applicants Particularly Encouraged to Apply
The organizers particularly encourage applications from several groups, including:
Young People from NTD-Endemic Communities
Young people who come from communities affected by NTDs are especially encouraged to apply.
Their community experience can provide valuable perspectives on the challenges associated with NTDs and potential approaches to addressing them.
People With Lived Experience of NTDs
People with lived experience of neglected tropical diseases are also especially encouraged to apply.
Their direct experiences can contribute important perspectives to discussions around NTD elimination and community-focused solutions.
People With Disabilities
The fellowship particularly encourages applications from people with disabilities.
Women
Women are specifically encouraged to apply to the fellowship.
Community Actors
Young community actors with an interest or experience in NTDs, One Health, or related fields are also encouraged to apply.
Why Participate in the Youth NTDs Fellowship?
The fellowship offers young participants an opportunity to strengthen practical skills while engaging with other young leaders working around NTD and One Health-related issues.
Key areas of development include:
- Practical One Health skills
- Understanding of NTD elimination
- Community engagement approaches
- Advocacy skills
- Health systems integration
- Solution development
- Team-based project experience
- Mentorship from experts
- Exposure to other young people working in related areas
The combination of structured learning, mentorship, and a capstone project can provide participants with an opportunity to connect knowledge with practical application.
Application Deadline
The application deadline for the Youth NTDs Fellowship Cohort 2 is:
25 September 2026
Applicants should ensure that they submit their application by the stated deadline.
Because the deadline is approaching, eligible young people interested in the programme should review the requirements and prepare their application information in advance.
Important Information for Applicants
Applicants are asked to provide accurate information in the application form.
According to the fellowship announcement, the information provided will be used for purposes including:
- Selection
- Fellowship planning
- Mentorship
- Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL)
- Related programme purposes
Applicants should therefore ensure that the information they provide is complete and accurate.
How to Prepare for the Fellowship Application
Before applying, prospective fellows should consider the following:
- Confirm your age eligibility
Applicants should be between 18 and 35 years old. - Confirm your country eligibility
The fellowship is intended for young people from Tanzania and Kenya. - Review your relevant experience or interest
Consider your experience or interest in NTDs, One Health, public health, community engagement, advocacy, health systems, or related fields. - Consider your availability
The programme requires approximately 6–8 hours per week over 12 weeks. - Reflect on your community experience
Applicants can consider how their experiences, community involvement, or professional interests connect with NTDs and One Health. - Provide accurate information
Ensure that all information submitted through the application form is truthful and accurate. - Submit before the deadline
The deadline is 25 September 2026.
Conclusion
The Youth NTDs Fellowship Cohort 2 provides young people from Tanzania and Kenya with a structured 12-week opportunity to strengthen their knowledge and practical skills in One Health, neglected tropical disease elimination, community engagement, advocacy, health systems integration, and solution development.
Through expert mentorship and team-based capstone projects, the fellowship is designed to connect young leaders with practical experiences and collaborative learning.
Young people aged 18–35 with an interest or experience in NTDs, One Health, or related fields are encouraged to consider applying. The organizers particularly encourage applications from NTD-endemic communities, people with lived experience of NTDs and/or disability, women, and community actors.
With a commitment of 6–8 hours per week for 12 weeks, applicants should ensure they have sufficient availability to participate fully.
Application Deadline: 25 September 2026
Click HERE for more fellowship opportunities.
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