University of the West Indies

Climate Change and Health Leaders Fellowship Program

The European Union (EU) has funded a 5 year project aimed at Strengthening Climate Resilient Health Systems in the Caribbean. The project is being implemented by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and is bringing together 5 main sub-regional partners (including the UWI) working across 16 countries. The Project is aimed at improving climate and health systems, as well as human capacities, in the Caribbean.

For more information on the project please see the link PAHO Factsheet.pdf

As part of the project, the UWI will be running a Climate Change and Health Leaders Fellowship Programme.

Eligible Caribbean Countries for Round 2:  Antigua & Barbuda, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago.

Duration:  12 months. It is currently planned for the second round of the Fellowship to run from May / June 2022 – April / May 2023.

Background to the Fellowship:

Health systems in the Caribbean remain highly vulnerable to impacts from climate change both on the quality and the capacity of services, as well as on the socio-economic and environmental determinants of health. These impacts have been well documented: extreme weather conditions; heat waves; more frequent strong and devastating hurricanes; recurring and extended periods of drought followed by excessive rainfall; increased levels of air pollution and sea level rise. These conditions negatively affect lifestyles, food security, water security, and have direct negative impact on people’s health and wellbeing in the form of heat strokes, respiratory illnesses (chronic and acute), cardiovascular diseases, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and many vector-borne and infectious diseases. National socio-economic development is also negatively affected, like workers’ health (lost work capacity and reduced labour productivity in vulnerable populations and migration), as well as the attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Purpose of the Climate Change and Health Leaders Fellowship:

The Climate Change and Health Leaders fellowship training program will focus on creating a cohort of inter-sectorial, multidisciplinary leaders with the necessary skills to turn plans and policy into action. The goal of the program will be to develop strong, effective Climate Change leadership among government officials, civil society, communities, and private sector, championing and implementing the One Health Approach. Fellows will be furnished with the knowledge and skills to enable them to support national Caribbean governments in the inclusion of health elements in the national adaptation plans (NAPs) for Climate Change and will be able to lead in the development and implementation of these plans. The training fellowship will prepare the fellows to be able to return to their country with the skills and knowledge to support the process of implementing the change, empower communities and support youth engagement.

Description of the Fellowship Program:

The part-time, 12 months, blended learning, curriculum-directed fellowship program which will include the following:

• A 3-day introductory kick-off workshop (face – face or online depending on the Covid situation​ in June 2022). By the end of this first week, participants will be able to explain the relationship between climate change and health, using a socio-ecological perspective and One Health lens to see the complex interactions of human, animal and environmental health on human population health. They will leave this first week with a sense of connection to the program and other fellows and will be aware of the support and resources available in the fellowship community of practice.
• Weekly themed online sessions – 1.5 hours / week
• A 3-day summative face-face workshop at the end of the fellowship. All cohorts of fellows who have completed the fellowship program will be invited to these workshops. This workshop will aim to (1) provide a sense of accomplishment for the fellows and help them see a track forward in climate change and health work (2) provide partners with advice and insights based on fellows’ projects, externships, and observations (3) generate a list of opportunities for action to assist Caribbean countries in advancing their preparedness for mitigation against and adaptation to climate change.
• During the fellowship, fellows will be expected to lead a nationally relevant climate change and health focused project. Fellows will develop, implement and report on a national project, which addresses a Climate Change and Health issue in their home country
• During the fellowship, fellows will be expected to lead a workshop/symposium in their home country. This will provide the opportunity for fellows to interact, link up and provide training for colleagues from multiple climate change and health sectors in their home countries.
• During the fellowship, fellows will be given the opportunity to spend a week in a CARICOM Climate Change regional agency.

Selection criteria / eligibility:

• We seek applications from Caribbean nationals from the 10 countries stated above who are highly motivated and have great leadership potential of becoming a change agent in areas of Climate Change and Health.
• We seek applications from young to mid-career professionals, preferably aged between 25 to 45, who are currently employed in the public health, health care, agricultural health sectors with interest and some experience in issues relating to climate change and health.
• Intention to pursue a career in policy, public service, and/or academia.
• A bachelor’s degree is required, and a master’s degree is preferred.
• Applicants should be highly committed, should demonstrate leadership potential, and an interest in investigating specific issues in relation to Climate Change and Health and developing strategies to address such issues.
• As the fellowship will be conducted in English without translation, applicants must be proficient in English.
• Applicants need to have good internet connectivity, as much of the training will be carried out online.

Application process NOW CLOSED and will re-open in November 2022!