Deadline: September 14, 2025
Applications are open for the Africa CDC Youth Digital Health Champions (YDH-C) Program 2025. The Youth in Digital Health Network (YiDHN), established by Africa CDC is a strategic initiative aimed at fostering youth‑driven innovations and participation in digital health.
Recognizing the transformative role of African young professionals in shaping the future of healthcare and achieving Universal Healthcare coverage in Africa, YiDHN provides a structured platform for capacity building, collaboration, advocacy, and policy engagement across Africa. YiDHN’s thematic areas align with its broader Strategy objectives to Strengthen capacity and digital literacy among youth; Engage youth in governance and regulatory forums; Facilitate access to funding and pathways for sustainable scale; Connect youth with key stakeholders in digital health.
The Youth Digital Health Champions (Y-DHC) program seeks to identify, profile, and connect dynamic young leaders who are actively shaping the digital health landscape across Africa. Champions will serve as role models, advocates, and collaborators in advancing digital health innovation, policy, and practice. The initiative aims to build a visible and impactful network that can inform policies, strengthen local innovation ecosystems, and amplify youth leadership across the continent.
Benefits
- Visibility and Recognition: Featured profiles and stories shared across Africa CDC and YiDHN channels, raising the visibility of each Champion’s work at national, regional, and continental levels.
- Access to High-Level Convenings: Opportunities to participate in YiDHN-branded webinars, policy dialogues, and Africa CDC forums to share insights, influence agendas, and build credibility. Some Youth Champions will be selected to participate in the Africa HealthTech Summit – #AHTS2025.
- Peer Networking and Collaboration: Connection to a vibrant, cross-continental community of like-minded digital health innovators and advocates for shared learning and joint initiatives.
- Capacity Building and Policy Engagement: Priority invitations to training sessions, workshops, and policy engagements designed to enhance leadership, technical, and advocacy skills.
- Support for scaleup and expansion: The initiative will pursue strategic partnerships and sponsorships aimed at unlocking additional opportunities. This will include access to seed funding and support for youth-led digital health startups, mentorship and coaching from industry leaders, participation in Continental and international innovation challenges, fellowships, and accelerator programs.
Eligibility
Applicants must meet all of the following minimum requirements:
- Age: Must be between 18 and 35 years old at the time of application.
- Nationality/Residency: Must be a citizen of an African Union member state. Africans in the diaspora can also apply.
- Language Proficiency: Proficiency in at least one of these languages – English, French, Arabic, Portuguese (with ability to participate in cross-lingual platforms preferred).
- Engagement in Digital Health: Must be actively involved in digital health through one or more of the following:
- Innovation (e.g., startup founder, technology developer)
- Research and Academia
- Public health programs utilizing digital tools
- Policy development or advocacy
- Capacity building or digital literacy initiatives
Selection Criteria
Applicants will be assessed based on the following weighted criteria:
- Leadership and Initiative (45%): They are looking for young people who have demonstrated leadership in a digital health initiative, organization, or advocacy. Evidence of personal initiative, problem-solving, and resilience is preferred. Individuals whose work contributions to at least one of YiDHN’s focus areas are encouraged to apply:
- Capacity building and digital literacy
- Youth engagement in governance and regulation
- Scaling innovations and accessing funding
- Stakeholder and network mobilization
- Impact and Innovation (25%): Individuals with proven track record of delivering tangible results or innovations in digital health and using creative or locally-relevant digital tools to address healthcare challenges are encouraged to apply. Early initiatives and innovations are encouraged to demonstrate potential impact if implemented successfully.
- Motivation and Potential for Growth and Influence (30%): Individuals are encouraged to demonstrate their motivation to engage on issues of digital health. They are looking for individuals with willingness and capacity to engage in future YiDHN activities including webinars, policy dialogues, and capacity-building initiatives.
Application
Applicants should submit the following by September 14, 2025 (11:00 PM GMT+3)
- Completed application form
- CV/resume (max 2 pages)
- One letter of recommendation
- Optional: Links to projects, publications, or media
For more information, visit Africa CDC YDH-C Program.
