Box 2 Stakeholder mapping to advance women’s leadership: womenlift health case study

WomenLift Health commissioned a series of stakeholder analyses in North America, Europe, India, Nigeria, and East Africa (WomenLift Health 2023). To develop understanding on the unique context of each geography, they partnered with local research organizations to identify and interview key health sector stakeholders and organizations. The stakeholder analysis began by identifying the most influential organizations in public health within each country. Research teams then prioritized organizations and individual senior- or executive-level leaders within these organizations.

Most respondents identified institutional-level reforms as the greatest opportunity to increase women’s leadership. Many others called for an expansion of policies or other support mechanisms for working parents. Across all focal countries, respondents highlighted the continuing need for talent development programs.

The WomenLift Health stakeholder analysis exercise also aimed to promote collaborative implementation of programs to reduce the gender disparity in health sector leadership. Participants were reportedly enthusiastic about sharing the organization’s Leadership Journey opportunity with their networks and nominating potential fellows. They also expressed interest in receiving trainings from WomenLift and collaboratively facilitating or co-creating such trainings. Other stakeholders identified advocacy opportunities at both national or sector-wide levels to push for reforms that could benefit women’s representation in global health leadership.