Land a Paid Remote Fellowship in Academic Public Health: Riegelman GNAPH Fellowship 2026

If you’re an early-career public health professional who wants to move from doing the day-to-day work to helping steer a global academic network, the Riegelman GNAPH Fellowship 2026 is worth a hard look. It’s a part-time, one-year paid role that plugs you into the Global Network for Academic Public Health (GNAPH) — a group that brings together academic public health associations from multiple regions. Think of it as a chance to learn how global public health coordination looks from the inside, while adding a meaningful line to your CV.

This fellowship won’t fund a lab or pay tuition. What it will do is give you a platform: hands-on coordination experience with international partners, responsibility for near-term program priorities, and exposure to high-level strategy and funding conversations. It’s remote, which means you can be based in Africa or anywhere else that GNAPH has member institutions, and still play an active role in shaping the Network’s next moves.

The deadline is firm: January 9, 2026. Read on for a practical breakdown of who should apply, what the role actually involves, and a step-by-step guide to submitting a competitive application that gets noticed.

At a Glance

Why This Fellowship Matters (Three reasons it could accelerate your career)

First, experience. The fellowship gives you concrete coordination responsibilities across international academic associations. If you’re building a career in global public health administration, policy, or academic leadership, this is the kind of role hiring committees notice. Instead of theoretical coursework, you’ll manage timelines, synthesize input from multiple stakeholders, and help track risks and progress.

Second, networks. GNAPH connects academic public health organizations across regions. Working inside the Secretariat’s processes puts you in conversation with mid- and senior-level academics, funders, and program officers. Those connections don’t just look good on LinkedIn — they often open doors to collaborative projects, speaking invitations, and funding opportunities.

Third, practical skill-building. You’ll sharpen the nuts-and-bolts skills program managers use every day: concise writing for diverse audiences, meeting facilitation across time zones, basic grant prospecting, and translating messy, multi-stakeholder input into actionable plans. These are transportable skills that make you more employable in NGOs, universities, and international agencies.

What This Opportunity Offers

This fellowship is explicitly designed as a hands-on, part-time role where your day-to-day looks like a mix of coordination, writing, and project tracking. The Fellowship’s immediate priorities include the COPE Program (likely a GNAPH initiative focused on capacity or resilience — verify in the program materials) and building an active young professionals’ network. You’ll help design and maintain a plan of action: building timelines, flagging risks, and preparing progress updates for the Board.

Expect to support the GNAPH Secretariat in administrative and programmatic ways: drafting meeting summaries, preparing briefing notes for Board members, coordinating across member associations to collect inputs or survey responses, and helping maintain shared workspaces and calendars. Another core duty is identifying potential funding sources for priority projects — basic prospect research, preparing short funding briefs, and compiling contact lists. The role requires diplomacy: you’ll mediate different institutional priorities and turn them into cohesive next steps.

Because the position is paid but part-time, you’ll need to manage your schedule tightly. GNAPH will expect timely deliverables and responsiveness across regions and time zones. The fellowship also offers the chance to shape a young professionals’ network, which means you’ll get to define what peer engagement looks like, how to recruit members, and how to keep the network active beyond a single year.

Note: The announcement lists the fellowship as “paid” but does not state a salary. Ask for compensation details early in conversations so you can plan whether the part-time stipend meets your needs.

Who Should Apply

You’re a good fit if you graduated within the last five years from a Master’s-level (or higher) public health program at a GNAPH member institution. Being a recent graduate matters: the position targets early-career professionals who can bring fresh perspectives and have time to learn on the job.

Beyond the degree requirement, GNAPH wants someone who writes clearly, organizes complex inputs, and works well with people whose priorities don’t always line up with yours. If you’ve coordinated student groups, led a small project at an NGO, or worked in a university office pulling together multi-stakeholder events, you have relevant experience. If you’ve supported grant proposals, developed program timelines, or maintained collaborative documentation (shared drives, project trackers), that’s directly applicable.

Geography matters in practice not eligibility: the posting has an Africa tag, suggesting strong interest in applicants based in or with experience in African public health contexts. If you have regional experience — fieldwork, partnerships with local universities, or past roles in regional associations — make that clear. Fluency in English is required; additional languages are a plus but not listed as mandatory.

Real-world examples of strong applicants:

• A recent MPH graduate who coordinated a student-led public health symposium across multiple universities and handled sponsor communications.
• An early-career program officer at an NGO who created monitoring dashboards and drafted donor briefs.
• A junior faculty member or postdoc who supported departmental administration, organized webinars, and has experience working across time zones.

Responsibilities in Plain English

You’ll build and update an action plan with milestones and risk logs for the COPE Program and a young professionals’ network. You’ll draft short briefings and meeting minutes that Board members can read in five minutes and be informed. You’ll research potential funders and prepare short summaries explaining why they might support a GNAPH priority. You’ll act as a bridge: synthesizing member inputs into clear options and next steps. Expect routine coordination across email, video calls, and shared documents.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application (5–7 specific, tactical moves)

1. Tailor your cover letter to problems, not titles. Don’t just say you’re excited about GNAPH. Pick one concrete GNAPH priority (COPE Program or young professionals network) and propose a 100–150 word plan for a first 90-day workstream. That shows initiative and that you know how to translate ideas into tasks.

2. Show synthesis ability with examples. The role asks for synthesis skills; demonstrate them. Include a short writing sample (see Required Materials) that condenses a multi-page meeting or report into a one-page executive summary. If you don’t have such a sample, create one based on a past event or project.

3. Quantify coordination experience. Hiring panels like tangible evidence. “Coordinated a webinar series of 6 events across 4 institutions, with an average attendance of 220” reads better than “coordinated events.” Numbers make competency believable.

4. Provide evidence of diplomacy. The job involves working across organizations. Include a brief example where you balanced competing priorities — who said what, how you resolved it, and the result. If you mediated scheduling conflicts or helped merge differing feedback streams into a single plan, say so.

5. Prepare a short funding brief template. Since you’ll assist in identifying funding sources, submit a one-page mock funding brief as an appendix: candidate funder, why they might fund GNAPH priorities, amount ranges, and next steps. It signals that you understand prospect research and can hit the ground running.

6. Confirm membership eligibility early. GNAPH requires your degree to be from a member institution. Don’t assume — check the institutional database or contact GNAPH if you’re not certain. If your institution is borderline, include proof of affiliation (a diploma and a letter from a department chair).

7. Be realistic about time zones. Because the work is remote and crosses regions, explicitly state your primary time zone and your weekly availability. Demonstrating awareness of scheduling constraints and willingness to adapt is a small, persuasive detail.

8. Follow application instructions to the letter. This kind of role is about detail orientation. Formatting errors, missing documents, or an incomplete online form are red flags.

Application Timeline (work backward from January 9, 2026)

Plan to submit at least 48 hours before the deadline. Technical issues happen, and online forms sometimes lock at the last minute.

• December 15–31: Finalize all documents and ask two people to proofread. One should be a mentor who understands public health, the other someone who doesn’t — clarity matters.
• December 1–14: Draft and refine your cover letter, the 90-day plan, and any sample briefings. Gather degree verification and contact referees.
• November 15–30: Identify whether your institution is a GNAPH member via the institutional database. If verification is needed, request a letter from your registrar or department.
• November 1–14: Start the application form and create required account(s). Prepare a working calendar blocking time to finalize materials.
• Ongoing: Reach out to references early — give them context and a copy of your draft so their letters align with your application narrative.

Required Materials (what to prepare and how to make each document count)

You’ll likely need the following. Submit high-quality, tailored versions of each document rather than generic templates.

• Curriculum Vitae (CV): Keep it concise. Focus on program coordination, writing, and cross-institutional experience. Two pages is fine for early-career applicants.
• Cover Letter / Statement of Interest: One page. Include your 90-day priorities and why GNAPH’s mission matters to you.
• Degree Verification: A copy of your diploma or transcript and proof that your institution is a GNAPH member (screenshot or letter). If your degree is older than five years, don’t apply — eligibility is strict.
• Writing Sample: An executive summary or short brief (one page) that shows you can synthesize complex information.
• Funding Brief or Prospecting Note (optional but recommended): One page showing you can identify funders and outline a basic ask approach.
• Contact Details for References: Names, roles, emails, and a short note on what they’ll confirm (e.g., project coordination, administrative skills).
• Availability Statement: Indicate weekly hours you can commit and any time zone constraints.

Prepare each document as a PDF unless the application portal requests other formats. Label files clearly: Lastname_CV.pdf, Lastname_CoverLetter.pdf, etc.

What Makes an Application Stand Out

Selection panels want evidence you can do the job from day one and that you’ll contribute to GNAPH’s collaborative, international mission. Strong applications demonstrate three things: clarity of thought, practical coordination experience, and evidence of diplomacy.

Clarity: The best candidates can summarize a messy meeting into a one-paragraph action list. Deliver that skill in your writing sample and cover letter. If your prose is tight, the panel will infer your meeting notes and plans will also be sharp.

Practical coordination experience: Full credit goes to applicants who can point to measurable achievements: events coordinated, proposals assisted, collaborative documents maintained. If you have experience with digital collaboration tools (Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams, project trackers), name them and describe how you used them.

Diplomacy and stakeholder management: This is often the deciding factor. Describe a specific situation where you balanced competing demands and produced a consensus or workable compromise. The panel wants to know you can manage relationships across institutions without escalating small conflicts.

Bonus points: experience with or demonstrable understanding of regional public health contexts in Africa, familiarity with academic association structures, and any prior exposure to donor-funded project cycles.

Common Mistakes to Avoid (and how to fix them)

Mistake 1 — Submitting an unfocused cover letter. Many applicants send a generic letter that could fit any job. Fix: write directly about GNAPH. Include a specific suggestion for the COPE Program or young professionals’ network.

Mistake 2 — Overusing jargon. The role requires communicating across institutions. If your writing is dense, the panel will worry you can’t make technical things accessible. Fix: have a non-specialist read your materials and flag dense passages.

Mistake 3 — Skipping degree membership verification. If GNAPH can’t confirm your institution is a member, your application may be rejected. Fix: check the institutional database early and include proof.

Mistake 4 — Ignoring time zone realities. If your availability creates a practical problem, you’ll lose points. Fix: be explicit about hours you can meet and show flexibility for key meetings.

Mistake 5 — Missing the deadline or submitting poorly formatted documents. This fellowship tests administrative competence. Fix: submit early and follow file naming/format instructions.

Mistake 6 — Failing to show actionable skills. Saying you’re “organized” isn’t enough. Fix: show a calendar, tracker screenshot, or describe a specific process you used to keep a project on track.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the fellowship open to applicants outside Africa? A: Yes. The posting is tagged Africa, which signals relevance and interest in African contexts, but eligibility depends on graduation from a GNAPH member institution, regardless of where you live. Confirm your institution’s membership.

Q: How long is the fellowship and what is the time commitment? A: It’s a one-year, part-time role. The exact weekly hours aren’t listed publicly; expect to clarify that during recruitment. Prepare to balance other commitments if you accept.

Q: Is the salary disclosed? A: The announcement says the fellowship is paid but doesn’t list an amount. Ask for compensation details at application or interview stage, and make sure it covers your time given the expected responsibilities.

Q: Do I need prior GNAPH experience? A: No. GNAPH seeks early-career professionals. Relevant coordination, writing, and cross-institutional experience will compensate for a lack of direct GNAPH experience.

Q: Can students apply? A: The role requires graduation within five years of the Master’s or higher. If you’re still enrolled, check whether recent graduates or near-graduates are accepted—contact GNAPH through the application link for clarification.

Q: Will the fellowship lead to permanent employment? A: Not guaranteed. But the contacts and experience often open doors to future roles in academic networks, NGOs, and funder-supported projects.

Q: Will international collaborators be involved? A: Yes. The role involves coordinating across GNAPH member associations in different regions, so international collaboration is a core part of the work.

Q: What is the COPE Program? A: The posting references the COPE Program as a priority. The best approach is to ask for the program brief (or check GNAPH materials) and read it before the interview. In your application, show that you’ve tried to understand the program’s goals and present pragmatic support ideas.

Next Steps and How to Apply

Ready to apply? Don’t wait until the last day. Gather your CV, degree verification, a concise cover letter that includes a 90-day plan, a one-page writing sample that demonstrates synthesis, and at least two referees. Confirm your institution appears on GNAPH’s membership list and include proof with your application.

Submit your application here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6VNPLCN

After applying, send a brief, polite email to any program contact listed on GNAPH pages (if provided) confirming receipt and reiterating your availability for interviews. If you’re shortlisted, prepare a short presentation (5–7 minutes) outlining how you would approach the first 90 days and one sample deliverable (a mock action plan or funding brief). That presentation will set you apart.

Good luck. This fellowship is a quiet but powerful way to move from doing public health work at the local level into shaping how academic public health organizations operate across regions. If you prepare carefully and show you can turn complexity into clear next steps, you’ll be the person GNAPH wants on their team.