Ms. Elizabeth Ombech, Afya Research Africa’s Director of Programs and Operations, has been named among 30 women leaders selected for the 2025 Thematic Leadership Journey by WomenLift Health (WLH).

This prestigious year-long program will bring together 30 accomplished women leaders from East and Southern Africa in WomenLift Health’s first-ever merged cohort, creating a diverse network dedicated to advancing leadership in family planning and contraceptive access.

WomenLift Health is committed to expanding women’s influence in global health by equipping mid-to-senior career women with leadership skills, strategic networks, and mentorship to navigate barriers and drive meaningful change.

While significant investments have been made in family planning research, policy, and service delivery, strong leadership is needed to turn these efforts into sustainable progress. The Leadership Journey addresses this gap by nurturing visionary leaders who can unify decision-making, inspire healthcare providers, and drive policies that improve contraceptive access.

Ombech will join leaders from Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Zambia, Angola, Malawi, and Botswana. Together, they will explore solutions to the challenges of family planning, develop strategies to enhance reproductive health services, and refine their leadership approaches.

Afya Research Africa, whose mission is to advance equitable access to quality healthcare through practice, research, and locally relevant technology, sees this as a valuable opportunity to further its impact.

We are incredibly proud of Elizabeth’s achievement. Her participation will reinforce our efforts to expand access to quality reproductive healthcare.

The program will run from March 2025 to February 2026, providing intensive leadership development while addressing critical reproductive health challenges.