The Thanzi Programme is pleased to announce a major new grant from Coefficient Giving’s Effective Giving & Careers Fund, expanding crucial postgraduate training for health leaders across Africa.
This vital funding will support 13 new professionals working in health ministries and public universities to undertake the world-class Health Economics Distance Learning (HEDL) MSc programme at the University of York—enabling them to study without pausing their careers and translate their learning into immediate, real-world impact.
Addressing a Critical Need in African Health Systems
As international official development assistance shifts, governments and Ministries of Health face increasing pressure to allocate domestic budgets efficiently and sustainably without relying on costly external consultants.
Regional leadership bodies—including the African Union, the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community, and the West African Health Organization—have highlighted an urgent need for capacity-building in domestic health financing and health economics.
The demand for health economics training is overwhelming: previous application rounds for the Thanzi Studentship Programme saw over 500 applications for a limited number of funded places. This response underlines a critical gap in accessible, flexible postgraduate training that allows students to stay in their roles while advancing their skills.
Building High-Impact Careers & Local Expertise
With this support from Coefficient Giving, we can continue to:
- Build long‑term health economics capacity within ministries, universities, and research organisations
- Strengthen evidence‑based decision making in African health systems
- Empower African experts to lead future research that is commissioned and conducted by African research communities
Long-Term Capacity Strengthening
Supporting postgraduate training is a core initiative of our Capability Strengthening pillar: We build knowledge sharing and training platforms to enhance long term health economics capacity and support career pathways for researchers and policymakers in Africa (learn more about the Thanzi Pillars of Activity).
Since 2023, the Thanzi Studentships have supported 17 students from 11 African countries. Our Alumni and current students—working within Ministries of Health and public universities—are already applying their training to cost national policies, lead research, and ensure healthcare budgets are spent where they are needed most.
“The Thanzi Studentship not only supports highly impactful careers for talented individuals, but is also an investment in the future of national health systems across Africa, ensuring countries have expertise they need to deliver resilient, equitable, and sustainable healthcare.” – Professor Paul Revill, University of York
Applications Opening in 2027
Recruitment for the next cohort supported by Coefficient Giving will open ahead of the 2027/28 academic year.
Don’t miss the announcement when applications open! Explore the Thanzi Studentships webpage to learn more about the programme, and follow the Thanzi Programme on LinkedIn for regular updates and announcements.
By: Kath Devlin | November 2026
