At WomenLift Health, we know that moving the needle on global health outcomes will take time, but also hold ourselves accountable for the building blocks of transformative change along the way. Our monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) activities are core to our work. We systematically track outputs and outcomes against key indicators, as well as conducting regular qualitative and quantitative landscape assessments to tailor our approach. We invest in annual evaluations to synthesize the progress and lessons learned from the year. We’re pleased to share the findings from our most recent evaluation, with some of the more salient learnings, below.
Central to WomenLift Health’s work is our signature Leadership Journey, an intensive year-long leadership immersion for mid-career women working in health around the world. The Leadership Journey is designed to give talented women leaders the tools – confidence, networks, understanding of barriers – along with peer, mentor and coach support, to successfully use their voice, expertise and leadership skills for health impact.
WomenLift’s second US-based Leadership Journey cohort concluded in February 2022, with the first Leadership Journey cohorts in India and East Africa beginning in April and May 2022, respectively. This year, nearly two-thirds of the women in Cohort 2 said they were “very satisfied” with their overall experience with the Leadership Journey, with 95% reporting high levels of satisfaction.
Key outcomes included:
- the growth of peer support networks that provide women with a safe space to discuss both professional and personal issues
- increased confidence and voice, which they are using to push for change
- greater self-awareness that spurs more deliberate action at work
Consistently, women said they valued depth of connection most, whether speaking about alumnae events, potential e-learning opportunities, or connections with women in other regions. While growing, the alumnae network has had several successful workshops and alumnae-led events during the first year.