The aim of WGH Norway is to strengthen the position of human resources in global health and to connect and advocate for gender equality within the UN, aid and development agencies, academia, public and private sectors.
‘Women in Global Health Norway (WGH Norway)’ is hosted by the Centre for Global Health at the University of Oslo. The network membership is free of charge. The aim of WGH Norway is to strengthen the position of human resources in global health and to connect and advocate for gender equality within UN organizations, aid and development agencies, academia, public and private sectors. The objectives of the Norwegian chapter are to create a space for women in Global Health to achieve their leadership potential, spark ambition, promote professional development and exchange experiences. The network will serve as an easy reference for women to be taken into consideration for leadership positions, decision-making bodies, and presentations and talks on panels and conferences. WGH Norway will increase the opportunities for and visibility of women in the global health network and beyond.
Background: The visibility and recognition of women as leaders and experts in global health remains a challenge. Evidence shows that women comprise 70% of the global health workforce but only make up 25% of the top leadership positions. The Global Health 50/50 report revealed that decision-making power remains concentrated in the hands of men, with men leading 70% of global health organizations and 80% of boards of these organizations. Professional recognition contributes to career advancement and lifetime achievement; yet, in the past 10 years, only 10% of public health and medicine awards were given to women.
In recent years, social media campaigns were launched, aiming to showcase women working at the forefront of global health, with an open process to collect nominations via Twitter. A series of lists have been published, using the hashtags #WGH100, #WGH200, and #WGH300. This phenomenon inspired the establishment of a global movement called Women in Global Health (WGH) that brings together all who desire to achieve gender equality in global health leadership. By expanding the network to national platforms (Germany, Norway, Sweden, USA per date), Women in Global Health (WGH), wishes to promote gender equality in global health leadership, to embrace diversity and acknowledge the roles of women from all countries and regions.
Every membership matters! Please sign up to the chapter here and pass on to your network, encouraging them to keep forwarding the invitation! Our first meeting and formal launch will be in Oslo on November 26, 2018. Hold the date, information will follow to members of the network only.