Mentoring for early-career women in health research: the HIGHER Women Consortium approach.

Sylvie Kwedi Nolna ,Pierrette Essama Mekongo ,Rose G F Leke

doi:10.1017/gheg.2016.20

Sylvie Kwedi Nolna , Pierrette Essama Mekongo + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1017/gheg.2016.20

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Abstract

Attracting and retaining women in health research is crucial as it will maximize creativity and innovation as well as increase gender competency and expertise in the field. To help address the gender gap in the research for health field in Cameroon, some women research scientists formed the Higher Institute for Growth in HEalth Research for Women (HIGHER Women) consortium to support and encourage the growth of women research scientists through a training institute with a Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP). The consortium set up a MPP aiming at providing professional guidance to facilitate protégés' growth and emergence in health research. The consortium has conducted two workshops aiming at increasing the early-career women's skills needed to launch their career and focusing on proposal writing with the aim of producing a fundable project. Since 2015, the consortium has brought together approximately 100 women comprising of 80 protégés. The most significant outcome is in the protégés' feedback from their annual evaluations. The protégés are now more likely to submit abstracts and attend international conferences. Some grants have been obtained as a result of the working relationship with mentors. The HIGHER women consortium works to develop a pipeline of women leaders in health research by fostering growth and leadership culture through their MPP.

Highlights

As a resource-limited sub-Saharan country, Cameroon tremendously needs health research
The workshops aimed at: teaching early-career women researchers how to create a plan for attaining leadership goals; developing skills in seeking funds for innovative quality research projects; highlighting the challenges of building a career in health research and to devise methods for overcoming those challenges; and setting up networking opportunities with women role models that make a difference in health research in Cameroon
We describe the HIGHER Women approach to mentoring, focusing on the early-career women’s experiences, the project outcomes and how this program fits with and influence policy

Summary

Introduction

As a resource-limited sub-Saharan country, Cameroon tremendously needs health research. The workshops aimed at: teaching early-career women researchers how to create a plan for attaining leadership goals; developing skills in seeking funds for innovative quality research projects; highlighting the challenges of building a career in health research and to devise methods for overcoming those challenges; and setting up networking opportunities with women role models that make a difference in health research in Cameroon. By taking time to plan career growth, learn indispensable skills (such as fundraising for research projects), establish mentor–protégé relationships with role models, women are more likely to seize and hold on to leadership roles. We describe the HIGHER Women approach to mentoring, focusing on the early-career women’s experiences, the project outcomes and how this program fits with and influence policy

Methods

Conclusion

Declaration of Interest