With support from WomenLift Health, we’re conducting research to understand and promote effective male allyship in advancing women’s leadership in academic global health.
CIGH is committed to advancing women’s leadership in global health, and one important area that merits more research is the role of male allyship in supporting women’s leadership. That’s why we’re conducting this research initiative, funded by our close collaborators, WomenLift Health. Our team is conducting research to understand and promote effective male allyship in advancing women’s leadership in academic global health. We are using our findings to develop publications and a skill-building toolkit to help cultivate male allyship around women’s leadership in academic and clinical global health settings.
CIGH conducted the first phase of research between 2023 and 2025.
For the first phase, researchers gathered qualitative data on best practices regarding how to support and advance women’s leadership in global health. This included gathering input on the importance of male allyship and identifying specific actions men can take to become better allies, mentors, and sponsors. This information is being translated into a skill-building toolkit that outlines specific steps men can take to support the advancement of women’s leadership in global health as allies.
CIGH is now launching a second phase in 2026 focused on gathering global perspectives and expanding the toolkit to include these perspectives.
If you’re interested in learning more about participating in the second phase of the research study, contact Research Coordinator Ola Alani at oalani@stanford.edu.
We’re also inviting people to contribute to a list of resources and tools on male allyship and gender equity to support women’s leadership global health. To make this list applicable to a global audience, the center is looking for your input. If you have any resource(s) related to male allyship, gender equity, and women’s leadership in global health, please fill out this form.
This new publication in PLOS Global Public Health investigates the specific barriers women face in advancing to leadership roles in global health and underscores the importance of male allyship, in an effort to establish more equitable global health research.
This toolkit was developed by the Stanford Center for Innovation in Global Health, with support from WomenLift Health. We hope to empower men wishing to be good allies of women colleagues with proven tools and strategies to do so. Our recommendations are based on findings of our qualitative research study interviewing global health leaders across the U.S. and Canada to learn about barriers to women’s advancement to leadership, along with effective approaches to overcoming these barriers.
View a curated list of tools and resources to support male allyship.
If you have questions or wish to participate, please contact Research Coordinator Ola Alani, oalani@stanford.edu.