Overview - Introduction

The University of Washington Population Leadership Program awarded fellowships to accomplished professionals and leaders from developing countries whose careers focus on population, family planning, and reproductive health issues. The Program sought professionals who have already demonstrated leadership in their areas of responsibility and would benefit from a year of reflection and rigorous work to develop stronger management and leadership skills.

The Program selected Packard-Gates Fellows from a wide range of areas of expertise. Fellows may have had significant responsibilities for making public policy, managing government or NGO programs, or conducting advocacy work. They may be political leaders committed to population and reproductive health issues, or regional or local officials advancing to broader responsibilities. The Program helped Fellows develop the skills, knowledge, confidence, and deeper commitment that enabled them to attain higher positions of leadership and create systemic change.

The curriculum combined the expertise of three parts of the University of Washington: the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs, the School of Public Health and Community Medicine and the Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology. PATH (the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health), an international nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health, has been an important partner from the program's inception.

Twelve Fellows were selected each year. Fellows received round trip airfare to the United States, tuition and fees for courses at the University of Washington, health insurance, a monthly stipend for housing, food, books and local transportation, and professional development funds.