The Lancet Countdown is seeking to appoint five Working Group Leads to drive the academic work of the Lancet Countdown Africa.

These posts provide the opportunity for five recognised African academics to steer the direction of the Lancet Countdown’s research in Africa across each of its five thematic domains: 

• WG1: Health Hazards, Exposures, and Vulnerabilities
• WG2: Adaptation, Planning, and Resilience for Health
• WG3: Mitigation Actions and Health Co-Benefits
• WG4: Economics and Finance
• WG5: Public and Political Engagement in Health and Climate Change

These roles represent a unique opportunity for globally recognised experts in each of the thematic areas to leverage their research and expertise to guide a global health-centred response to climate change. It will also provide them with the opportunity to expand the regional representation within the Global Lancet Countdown activities; and to inform a health-centred response to climate change that takes into account the needs, knowledge and opportunities of African people.

These new positions will be initially appointed until 30th of April 2027, with possibility of extension for two further years.  

Applications should be sent to info@lancetcountdown.org (find further information below).

The application deadline has been extended to 9 January 2026 at 23.30 GMT – we’re looking forward to hearing from you!  

To learn more about these positions, please contact Prof. Tafadzwa Mabhaudhi, Director of the Lancet Countdown Africa, at mabhaudhi@ukzn.ac.za

Background 

The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change is an independent, international, multidisciplinary research collaboration enabled by funding and strategic support from the Wellcome Trust. It brings together almost 300 researchers across the globe, to track the world’s response to climate change and monitor the associated health implications via more than 40 indicators built on the latest science.

The Lancet Countdown Africa Centre will bring together a network of local researchers, to annually monitor the evolving link between health and climate change in Africa through a regional indicator report and contribute to increasing the representation of Africa within the Global Lancet Countdown. This activity will be complemented through a process of policy engagement and communications activities, to drive evidence-based progress on health and climate change in the region, as well as globally.

Role Description 

Regional Working Group Leads are crucial to delivering the academic vision of the Lancet Countdown. They:

Oversee the operational delivery of the academic Working Group activities and outputs for respective Lancet Countdown Regional Centres through:

• Coordinating the academic Working Group’s input into the annual Regional Indicator Report
• Identifying opportunities for indicator improvement and additional research by the Regional Working Group to supplement the Regional Indicator Report
• Vetting proposals for new indicators or indicator updates for the Regional Indicator Report.
• Appointing, providing leadership and managerial oversight (both academic and pastoral) for any Regional Working Group Fellow.

Contribute towards the strategic governance of the respective Working Group across the Lancet Countdown collaboration, including:

• Representing regional Working Group authors in the cross-collaboration Working Group Steering Groups.
• Sharing perspectives from the Regional Working Group which they lead, to ensure that these are incorporated into the Lancet Countdown’s overarching academic strategy.
• Representing the research interests and policy priorities for a specified sub-region of the African continent across Lancet Countdown Africa activities and objective setting.

For further information on the Africa Working Group Leader role, including information on the desired experience, time commitment required and support available, please read the full role description – noting that the application deadline has been extended to 9 January 2026.

Financial Support

The Regional WG Lead will receive financial support to cover up to 20% of their time contributions to the Lancet Countdown. They will also receive funding for part-time or full-time support of a research fellow, to drive the work of the Working Group forward.  

Appointment Process 

If you are interested in applying for this role, please submit the following documents to info@lancetcountdown.org by 23.30 GMT 9 January 2026, indicating which Working Group you want to apply to:

1. An academic CV

2. A cover letter of no-more than 500 words, describing your commitment to this role, and outlining how your previous experience would help you to lead a Working Group

3. A letter of support from your Academic Institution

Members of the Lancet Countdown will be invited to evaluate the applications, and help select the future Working Group Leads for the Regional Centre. Note that by sending your application to info@lancetcountdown.org, you are agreeing to your application being shared with individuals on the Selection Committee.