The Jill Sanders Memorial Scholarship offers financial support to individuals living in African countries who are studying or working in healthcare and want to develop specialised knowledge and skills in Health Technology Assessment (HTA). Administered by Health Technology Assessment international (HTAi), the scholarship was established in memory of Dr. Jill Sanders, a former Vice President of HTAi and President and CEO of the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health. She was a strong advocate for international collaboration in HTA and was committed to strengthening HTA capacity in developing countries. The scholarship is designed to help African healthcare professionals and students undertake education or training directly related to HTA, with the broader objective of strengthening professional capacity and supporting the development and use of HTA across African countries. The annual scholarship programme has CAD 20,000 available each fiscal year, making it a potentially valuable funding opportunity for eligible applicants pursuing education, training or professional development in health technology assessment. What Is the Jill Sanders Memorial Scholarship? The Jill Sanders Memorial Scholarship provides funding to individuals residing in African countries who are studying or working in the healthcare field. Applicants are expected to use the scholarship to advance their knowledge and skills in areas directly related to Health Technology Assessment. The knowledge gained should have practical relevance to their country of origin. HTA is an important area of healthcare policy and decision-making because it helps assess the value, effectiveness, costs and broader implications of health technologies and interventions. These can include medicines, medical devices, diagnostic technologies, healthcare procedures and other interventions. By supporting African professionals and students in this field, HTAi aims to contribute to stronger local expertise and institutional capacity in health technology assessment. Scholarship Funding A total of CAD 20,000 is available for the HTAi Educational Scholarship programme each fiscal year. The scholarship is intended to provide financial assistance for eligible education programmes or training activities that strengthen the applicant’s knowledge and skills in HTA. The funding may therefore be relevant to applicants pursuing: Academic programmes related to health technology assessment. Healthcare and public health education with an HTA focus. Professional HTA training. Specialised courses and workshops. Other eligible educational activities that directly develop HTA knowledge and skills. Applicants should consult the official scholarship policy and application documentation for the specific expenses and activities that can be supported. Who Is the Scholarship For? The opportunity is specifically aimed at people residing in African countries who are studying or working in healthcare. Candidates should demonstrate a clear connection between their proposed education or training and Health Technology Assessment. The programme is particularly relevant to individuals working or studying in fields such as: Public health. Health economics. Healthcare policy. Health services research. Medicine and related healthcare disciplines. Health technology assessment. Monitoring and evaluation. Pharmaceutical and medical technology policy. Previous recipients demonstrate the breadth of educational pathways that can be supported. Awards have included funding for PhD studies in Public Health, MSc programmes in Health Economics and Policy, MSc programmes in Health Technology Assessment, HTA courses, internships and specialised workshops. Examples of Previous Recipients HTAi’s published recipient records show that the scholarship has supported professionals from several African countries. In 2025, recipients included Trudy Leon from South Africa, who pursued a PhD in Public Health at Stellenbosch University, and Luciana Silu Mduma from Tanzania, who pursued an MSc in Health Economics and Policy at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences. Previous recipients have also included candidates from Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia and Eswatini. For example, Yanga Nokhepeyi from South Africa received support for an MSc in Health Technology Assessment at the University of Glasgow, while Anthony Kamau Njuguna from Kenya received support for an MSc in International Health Technology Assessment, Pricing and Reimbursement at the University of Sheffield. These examples illustrate the programme’s focus on developing African expertise that can contribute to healthcare systems and HTA capacity. Application Deadline Applications for the Jill Sanders Memorial Scholarship are due on 15 October each year, unless HTAi announces a different deadline. Prospective applicants should therefore prepare their application materials well in advance and verify the current deadline and requirements before submitting. The application process requires candidates to download and complete the official scholarship application form. Applicants should also review the scholarship’s policy and procedures document to understand eligibility requirements, application expectations and funding conditions. How to Apply Interested applicants should begin by reviewing the official Jill Sanders Memorial Scholarship Policy and Procedures and the current application form. The application process generally involves demonstrating the applicant’s healthcare background, explaining the proposed education or training, and showing how the opportunity will contribute to their knowledge and skills in Health Technology Assessment. A strong application should clearly establish the connection between the proposed study or training and the applicant’s professional goals, as well as the potential benefit to HTA capacity in their country. Applicants should ensure that all required information and supporting documentation are included before the annual deadline. Why the Scholarship Matters Health Technology Assessment can play an important role in evidence-based healthcare decision-making, particularly where health systems must make difficult choices about limited resources. Building local expertise allows countries to develop stronger capacity to assess healthcare technologies, understand their value and support informed decisions about healthcare interventions. For African healthcare professionals and students, the Jill Sanders Memorial Scholarship can therefore provide more than financial assistance. It can support the development of specialised expertise that may be applied within national health systems, universities, research institutions and healthcare organisations. Final Takeaway The Jill Sanders Memorial Scholarship is a targeted funding opportunity for individuals in African countries who are studying or working in healthcare and want to advance their knowledge of Health Technology Assessment. With CAD 20,000 available each fiscal year, the programme can support eligible education and training that develops professional HTA capacity. Previous recipients have pursued public health, health economics, HTA master’s programmes, doctoral studies, internships, courses and specialised workshops. The annual application deadline is 15 October, unless otherwise specified by HTAi. Applicants should carefully review the official policy and application form and demonstrate how their proposed education or training will strengthen HTA knowledge and contribute to healthcare capacity in their country. Scholarship: Jill Sanders Memorial ScholarshipOrganisation: Health Technology Assessment international (HTAi)Target group: Healthcare students and professionals in African countriesFunding available: CAD 20,000 per fiscal yearStudy areas: Health Technology Assessment and related healthcare fieldsApplication deadline: 15 October annuallyStudy locations: Africa and eligible international institutions/programmes, depending on the approved activity LEARN MORE HERE For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and WPChannel Important: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the offering organisation. This opportunity is shared for informational purposes based on the official announcement. 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