Apply Now For The Remote Sacema'S 2026 Policy Modelling Fellowship

Globalsouthopportunities; Cape Town; Remote; ZAR 346 000 - 520 000; Full time

Job summary

A research institution in public health is seeking mid-career professionals for a transformative fellowship in epidemiological modelling. The role focuses on applying modelling to health policy challenges in Africa, particularly relating to vaccine-preventable diseases. Candidates should have a quantitative background and experience working with health ministries. This remote position involves collaborative work across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Benefits

Fully funded travel and accommodation

Generous stipend

Complete training provided

Qualifications

• Academic or professional background in a quantitative discipline.
• Basic programming or data analysis experience.
• Ability to collaborate with Ministry of Health.

Responsibilities

• Apply epidemiological modelling to real-world health policy challenges.
• Engage with national health authorities to inform policy decisions.
• Develop actionable modelling insights.

Skills

Statistical analysis

Data analysis

Epidemiological modelling

Public health knowledge

Education

Background in quantitative discipline

Job description

Building Data-Driven Health Policy in Africa

Organization: The South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (SACEMA)

Location: Remote (within Sub‑Saharan Africa) with visits to South Africa

Duration: 10 months (February – November)

Start Date: February 2

Application Deadline: December 1

About SACEMA

The South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (SACEMA), based at Stellenbosch University, is a leading research hub dedicated to improving public health across Africa through mathematical and statistical modelling.

SACEMA's multidisciplinary team—spanning mathematics, epidemiology, biology, physics, public health, and data science—works at the intersection of research and policy, providing analytical insights that guide real‑world health decisions.

By partnering with African ministries of health, research institutions, and international organisations, SACEMA strengthens the continent's capacity for evidence‑based epidemic preparedness and response.

Fellowship Overview

The Policy Modelling Fellowship (PMF) offers a transformative 10‑month opportunity for mid‑career professionals and researchers to apply epidemiological modelling to real‑world health policy challenges.

Fellowship will focus on measles and/or polio, two critical vaccine‑preventable diseases that remain public health priorities in many African countries.

Fellows will work closely with SACEMA mentors and national health authorities to develop actionable modelling insights that directly inform policy decisions.

Each fellow will concentrate on a country‑specific case, optimising vaccination strategies and estimating immunity levels to strengthen national disease control efforts.

This fellowship bridges the gap between technical modelling and public health policy, equipping participants to act as vital connectors between data, evidence, and decision‑making.

Why This Fellowship Matters

Although Africa boasts growing expertise in data science and epidemiology, there remains a shortage of policy‑focused disease modellers.

Effective prevention and control of infectious diseases require professionals who can interpret data, engage directly with health ministries, and translate modelling outputs into policy‑relevant recommendations.

Through the Policy Modelling Fellowship, SACEMA seeks to build capacity among African public health professionals to use modelling as a tool for planning, evaluating, and communicating epidemic control strategies.

The program prioritises participants who already have or can develop working relationships with national Ministries of Health, ensuring that outputs are both locally relevant and practically implementable.

Fellowship Structure and Activities

Key components include:

• Data Acquisition and Preparation (Remote, by March)

  Obtain sub‑national vaccination and incidence data for measles or polio through the Ministry of Health.

  Work with ministry "champions" to facilitate data sharing and stakeholder engagement.

• Technical and Analytical Training (March–August)

  Complete foundational training modules in epidemiological modelling and immunity estimation (remote).

  Attend the MMED Workshop in Cape Town (June).

  Participate in a 4–6 week in‑person training program at SACEMA (July–August) focusing on advanced analytical methods, outbreak modelling, and visualization techniques.

• Policy Engagement and Applied Modelling (April–September)

  Collaborate with national immunisation program teams to define key policy questions.

  Use immunity estimation and outbreak models to simulate scenarios and generate policy‑relevant findings.

  Draft and refine a policy brief summarising recommendations for vaccination strategies.

• Dissemination and Impact (October–November)

  Visit SACEMA in October to finalise models, presentations, and policy outputs.

  Organise an in‑country stakeholder meeting with Ministry of Health officials to present findings.

Indicative Timeline

• Contracts, initial policy question drafting — Remote by mid‑March
• Data acquisition (vaccination and incidence data) — Remote by mid‑March
• Preparatory training courses — Remote by end‑April
• Needs assessments and stakeholder meetings — Remote by end‑April
• MMED Workshop — In‑person, Cape Town mid‑June (2 weeks)
• Immunity estimation and modelling training — In‑person, Stellenbosch July–August (4–6 weeks)
• Policy brief development — Remote August–October
• Final presentation and policy outputs — In‑person, Stellenbosch October (2 weeks)
• In‑country dissemination meeting — In‑person, led by Fellow by end‑November

Funding and Support

• Fully funded travel, accommodation, and meals during visits to South Africa.
• Generous stipend tied to the completion of fellowship milestones.
• Funding for in‑country dissemination events.
• All training courses and materials fully covered by SACEMA.

Eligibility Criteria

Required Qualifications

• Academic or professional background in a quantitative discipline (e.g., statistics, mathematics, epidemiology, public health, or related field).
• An established partnership or ongoing collaboration with your country's Ministry of Health (MoH).
• Ability to access—or obtain access to—sub‑national measles or polio vaccination and incidence data through MoH surveillance systems.
• Identification of a "champion" within the MoH to support data access and engagement if not directly affiliated with the ministry.
• Basic programming or data analysis experience.
• Availability for approximately 8–10 hours per week from February to November.
• Willingness to travel to South Africa for 6–8 weeks mid‑year and 2 weeks early October.
• Awareness of and commitment to addressing public health challenges in Africa.

Recommended Experience

• Experience handling public health or surveillance data.
• Familiarity with disease modelling or statistical analysis.
• Demonstrated interest in applying data science to inform health policy.

Women are strongly encouraged to apply, in line with SACEMA's commitment to gender equity in modelling and data science.

Applicants should also be able to acquire and clean national/sub‑national disease surveillance data, apply immunity estimation and outbreak modelling methods to country‑specific data, prepare a policy brief summarising model insights and actionable recommendations, and present findings to national health authorities and other key stakeholders.

Application Process

Applications must include the following materials:

• Comprehensive CV (maximum 3 pages) outlining quantitative and analytical experience.
• Letter of support for data access from a Ministry of Health official, or a documented plan detailing how access will be secured and who will facilitate it.
• Letter of support from your employer or institution confirming availability to participate (or a written explanation of how approval will be obtained).
• Submit your application via the SACEMA online portal (link available on the official SACEMA website).
• Application Deadline: December 1
• Shortlisting Notification: December 15
• Shortlisted candidates will be invited to complete a brief technical exercise evaluating programming, data analysis, and communication skills.

Disclaimer

Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the awarding organization. For any inquiries, please contact the official organisation directly.

Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.