Application Guide
How to Apply for Open Call for Consultants, Health Policy Advocacy and Communications
at PATH
🏢 About PATH
PATH is a global health nonprofit that accelerates progress toward universal health coverage by developing and scaling innovations in partnership with governments worldwide. Unlike many global health organizations, PATH works across the full innovation lifecycle—from R&D to delivery—and has deep, long-standing relationships with ministries of health and donors. This makes it an ideal place for consultants who want their policy and advocacy work to directly influence health financing and regulatory decisions in low- and middle-income countries.
About This Role
This open call is for short-term, project-based consultants who will provide advocacy, communications, and evidence-to-policy support across sub-Saharan Africa and multilateral forums. You will design and execute advocacy campaigns, conduct policy analysis, and engage stakeholders to advance health financing and regulatory decisions. Your work will directly support PATH's mission by translating evidence into actionable policy briefs, technical reports, data visualizations, and communications products for government and donor audiences.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve drafting a policy brief on health financing for a ministry of health, coordinating with PATH colleagues on a stakeholder engagement plan, and preparing a data visualization to support an advocacy campaign. You could also participate in a virtual meeting with multilateral partners to align on messaging, or revise a communications product for a donor audience. The work is fast-paced, collaborative, and directly tied to advancing health policy changes in low- and middle-income countries.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who PATH Is Looking For
- Proven experience in health policy advocacy or government engagement in low- and middle-income countries, with a track record of influencing policy change.
- Strong skills in developing advocacy tools—policy briefs, technical reports, data visualizations, and communications products—tailored to government and donor audiences.
- Existing relationships with policymakers in priority African geographies and experience working in multilateral settings (e.g., WHO, Global Fund, Gavi).
- Expertise in health financing, regulatory decision-making, or campaign strategy, with the ability to work independently on short-term, remote assignments.
📝 Tips for Applying to PATH
Tailor your CV or profile to highlight specific advocacy campaigns you have supported, including the policy change achieved and your role in it.
Include a portfolio or writing samples of policy briefs, data visualizations, or communications products you have developed for government or donor audiences.
Explicitly state your availability for short-term, project-based assignments and your location, especially if you are based in sub-Saharan Africa or a donor capital.
Demonstrate familiarity with PATH's work by referencing specific PATH projects or publications in your application materials.
If you have relationships with policymakers in priority African geographies, name the countries and describe the nature of those relationships in your cover letter.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['A concrete example of a health policy advocacy campaign you led or contributed to that resulted in a policy change, especially in health financing or regulatory decisions.', 'Your experience developing advocacy and communications products (e.g., policy briefs, data visualizations) for government and donor audiences, with links to samples.', "Your understanding of PATH's approach to evidence-to-policy and how your skills align with their work in sub-Saharan Africa and multilateral forums.", 'Your availability, location, and any existing relationships with policymakers in priority African geographies or donor capitals.']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Review PATH's recent advocacy and policy work, especially in health financing and regulatory decision-making, to understand their priorities and approach.
- → Research PATH's key donors and partners (e.g., Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID, WHO) to understand the funding and policy landscape you would be working within.
- → Identify PATH's priority countries in sub-Saharan Africa and any ongoing campaigns or policy initiatives in those geographies.
- → Look up the backgrounds of PATH's global health policy and advocacy team to understand their expertise and potential collaboration opportunities.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic cover letter that does not mention PATH's specific work or the short-term, project-based nature of the role.
- Failing to provide concrete examples of policy change you have contributed to, or not quantifying your impact where possible.
- Ignoring the geographic preference for sub-Saharan Africa or donor capitals, and not clarifying your location and ability to work remotely in those time zones.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!