WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 2026 – Vital Voices Global Partnership is proud to welcome the eighth cohort of the Vital Voices Engage Fellowship, a transformative leadership initiative designed to equip women public leaders with the skills, network, and support needed to drive change in their communities and beyond.
This year, the program will convene 25 women public leaders from 24 countries, representing a diverse range of sectors and backgrounds united by a commitment to advancing inclusive leadership, strengthening civic engagement, and introducing and amending laws to further equity. As the program returns to its roots as a standalone initiative, Cohort Eight builds on a legacy of investing in women leaders who are shaping policy, influencing public discourse, and expanding opportunities for future generations.
Fellows will participate in a dynamic hybrid learning experience beginning with virtual programming in July and culminating in an in-person convening. Through leadership development workshops, expert-led trainings, peer learning opportunities, and global networking, participants will strengthen their capacity to lead effectively in public life and drive meaningful progress on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within their communities and beyond.
The curriculum includes the Vital Voices Leadership Journey, a framework informed by decades of investing in women leaders around the world. Fellows will engage with professors from Harvard Kennedy School, alongside experts and practitioners in public leadership, governance, strategic communications, and civic engagement, gaining practical tools to navigate complex leadership environments and drive sustainable change. The program also features a mentorship component in partnership with the Council of Women World Leaders (CWWL), connecting fellows with current and former women heads of state and government who have led transformative change at the highest levels.
As part of the broader Vital Voices Global Network, fellows will join a powerful community of 49,000 women leaders committed to advancing progress on the world’s most pressing issues. Through collaboration, mentorship, and shared learning, Cohort Eight will continue the program’s legacy of empowering women to lead boldly and create lasting impact in their communities and beyond.
The outstanding women leaders selected for the eighth Vital Voices Engage cohort are as follows:
- Adey Getaneh Negash, Judge, Addis Ababa City Court Judge, Ethiopia
- Alejandra Arburola Cabrera, Diplomat, Citizens’ Action Party (PAC), Costa Rica
- Ashiomanedu Joel, Elected Councilor, Leicester City council, United Kingdom
- Asila Wardak, Human Rights and Women’s Rights Activist, Afghanistan
- Bhumika Shrestha, Member of Parliament, Nepal
- Gabriela Vega Franco, Co-Founder and Executive Director, RECAMBIO, Peru
- Florence Bansuelo-Carlos, Vice-Mayor, Municipal of Polomolok, Philippines
- Hyeyeong Jang, Founder and Representative, Mangwonjeongx, South Korea
- Kanchana Yadav, National spokesperson, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), India
- Laura Golakeh, Deputy Minister for Gender, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Liberia
- Marielle Vavier, Deputy Mayor and Party Leader, City of The Hague / PRO The Hague, Netherlands
- Marisol Mora, Vice President for Women, Liberal Party, Chile
- Mufradatul Riadhah, Board Member, Indonesia Democracy Perjuangan Party, Indonesia
- Nabila Arab, Global Ambassador for Lebanon, International Youth Council on Gender Equality (IYCGE), Lebanon
- Neshtman Khalaf, CEO, GAV, Syria
- Olfa Jelassi, Co-Founder & Head of Strategy & Partnerships, Seed Global Development, Tunisia
- Paola Andrade, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Ecuador Dice No Más, Ecuador
- Rebecca Joseph Kashindye, Elected Local Government Councilor, Manonga Constituency, Tanzania
- Rohey Malick Lowe, Mayor of Banjul, Banjul City Council, The Gambia
- Sahar Albazar, Member of Parliament and Deputy Chair, Foreign Affairs Committee, Egypt
- Sahar Ghanem, Ambassador of Yemen to The Netherlands, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yemen,
- Sania Farooqui, Journalist/Podcast Host, The Peace Brief, India
- Shayla L. Davis, President & CEO, The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, United States
- Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharal, Minster of State for Climate Change, Government of Pakistan, Pakistan
- Sofia Castro Guerrero, Secretary of Organization and Political Action, Movimiento Ciudadano, Mexico
To learn more about the Vital Voices Engage Program, visit: https://www.vitalvoices.org/program/vvengage/ and follow the program on social media using the hashtag #VVEngage.
About Vital Voices Global Partnership
For almost three decades, Vital Voices Global Partnership has been investing in women leaders solving the world’s greatest challenges. We are “venture catalysts,” identifying those with a bold vision for change and partnering with them to make that vision a reality. We scale and accelerate their impact through long-term investments to expand the skills, connections, capacity, and visibility of women leaders.
Vital Voices provided early support for leaders who went on to become Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, U.S. Youth Poet Laureates, prime ministers, and breakthrough social entrepreneurs. Since its founding in 1997, Vital Voices has directly supported more than 49,000 women change makers across 195 countries and built the most powerful global network of women leaders who are daring to reimagine a more equitable world for all.
VV Engage Partner
The Freeport McMoRan Foundation supports programs and projects that benefit communities in workforce development, economic opportunity, and capacity and leadership. Their programs and projects also include investments in education, Native American programs, and women’s development initiatives.