Host Organization

Afghans for Progressive Thinking (APT)

Afghans for Progressive Thinking (APT) is a youth-led nonprofit organization committed to advancing social equity, human rights, and access to education for marginalized communities, with a particular focus on youth and women. APT works at the intersection of education, mental well-being, youth leadership, and advocacy by delivering mentorship programs, capacity-building initiatives, research, and advocacy that amplify voices that are being silenced and to promote inclusive and rights-based solutions.

Project Supervisor(s)

Ajmal Ramyar, Executive Director

Project Description & Objectives

The Taliban’s bans on girls’ education have created a mental health crisis. On September 17, 2021, secondary schools for girls beyond grade six were closed. Later, on December 20, 2022, universities were banned for women. Due to these restrictions, reports show that Afghan girls now suffer from depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts at alarming rates. A UN Women study (September 2024) found that 90% of women in Afghanistan describe their mental health as bad or very bad, with conditions worsening each quarter. APT works through mentorship, advocacy, mental health support, and by amplifying youth voices on global stages. While many Afghan women remain excluded, some participants in APT’s mentorship programs are receiving guidance to apply to universities abroad and continue their education. This gives them a sense of purpose, connection, and hope for the future. This research project will compare the support provided to women in Afghanistan through APT’s mentorship program with those who do not currently have such support. It will study changes in mental health and sense of belonging between the two groups. There are 45 women in the mentoring program, while the comparison group will be drawn from APT’s WhatsApp networks of over 200 young women.

Research Objectives:

• Examine how exclusion from education affects mental health.
• Measure outcomes such as depression, anxiety, stress, and suicidal ideation.
• Identify what helps mentored girls feel stronger and more hopeful.
• Document lived experiences of both groups.
• Collect evidence to improve APT’s mentorship and advocacy.
• Share findings with policymakers, NGOs, and international audiences

Fellowship Responsibilities & Deliverables

The first deliverable will be the data and findings. This can be done through a survey as well as personal stories gathered from interviews. The survey and interviews will be with participants in APT mentorship programs as well as other young women who are not part of it. These stories will focus on what helps young women to cope and stay hopeful (or what causes them to lose hope) and will show the human side of the crisis. The findings should be explained using straightforward tables, graphs, and/or infographics and accessible writing to ensure that everyone can understand. The findings will be written up first as a research report that looks at the mental health of Afghan girls who are part of our mentorship program and compares them with girls who are not in the program. There will also be a technical report that brings together all the data, stories, and lessons learned. This report will also give clear recommendations for policymakers, NGOs, and international organizations on how mentorship and education support programs can help protect the mental health of Afghan women and girls under the current restrictions.

Project Team

he fellow will work closely with the Canada-based Executive Director and will also collaborate with the APT team based in Kabul, Afghanistan to coordinate and facilitate communication with mentees and APT members. APT will assist the fellow with orientation, facilitate introductions to mentees, APT members and provide guidance throughout the project.

Fellowship Location

The fellowship will be conducted entirely online.

Technical Skills

The project requires someone with academic and/or professional training in mental health and trauma who can use these skills to support the design/implementation of the research and support themselves during the Fellowship. The fellow should have strong written and oral communication skills.

Required research skills: previous experience of designing, implementing and analysing an online survey, interviews and focus groups. Evidence of ability to write reports for academic audiences and NGO/professional audiences.

Required technology skills: demonstrated ability to conduct research online, use of tools like WhatsApp to stay in touch with participants.

Transferable Skills

For this project, the required transferable skills include good communication, teamwork, and project management. Communication is important because the project needs to reach young women from different provinces and listen to their concerns. Teamwork and management are also important because the project must organize surveys, interviews, and group discussions, and make sure that all research goals are met on time.

The assets that are useful for this project include networking skills, advocacy skills, and partnership building. These skills help the project connect with other organizations, raise awareness about the mental health crisis, and build strong partnerships to share findings. These assets will make the research more effective.

Other assets include at least a basic understanding of the context of Afghanistan, Dari and Pashto language skills, interest in gender issues, and experience of working with women experiencing trauma and/or mental health challenges. 

Additional Application Materials

Based on the work the applicants will be conducting for this project, a short writing simple (2-5 pages), such as academic paper, policy research paper is required to be submitted by the applicants.

Host Organization

African Canadian Development and Prevention Network (ACDPN)

Our Mission:

• Develop a network of organizations that can contribute to a thriving Black community;
• Facilitate organizational capacity building, joint planning and resource development;
• Promote healthy approaches and best practice prevention models;
• Advocate for improved access to services for the Black community that are adapted both culturally and linguistically;
• Promote and support the Strengthening of Black Families.

Our vision is to be a resource to members of the Black community in the Greater Montréal Area through the development of a network of organizations, experts and community members advocating for the healthy development and vitality of the Black community.

Project Supervisor(s)

Soukaina Hamia, Program Director

Project Description & Objectives

English-speaking Black communities in Montreal are double minorities, with both visible and linguistic minority status. Consequently, community members face significant barriers when accessing mainstream health and social services, including language barriers, systemic racism, and a lack of culturally responsive care. These barriers increase reliance on Black-led community organizations as trusted spaces for support, information, and connection.

At the same time, the lived experiences and structural barriers faced by English-speaking Black communities contribute to greater and more complex health and social needs, particularly in areas such as early childhood development, mental health, and support for youth and seniors. Current and recent periods of socio-economic strain further underscore the role of community-based organizations as trusted and accessible spaces for support, especially for communities that experience barriers to mainstream systems. Despite this reliance, there is currently no comprehensive understanding of how the organizational ecosystem in English-speaking Black communities in Montreal aligns with key social determinants of health, nor where gaps in services and organizational capacity may limit the communities’ ability to respond effectively.

To address this gap, the McBurney Fellow will map Black-led community organizations through a health equity lens by documenting organizations by mandate and sector, engaging organizational leaders and community stakeholders through interviews, and synthesizing findings to identify ecosystem strengths, service gaps, and structural challenges.

The objective of this work is to generate accessible, actionable knowledge to support community development, health advocacy, and future capacity-building efforts, particularly in the context of culturally adapted care and emerging approaches such as social prescribing.

This project is intentionally designed as a scoping and learning-focused initiative, rather than a program implementation. It reflects ACDPN’s commitment to grounding future community development, health advocacy, and capacity-building efforts in evidence, lived experience, and a clear understanding of the existing community ecosystem. Findings from this project will inform longer-term planning through the Ujima initiative and support more coordinated, culturally responsive approaches to reducing health inequities affecting English-speaking Black communities in Montreal.

Fellowship Responsibilities & Deliverables

• Black Community Organization Ecosystem Map
  • A visual and descriptive map of Black-led community organizations in Montreal, categorized by mandate and sector, and situated in relation to key social determinants of health.
• Health Equity Gap Analysis Brief
  • A focused analytical brief examining how the current Black community organizational ecosystem aligns with key social determinants of health, identifying areas where community organizations are positioned to respond and where gaps remain. Findings will be informed by the ecosystem mapping and key informant interviews.
• Community-Facing Summary and Infographics
  • A plain-language summary and visual materials designed for sharing with community partners, board members, and funders, highlighting key findings and insights in an accessible format.
• Final Presentation (Time permitting)
  • A presentation or recorded overview summarizing the project approach, findings, and implications, suitable for knowledge-sharing with stakeholders.

Project Team

• Soukaina Hamia – Lead Supervisor / Project Lead
  • Soukaina will serve as the primary supervisor for the McBurney Fellow, providing day-to-day guidance, overseeing the project work plan, and supporting research activities and deliverables.
• Ushana Houston – Strategic & Community Advisor
  • Ushana will provide strategic oversight and community context, drawing on her relationships with Black-led community organizations. She will support partnership engagement, contextual interpretation of findings, and alignment with ACDPN’s broader mission.
• Tooba Waseem – Public Health Support Lead
  • Tooba will support the project by contributing public health–informed perspectives, drawing on her undergraduate training in public health to assist with analysis related to health equity and social determinants of health.
• Project Intern – Administrative & Logistical Support
  • A project intern will support administrative and logistical tasks, including scheduling interviews, coordinating meetings, and organizing project materials.

Fellowship Location

The fellowship will be conducted in a hybrid format, with the fellow based primarily at ACDPN’s NDG office and flexibility to work remotely. As part of the research, the fellow may also be required to travel within Montreal to conduct interviews with Black-led community organizations and community stakeholders

Technical Skills

Required:

• Strong written communication skills (ability to produce organized, plain-language written materials)
• Basic qualitative research skills (e.g., note-taking, thematic analysis, synthesis of interview data)
• Ability to organize and manage information from multiple sources
• Ability to conduct semi-structured interviews with guidance and supervision

Assets: 

• Experience with community-based or qualitative research methods
• Familiarity with health equity, social determinants of health, or public health concepts
• Experience creating visual materials (e.g., simple maps, infographics, or diagrams)
• Experience working with or researching community organizations or nonprofits
• Knowledge of the Quebec or Montreal community services landscape

Transferable Skills

Required:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to engage respectfully witt community stakeholders
• Organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to work independently and meet deadlines
• Critical thinking and analytical skills
• Cultural humility and sensitivity when working with marginalized communities
• Willingness to learn and adapt in a community-based research environment

Assets:

• Lived experience within Black communities or other marginalized communities
• Experience working in community, volunteer, or advocacy settings
• Interest in community development, health equity, or social justice
• Ability to work across different perspectives and organizational contexts
• Presentation skills or comfort sharing findings with diverse audiences

Additional Material

Applicants are encouraged to submit one optional writing sample demonstrating their ability to synthesize information and communicate clearly in plain language. Specifications: 1–2 pages maximum May be an academic paper excerpt, policy brief, reflection piece, report, or communitybased writing sample Topic does not need to be health-related, but should demonstrate clarity of thought, organization, and analytical skills Applicants are also encouraged to use their personal statement to reflect on their interest in health equity and community well-being, and why they are particularly interested in issues affecting Black communities.

Host Organization

Africa Coalition for Academic Freedom (ACAF)

ACAF is a civil society organisation based in Accra, Ghana and partnered with the Scholars at Risk Network (SAR), New York, USA. It is dedicated to advancing research on, and promoting a culture of respect for, academic freedom in Africa through monitoring, advocacy, and providing support for at-risk scholars.

Project Supervisor(s)

Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua, the Regional Director of ACAF

Project Description & Objectives

Many African scholars have left the continent, not for economic reasons but as a result of persecution by State and or non-State actors simply for their academic works related to the pursuit, production, dissemination and application of knowledge to promote human rights, democracy, rule of law and to challenge orthodoxy and speak truth to power. Some managed to obtain the opportunity to seek support through various at-risk scholar programmes. Among this group, while some have secured permanent positions in universities and other research organisations to undertake academic ventures, for the majority, it has not been possible for them to access such opportunities. To make ends meet, they are forced to quit academia to find other means of survival. The 'Back Home Africa' project seeks to locate such academics and link them to universities on the continent to fill in the scholarly personnel gaps that many universities face in Africa. The first stage of the project is to identify all programmes, organisations and institutions that provide sanctuaries for at-risk scholars to link up with such academics to discuss such a project and to link them to universities that may need their skills and finally arrange for return to Africa to work in these institutions. The second aspect of the project is to invite such institutions to team up with ACAF to link such at-risk scholars to African universities in need of teaching personnel/research personnel to provide employment and protection for such scholars, instead of finding sanctuaries for them outside the continent. This way, Africa will be able to retain its critical scholarly personnel on the continent outside their countries of origin/persecution, either temporarily or permanently, remotely and/or in person.

Fellowship Responsibilities & Deliverables

• To identify the institutions in Europe and North America in particular that provide sanctuaries for at-risk and threatened scholars
• Create/obtain a database of African scholars they are providing sanctuary and teaching/research opportunities to
• Create a database of African universities with needs for teaching/research personnel and develop arrangements on how to offer sanctuary and opportunities for such scholars
• Work with such sanctuaries to divert providing sanctuaries for African scholars outside the continent to institutions within the continent
• Seek funding support for such projects

Project Team

Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua, Prof Philip Kwame Duku, Prof Kwasi H Prempeh, Prof Gyimah-Boadi

Fellowship Location

Accra or remotely

Technical Skills

Required:

• Knowledge of International Human Rights/Refugee law
• Knowledge of the higher education landscape generally, but mostly in Africa
• Language proficiency in French and/or Portuguese will be an advantage
• Data analysis
• Developing, designing, and conducting research activities
• Report writing
• Coordinating administrative and logistical details
• Reviewing, writing, and editing executive documentation
• Planning online meetings with stakeholders

Transferable Skills

Required:

• Diplomatic and interpersonal relations skills
• Empathy
• Communication and leadership skills
• Ability to relate well to people
• Time management

Host Organization

Armenian Spiritual Revival Foundation (ASRF)

The goal of ASRF is to design, pilot, and scale psycho-spiritual programs rooted in Armenia’s legacy of survival and
revival, by advancing mental health through research, practitioner training, and design of culturally
adaptable programs that restore agency and strengthen communities in post-conflict settings.

Project Supervisor

Nazeli Kirakosyan (Armenian Spiritual Revival Foundation), Programs Monitoring and Evaluation Manager

Prof. Jura Augustinavicius (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal), Associate Professor

Project Description & Objectives

The Armenian Revival Journey (ARJ) program emerged from a deep recognition of the psychological and spiritual wounds left by historical and contemporary traumas in Armenia. The overarching goal of the program is to foster a pro-future mindset that supports participants to courageously engage in their lives, families, and communities. The program aims to enhance personal agency and community connection while strengthening spiritual values and active historical thinking (e.g., reflection on Armenians’ resilience across generations). Through structured group sessions, workshops, and reflective exercises, ARJ seeks to facilitate meaningful personal transformation, empower individuals to navigate challenges with confidence, and develop a sense of collective identity and purpose.

The Armenian Spiritual Revival Foundation, in collaboration with the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Implementation Research Program, will rigorously evaluate the ARJ program by designing and implementing a randomized controlled trial (RCT). The objective of the RCT will be to examine the effectiveness of the ARJ program.

Fellow Responsibilities & Deliverables

As part of an interdisciplinary and international team, the fellow will work to define processes and develop materials that will guide successful implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the RCT by:

• Supporting the development of a monitoring and evaluation system for the ARJ program within the context of the RCT.
• Developing standard operating procedures for monitoring and evaluation of the ARJ program.
• Developing training materials for quantitative and qualitative data collection for project data collectors.
• Developing standard operating procedures for the implementation of the RCT.

Project Team

The fellow will work with staff from the Armenian Spiritual Revival Foundation and the Climate Change and Mental Health Lab (which is based out of McGill University and Université de Montréal).

Fellowship Location

The fellow will spend time with the team in Montréal and at the Armenian Spiritual Revival Foundation in Yerevan, Armenia. Approximately four weeks in Montréal and eight weeks in Yerevan are anticipated, although the duration and timing of travel will be decided jointly with the fellow, considering their background and skills, project needs, and availability.

Technical Skills

Required:

The fellow should have experience with research and academic communication (including reports), and a fundamental understanding of quantitative and qualitative methods.

Assets:

Experience developing standard operating procedures, data collection materials, and training materials; interest in mental health, global health, or humanitarian health; knowledge of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) programs or interventions.

Transferable Skills

Required:

Strong communication skills (oral and written); strong time management and organizational skills; ability to work in an international team setting and independently; willingness and ability to travel to Armenia (valid passport, eligibility to obtain a visa for Armenia).

Assets:

Ability to communicate in Armenian; familiarity with the Armenian context; prior experience working in a public or global health setting and/or a humanitarian setting.

Additional Application Materials

Applicants should submit a writing sample of 10 pages or fewer. This may be a paper written for an academic course, a first-authored peer-reviewed manuscript, a professional report, or other writing that demonstrates the ability to think critically and communicate effectively.

Host Organization

Center for Disaster Preparedness Foundation, Inc. (CDPFI)

CDPFI endeavors to promote community-based climate and disaster risk reduction and management through its various programs, advocacy, and research work. It works closely with various stakeholders and marginalized groups to conduct Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (CBDRRM) and to implement proactive measures for inclusive disaster preparedness, mitigation, prevention, response, and rehabilitation.

Project Supervisor(s)

Revka Perez, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Officer

Elna Kaluang-Alih, Project Manager

Dr. Claudia Mitchell, James McGill Professor, McGill University, Department of Integrated Studies in Education; Director, Participatory Cultures Lab (PCL)

Project Description & Objectives

DRR-YIELDS is a two-year partnership project of CDPFI and Margareth A. Cargill Philanthropies. The project aims to capacitate youth from at-risk communities to ideate, develop, manage, and sustain locally innovative disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation solutions that address identified needs and conditions. Through a community-led innovation process, youth innovators contribute to reducing climate and disaster risks, ultimately paving the way for resilience and development.

Objectives: 

• Organize children’s and youth organizations, both in-school and out-of-school, to ensure sectoral leadership in innovation development and sustainability.
• Build and strengthen the capacities of the most vulnerable sectors, especially children and youth, as well as relevant stakeholders and duty bearers, in preparedness, prevention, mitigation, and risk reduction, enabling them to become active actors in DRR/CCA.
• Identify, design, implement, and improve innovative DRR solutions that address community needs and challenges.
• Create intergenerational and intersectoral learning platforms on innovative DRR and CCA solutions involving children, youth, and community partners from other communities.

Fellowship Responsibilities & Deliverables

The fellow may engage either remotely or in person. For remote engagement, the fellow will assist in transcribing and analyzing inputs from youth innovators’ reflection journals as part of the project’s monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities and will submit a content analysis report.

For in-person engagement, the fellow will conduct field visits, interviews, and community observations with youth innovators focused on their innovations, experiences, and feedback on the DRR-YIELDS project, and will submit interview transcripts and article(s) to be posted on the CDPFI website and social media. If the schedule permits, the fellow may also assist in the transcription and analysis of youth innovators’ reflection journals.

Project Team

• Elna Kaluang-Aliih, Project Manager
• Joan Denolan, Capacity Development Officer
• Alyssa Mae Payongga, Area Coordinator, Camarines Norte
• Mary Cris, Project Staff, Camarines Norte
• Margie Pelito, Area Coordinator, Northern Samar
• Jayson Genotiva, Project Staff, Northern Samar
• Justine Paolo Era, Communications Officer
• Geanette Galvez, Innovation Specialist
• Revka Perez, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Officer

Fellowship Location

For in-person engagement, the fellow will be based in the province of Camarines Norte, Bicol Region, Philippines.

Technical Skills

Required skills: Research, transcription, qualitative data analysis, content analysis, technical writing.

Assets: Photography, graphic design, newswriting/article writing.

Transferable Skills

Required skills: Verbal and written communication skills; Critical thinking; Attention to detail; Teamwork; Adaptability

Additional Application Materials

At least two writing samples; 2-3 pages long.

 

Host Organization

Commissaire à la santé et au bien-être (CSBE)

Commissaire à la santé et au bien-être's goal is to evaluate the performance of the health care system in Quebec.

Project Supervisor(s)

Yun Jen, Medical Consultant 

Project Description & Objectives

There are currently several organizations working on wellbeing using surveillance indicators, such as G15+, Greater Montreal Community, Greater Quebec Community, the Institut de statistique du Québec, Statistics Canada, and others. However, there is no unified set of indicators that enables meaningful comparison across these initiatives.

Establishing a unified set of wellbeing indicators in Quebec is essential to better reflect what truly matters to people’s quality of life and to guide public action more effectively. While economic indicators such as GDP provide useful information, they offer only a partial picture of societal progress. Wellbeing indicators make visible the social, environmental, cultural, and health dimensions that shape people’s daily lives, including mental health, social connections, housing, education, environmental quality, and a sense of purpose and belonging.

A unified framework would create a shared language across government departments, public institutions, municipalities, and community organizations. This common reference point would reduce fragmentation, improve policy coordination, and support more coherent decision-making. When all actors work from the same set of indicators, it becomes easier to align strategies, identify trade-offs, and assess collective progress toward shared goals.

Such indicators also strengthen evidence-informed policymaking. By tracking changes in wellbeing over time and across regions and population groups, Quebec can better identify inequalities, anticipate emerging challenges, and evaluate the real impacts of policies and programs. This supports smarter investments by focusing resources where they can have the greatest positive effect on people’s lives.

Moreover, a unified set of wellbeing indicators enhances transparency and democratic accountability. Clear and accessible measures allow citizens to understand how society is doing beyond economic growth and to hold institutions accountable for improving wellbeing. Finally, by integrating perspectives such as Indigenous knowledge and community-defined priorities, Quebec can develop indicators that are culturally relevant and reflective of its unique social fabric. In doing so, wellbeing becomes not an abstract ideal, but a measurable and shared objective guiding collective action.

Fellowship Responsibilities & Deliverables

• A mapping of all current wellbeing indicators being used in Quebec and Canada.
• An analytical framework of divergences and convergences, including results from focus groups.

Project Team

• Yun Jen, medical consultant from the Health and Wellbeing Commissioner (CSBE)
• Mathieu Masse-Jolicoeur, agent de programmation, planification et de recherche, CIUSSS Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal

Fellowship Location

CSBE: 2021 Union Street, Montreal.

Technical Skills

Required:

• Qualitative analysis
• Mastery of Microsoft Office

Asset:

• Literature review

Transferable Skills

Required:

• Teamwork

Asset:

• Knowledge of basic principles in public health surveillance
• Political analysis

Additional Application Materials

Example of a report written on a similar topic in public health

Host Organization

CRARR (Center For Research-Action on Race Relation), in collaboration with CERES Lab (Centre for Relationships in Serious Illness)

CRARR is a Montreal-based non-profit civil rights organization that was founded in 1983 with the mandate to fight racism and advance racial equality. It is considered as one of the leading non-profit race relations organizations in Canada. Before courts, tribunals, and human rights organizations, CRARR has directly assisted more than 1,000 individuals who are racialized, immigrants, or members of Charter-protected groups, such as women, seniors, and people with disabilities, who face discrimination and harassment in a variety of sectors, including employment, public and commercial services, education, and housing. This has provided important insights into whether and how marginalized groups in the healthcare system, among others, feel acknowledged, validated, and understood.

CERES is a research centre located in the Department of Family Medicine at McGill University. Its mission is to advance the science and practice of high-quality relationship-building between people affected by serious illness and their care providers. The driving focus of their research, improving doctor-patient relationships, involves investigating and prioritizing communication and connection, through knowledge gathering, clinician training, and information support for both patients and providers.

Project Supervisor

• Samara Perez: Psychologist; Associate Investigator, Research Institute of the MUHC (RI-MUHC); Assistant Professor, Department of Oncology, McGill University
• Justin Sanders: Kappy and Eric M. Flanders Chair of Palliative Care; Palliative Care, McGill; Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, McGill University; Director, Division of Supportive and Palliative Care, McGill University Health Centre
• Fo Niemi: CRARR Executive Director

Project Description & Objectives

The fellow will work on projects addressing Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) in access to Comprehensive Psychosocial Oncology (PSO) Services and identifying health needs of victims of discrimination & violence of cancer patients. PSO services address the psychological and social challenges faced by patients throughout the cancer journey, helping improve quality of life. Unfortunately, SDOHs such as socioeconomic status, race, and more, create disparities in cancer outcomes. Yet, healthcare systems lack standardized SDH data collection to identify and rectify these inequities, preventing the delivery of effective PSO care. This project is designed to understand and address these disparities, examining how social factors influence who gets support, when, and whether services work equally well across diverse groups.

In addition, the fellow will overlook the psychosocial health needs of victims of discrimination and violence in Montreal. Through its services and activities, CRARR has identified a set of health issues surrounding the individuals whom it assists, including mental and emotional issues, social behavioral modifications and economic hardships. These observations recognize the gaps in the qualitative documentation of and in services and programs that respond to these needs, which vary on the basis of factors such as gender, cultural backgrounds, family dynamics, socioeconomic position and education.

In this context, research on the psychosocial health needs of victims of discrimination and violence in Montreal and the social determinants of health involved will be useful to more clearly document these multilayered needs, and to promote the development of appropriate and adequate programs and services.

Fellow Responsibilities & Deliverables

• Developing and advancing grant proposal and manuscript writing
• Contributing to an ongoing literature review on social assessment approaches, including peer-reviewed papers, conference abstracts, policy white papers, policy reports, and working papers
• Summarizing existing quantitative data sources, such as surveys used in the recent literature

Project Team

The student will join members of the Center for Relationships in Serious Illness and engage substantively in discussions about ongoing projects during weekly team meetings. Members include faculty and students from McGill. Furthermore, the student will be collaborating closely with the team at CRARR.

Fellowship Location

5858 Chem. de la Côte-des-Neiges, Montréal, QC

• Part of the work may also be performed at the Research Institute of the MUHC, as well as online (telework).

Technical Skills

Required:

• Ability to conduct literature searches and synthesize findings
• Strong writing and communication skills
• Organizational skills

Assets:

• Experience with qualitative methods (thematic analysis, coding)
• Familiarity with R, Python, Nvivo
• Interest in oncology and palliative care
• Background in health sciences, psychology, or communication research

Transferable Skills

Required:

• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Effective teamwork and communication in interdisciplinary settings
• Ability to work independently and adapt to evolving project needs
• Open-mindedness and sensitivity to ethically complex and emotionally sensitive issues

Assets:

• Experience conducting interviews or working with patients or families
• Cross-cultural communication skills
• Comfort in bilingual (English/French) environments

Additional Application Materials

N/A

Host Organization

Flemingdon Health Centre

Flemingdon Health Centre (FHC) was initiated in 1972 as a satellite clinic of the University of Toronto’s Sunnybrook Hospital. Initially, the centre served as a teaching site for the Sunnybrook Residency Program. In 1974, FHC was officially recognized as Toronto's first Community Health Centre (CHC), and by 1975, it became an independent not-for-profit organization with its own Board of Directors. As a registered charity and incorporated CHC, FHC provides a wide range of health-related services grounded in the social determinants of health and community engagement models. It is primarily funded by the Ministry of Health/Ontario Health (Toronto).

In addition to family medicine, FHC emphasizes addressing broader factors that impact community health, including poverty, employment, food security, isolation, and newcomer support. Its programs emphasize health promotion, disease prevention, community involvement, and collaboration with local agencies and organizations. Underlying its work is a commitment to improving health equity by providing accessible services to vulnerable populations and advocating for policies that address the social determinants of health. The organization embraces diversity and promotes inclusion through an Anti-Racism Anti-Oppression (ARAO) framework, fostering respect, equity, and belonging in its programs and services. FHC engages with clients, partners, and community stakeholders to identify health needs, strengthen communities, and deliver responsive, comprehensive health programs. The organization prioritizes accountability and transparency, ensuring optimal use of resources and reporting outcomes to stakeholders.

The organization continuously strives for excellence by fostering a culture of learning, innovation, and improvement in its interdisciplinary programs and services. Collaboration is key to FHC’s work, as it partners with academic institutions and supports community development, leadership, and resiliency. Since its founding, FHC has maintained a strong tradition as a teaching centre. It is affiliated with the University of Toronto’s Department of Family and Community Medicine and regularly host students from a variety of universities and community colleges.

Project Supervisor(s)

Neil Stephens, Senior Manager, Systems Transformation, Flemingdon Health Centre

Dr. Alayne Adams, Associate Professor and Global Health Director, Department of Family Medicine, McGill University

Project Description & Objectives

The South Asian Diabetes Prevention Program (SADPP) is a long-running community-based, culturally tailored program developed by FHC to address the disproportionate burden of type-2 diabetes faced by South Asians living in the Toronto region. The program focuses on clients who face barriers to accessing healthcare and community services by conducting mobile clinics across the Greater Toronto Area where clients are screened for their risk of diabetes. This is followed up with workshops where clients are educated using culturally relevant resources on how to prevent diabetes.

FHC has indicated an interest in generating knowledge about the implementation of the SADPP useful to the development and implementation of similar programs for other ethnic minority populations who have a high prevalence of diabetes, such as Aboriginal Canadians, Black Canadians, and Chinese Canadians. At their request, the McBurney Fellow would focus their attention on research that explores the SADPP implementation, supported by faculty from McGill University. The Fellow would design and conduct a qualitative program evaluation of the SADPP that examines program components and experiences of program staff along with service users in the community. The Fellow will facilitate the participation of service users in this research by engaging with community leaders.

The proposed implementation research project would provide the Fellow with an opportunity for hands-on yet supported learning about the conduct of community-engaged research grounded in values of health equity. Research results will contribute to FHC’s vision of creating stronger, healthier communities by improving diabetes outcomes for South Asians living in Toronto.

Fellowship Responsibilities & Deliverables

The Fellow will produce a Research Proposal at the beginning of the fellowship, an Interim Report of the preliminary findings from the qualitative analysis, and a Final Report summarizing the research, including lessons learned for FHC to further their diabetes programming and services offered. The FHC fully supports this work, and looks forward to its results as it develops a new diabetes program for the community it serves. Insights on crucial content and implementation components and processes are welcomed.

Project Team

The Fellow will report directly to Neil Stephens, Senior Manager of Systems Transformation at FHC, and they will collaborate with FHC staff on an ad hoc basis to facilitate the research project. The Fellow will get implementation research guidance and qualitative methodological support from Dr. Alayne Adams, Associate Professor and Global Health Director in the Department of Family Medicine at McGill University.

Fellowship Location

The Fellow’s work will be conducted primarily on-site at the Flemingdon Health Centre in Toronto, but will also include working with clients and stakeholders in the community.

Technical Skills

The Fellow must possess skills in the design and execution of research projects under the guidance of faculty including the ability to develop a research question and methodology appropriate to the needs of the community organization. They must possess knowledge of qualitative methods and have experience analyzing interview or focus group data. They must be skilled in scientific communication including writing reports. Assets include the Fellow’s interest in implementation science and related theory.

Transferable Skills

The Fellow must be flexible and have the ability to problem solve to overcome challenges and facilitate research activities. They must demonstrate skills in team management including the ability to collaborate with diverse research and community partners. Assets include a South Asian background or ability to communicate in a South Asian language, which will facilitate the development of trust through mutual understanding with service users.

Additional Application Materials

Please submit a 1-2 page research proposal for a qualitative program evaluation of the SADPP. The proposal can remain high-level and does not need to include specific details of the program.

Host Organization

UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNESCO IESALC)

UNESCO IESALC is mandated to contribute to improving higher education in UNESCO's Member States. The institute focuses on advancing the right to higher education through research, policy analysis, capacity building, and advocacy.

Project Supervisor(s)

Dr. Francesc Pedró, Director of UNESCO IESALC

Dr. Emma Harden-Wolfson, McGill University, Faculty of Education

Project Description & Objectives

This project will contribute to UNESCO IESALC's ongoing work on the right to higher education by conducting a comprehensive literature review that builds on the institute's recent work in this field (https://www.iesalc.unesco.org/en/right-to-higher-education/). The project responds to a critical need identified in UNESCO IESALC's research: the need for stronger evidence to support collective advocacy for the right to higher education globally.

Building on the institute's recent analysis of 15 national case studies, the project focuses specifically on how higher education policies can better serve equity deserving groups who face significant socioeconomic barriers, including people with limited economic means, those from remote/rural areas, Indigenous peoples, and forcibly displaced people. This aligns directly with evidence that higher education access remains deeply unequal - while global enrollment has doubled in 20 years, students from disadvantaged backgrounds continue to face systematic exclusion.

The fellow will analyze academic and policy literature on how different countries approach the right to higher education, examining six key policy categories identified in UNESCO IESALC's framework: funding for students, information, infrastructure, pathways, quotas, and regulation. Particular attention will be paid to:

• Policy mechanisms for expanding access and ensuring student success
• Approaches to supporting equity deserving groups, including racialized people, Indigenous peoples, people with limited economic means, persons with disabilities, women, LGBTQ+ persons, forcibly displaced people, and people from remote/rural locations
• Implementation challenges and solutions across different national contexts
• Innovative practices and emerging trends, especially regarding technology use in expanding access

The review will help identify gaps in current knowledge, inform future research directions, and strengthen UNESCO IESALC's social justice framework on the right to higher education. This work directly supports the institute's mission to make a stronger case for collective advocacy when it comes to the right to higher education, ultimately contributing to UNESCO's vision of building a more peaceful, just and harmonious world through expanded access to quality higher education.

Fellowship Responsibilities & Deliverables

• A comprehensive literature review report (40-50 pages)
• An executive summary highlighting key findings (5 pages)
• A presentation to UNESCO IESALC staff and local higher education stakeholders
• A bibliography of relevant sources

Project Team

The McBurney Fellow will work with senior researchers involved in the national case studies project, including two visiting researchers; the institute's policy analysis specialists; and Dr. Emma Harden-Wolfson.

Fellowship Location

Onsite at the UNESCO Regional Office in Montevideo, Uruguay. A remote placement is possible for this position, but being based at UNESCO IESALC's office in Montevideo provides several strategic advantages:

1. Direct involvement in ongoing policy research, for example contributing to UNESCO IESALC's regional consultations on higher education policy
2. Access to unique regional expertise: Learning firsthand about Latin America's extensive experience with policies like quotas, targeted scholarships, and free public higher education, and (if applicable) accessing Spanish-language resources and regional data not readily available elsewhere
3. Practical policy experience: Attending meetings and policy dialogues between UNESCO IESALC and local stakeholders, observing how research translates into policy recommendations

Applicants should indicate in their personal statement whether they would prefer to be based in Montevideo or remotely for the fellowship. Applicants who are interested in a placement in Montevideo will be prioritized.

Technical Skills

Required:

• Advanced research and academic writing skills
• Proficiency in using academic databases
• Strong data analysis capabilities

Assets:

• Knowledge of higher education policy analysis
• Experience with qualitative research methods
• Spanish language research capabilities

Transferable Skills

Required:

• Excellent analytical and synthesis abilities
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines
• Clear written communication skills in English

Assets:

• Experience or commitment to working in international contexts
• Project management experience
• Presentation skills

Additional Application Materials

1. Applicants should submit a writing sample demonstrating academic research and analysis capabilities (15-20 pages)
2. The personal statement should include a brief proposal outlining the potential approach to the literature review.

More About the Project

This fellowship offers a unique opportunity to contribute to UNESCO IESALC's important work on advancing the right to higher education globally. The fellow's work will directly inform policy recommendations and advocacy efforts aimed at making higher education more equitable and accessible worldwide. The position would particularly benefit candidates interested in international education policy, educational equity, and social justice in higher education.

Host Organization

Ghana Mental Health Authority (MHA)

The Ghana Mental Health Authority (MHA), created under the 2012 Act, is tasked with providing culturally appropriate, quality mental health care across the country.

Project Supervisor(s)

Mr. Atim Daniel, Call Center Supervisor (MHA)

Mr. Emmanuel Okoe, Senior Administrative Manager (MHA)

Dr. Richard Appiah, Senior Lecturer (University of Ghana)

Dr. Evans Danso, Director of Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (MHA)

Dr. Marilyn Ahun, Assistant Professor (McGill University)

Project Description & Objectives

Despite the centrality of mental wellbeing to the WHO’s definition of health, numerous barriers persist in promoting mental health globally. The world faces a mental health crisis, marked by high rates of mental health problems, insufficient investments in addressing the social determinants of mental health, and substantial treatment gaps. Ghana, a lower-middle-income country, is similarly affected. Although the 2012 Mental Health Act aimed to shift mental health services in the country from an institutional model to a community-based approach, challenges such as the lack of adequately trained mental health professionals remain. The Ghana Mental Health Authority (MHA), created under the 2012 Act, is tasked with providing culturally appropriate, quality mental health care across the country. As part of its mandate, the MHA established a mental health helpline in 2022 to connect individuals in crisis to appropriate services. This initiative aligns with the Lancet commission on global mental health and sustainable development’s call to embrace technological solutions to delivering mental health interventions to population groups in remote and low-resource settings. Yet there are no data on how the helpline is run, information that is crucial for improving its effectiveness. This project aims to map the MHA’s mental health helpline infrastructure and functionality. The McBurney Fellow will achieve this by conducting interviews with helpline attendants and management and analyzing the transcripts to identify strengths and areas for improvement in service delivery.

Fellowship Responsibilities & Deliverables

The McBurney Fellow will produce a 10-page report (not counting title, summary, and table of content pages nor any appendices) detailing their findings from the analysis of interview transcripts. This report will help the MHA better understand the functioning of the helpline and provide guidance on how the service can be improved to better address the mental health needs of the population. The McBurney Fellow will be offered the opportunity to collaborate as a co-author on any scientific publications resulting from their report.

Project Team

The Fellow will be directly supervised by Mr. Atim Daniel (Call Center Supervisor) and Mr. Emmanuel Okoe (Senior Administrative Manager) at the MHA. They will also have regular (weekly) meetings with Dr. Evans Danso, (Director of Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation at the MHA), Dr. Marilyn N. Ahun (Assistant Professor at McGill University), and Dr. Richard Appiah (Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana and Assistant Professor at Northumbria University).

Fellowship Location

The fellowship will be conducted in-person at the MHA office in Accra, Ghana.

Technical Skills

Required

• Ability to communicate fluently in English
• Experience conducting, transcribing, or analyzing qualitative in-depth interviews
• Basic understanding of psychopathology and how symptoms are expressed

Assets

• Experience working in or conducting research in mental health
• Experience volunteering or working at a mental health/crisis helpline
• Familiarity with Ghana’s cultural context, particularly regarding local perceptions of mental health

Transferable Skills

Required:

• Strong communication skills (oral and written)
• Ability to respond clearly, ask pertinent questions, think critically
• Willingness to work with a diversity of collaborators, ability to be flexible
• Prior experience working in a global health setting for at least one month

Additional Application Materials

Please submit a writing sample (at least 5 pages) that demonstrates your capacity for conducting research, analyzing data, and making policy-relevant recommendations. It can be from a course assignment or previous work/volunteer experience and must be just one document (not excerpts from multiple documents).

More About the Host Organization

The Ghana Mental Health Authority (MHA) is headed by a Chief Executive and structured into seven key divisions, each with specific responsibilities and roles:

1. Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division focuses on the creation and formulation of policies, standard operating protocols, and guidelines that guide all activities within the MHA. It also works closely with the Finance Division to establish clear guidelines for the budgeting across the MHA. Finally, it is responsible for overseeing the execution of policies and plans and ensuring that they are implemented effectively.
2. Finance Division is tasked with the management of all financial resources of the MHA.
3. Audit Division ensures the presence of strong internal control systems and compliance with both national financial management regulations and internal policies.
4. Administration Division is responsible for the day-to-day administrative operations of the MHA. Key areas under the Administration Division include human resources, general administration, transport, estate management, procurement, and security.
5. Regional and District Coordination Division plays a key role in coordinating mental health services, ensuring that mental health programs are effectively rolled out, and that patients receive the necessary care. Works closely with 16 regional and district mental health coordinators responsible for implementing community mental health care services in their respective regions.
6. QualityRights Initiative Division oversees the implementation of the QualityRights Initiative, a collaborative project between the MHA and the World Health Organization (WHO). The initiative focuses on building the capacity of mental health staff and patients to promote recovery while upholding human rights for people with mental health conditions and psychosocial or intellectual disabilities.
7. Technical Division focuses on providing expert advice, developing mental health interventions, and supporting the implementation of evidence-based practices across the MHA. This division also ensure that technical aspects of mental health care, such as the development and dissemination of treatment protocols, are handled efficiently.