Community of Practice

AstraZeneca is looking for young leaders from all corners of the world who are committed to advocacy in at least one of the following focus areas: 

• Improving health equity and access - advocating to improve equitable health outcomes for all by reducing the distance between people and healthcare, particularly among marginalised and historically disadvantaged groups of young people. For example, advancing gender equity in healthcare for girls and women. 
• Mitigating the impact of climate on health and healthcare - advocating for the mitigation of the harmful effects of climate change on the health and well-being of young people. 
• Health system strengthening and resilience - advocating for stronger, more equitable health systems, prioritisation of youth-focused resources and collaboration across health system stakeholders. 

Examples may include (but are not limited to) advocacy on these aims: 

• Advancing greater access for girls and women to have greater healthcare outcomes, breaking down barriers and enabling greater access to healthcare information and services. 
• Adopting long-term health system budget planning that addresses social, economic and environmental factors and workforce needs. 
• Executing integrated non-communicable disease strategies that prioritise prevention and early detection. 
• Utilising new technologies to reduce hospitalisations and improve access to high-quality, innovative care. 
• Reducing socioeconomic inequalities through a "Health in all policies" approach. 
• Advocating for climate reduction, mitigation, and measurement measures as it links to health outcomes for young people, particularly marginalised and vulnerable groups. 

Background

AstraZeneca recognises that prioritising prevention is essential if we are to meet the increasing demand for healthcare services and improve equitable outcomes. We need a fundamental shift from ‘sick care’ to health care, gearing our health systems to act earlier to prevent, and enable access to health education, literacy, and health empowerment. 

AstraZeneca’s Young Health Programme (YHP) is a global disease prevention programme with a unique focus on young people aged 10 to 24, living in vulnerable environments and under-resourced settings around the world. The YHP aims to prevent the most common non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory disease.  

A holistic and integrated programme, it combines community programmes, research and advocacy and supports the development of young leaders. The YHP is part of AstraZeneca’s sustainability commitment to accelerate delivery of sustainable healthcare and use our capabilities to strengthen health systems and improve equitable access.  

Our mission is to foster sustainable, collective leadership focused on improving youth and adolescent health, with an emphasis on under-resourced and marginalised communities. Worldwide, young people can face many barriers in equitable access to healthcare, and their needs can be neglected by health systems and health policy. (1) 

We believe that improving adolescent health and well-being will deliver a triple dividend: not only will it deliver major benefits for adolescents and for those around them, but it will also improve their health as adults and the health of the children they will have. An investment in adolescent health is an investment in the health of future generations. (2)     

Since 2016, AstraZeneca, through its YHP, has partnered with One Young World to identify and empower young leaders who are advocating for a positive impact on youth health in their communities.     

About the Fellowship

We know that the One Young World Summit can unlock opportunities, spark ideas, and turn plans into action. We also know that young people often experience barriers that limit access to development opportunities, especially in under-resourced communities and amongst marginalised groups.  

AstraZeneca's Young Health Programme (YHP) Impact Fellowship is designed to empower young people to build their skills, network, knowledge and inspire them to scale their impact and create even more positive change. Each year, the YHP selects young people who aim to improve equitable health outcomes for all by:   

• Improve equitable access to healthcare

• Strengthen health systems

• Address climate-health issues

• Develop the next generation of health leaders and advocates

Read more about our 2023 Fellows here. 

These inspiring young leaders will attend the One Young World Summit 2024 in Montréal, Canada. We believe that access to networks and development will lead to a global health movement led by and for young people:  

• Access to Networks: Participation in the 2024 One Young World Summit and Ambassador Network and access to an Alumni group of other young changemakers who are all passionate about youth health. 

• Access to Development: Structured learning and development offerings to enable you to scale your impact, including both self-directed and live learning. This includes access to the One Young World Academy, an award-winning MBA programme, and professional training.   

This Fellowship is powered by and delivered in partnership with AstraZeneca’s Young Health Programme (YHP). The YHP is a core part of AstraZeneca’s sustainability ambition to use its capabilities to make a meaningful impact where society needs it – health. The YHP is a global disease prevention programme with a unique focus on young people aged 10 to 24, living in vulnerable environments and under-resourced settings around the world. The YHP aims to prevent the most common non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cancer, type II diabetes, heart disease and respiratory disease, by addressing the primary risk factors - tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and exposure to air pollution.   

Learn more about the Young Health Programme here.