Exclusive: Probe finds Women in Global Health had ‘toxic’ environment
It’s been a whirlwind 11 months for the U.S.-based nonprofit Women in Global Health, which has been mired in accusations of racial discrimination and toxicity and rocked by a series of resignations and terminations, including that of its co-founder.
The organization, which was founded in 2015 to challenge “power and privilege in global health,” started out with volunteers but grew rapidly in recent years and now has an annual budget of $3.7 million and 58 chapters globally, accounting for about 6,500 members.
But a whistleblower complaint from seven Black women put the microscope on its own practices and exposed the organization to serious allegations including bullying, harassment, racial discrimination, toxic work environment, bias, and lack of equal pay. A subsequent investigation into the leadership of its co-founder and then-executive director, Dr. Roopa Dhatt, was followed by her dismissal in May.
About the authors
Sara Jervingsarajerving
Sara Jerving is a Senior Reporter at Devex, where she covers global health. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, VICE News, and Bloomberg News among others. Sara holds a master's degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism where she was a Lorana Sullivan fellow. She was a finalist for One World Media's Digital Media Award in 2021; a finalist for the Livingston Award for Young Journalists in 2018; and she was part of a VICE News Tonight on HBO team that received an Emmy nomination in 2018. She received the Philip Greer Memorial Award from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 2014.
Rumbi Chakamba
Rumbi Chakamba is a Senior Editor at Devex based in Botswana, who has worked with regional and international publications including News Deeply, The Zambezian, Outriders Network, and Global Sisters Report. She holds a bachelor's degree in international relations from the University of South Africa.
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