The field of global health is often thought of purely in medical or public health terms, but there are important geopolitical and policy dimensions of global health that underlie programmatic responses to global health challenges.

As health moves beyond its purely technical realm to become an ever more critical element in foreign policy, security policy, and trade agreements, new skills are needed to negotiate global regimes, international agreements and treaties, and to maintain relations with a wide range of stakeholders. This course focuses on health diplomacy as it relates to health issues that transcend national boundaries and are global in nature.

Who Should Attend?

• Diplomats, policy advisors, managers and leaders working in government.
• Health Attaches.
• Professionals working in health, international relations, economics, management, international law, security, or whose portfolios intersect with global health
• Health and international relations professionals in departments of international health, ministries of health, and foreign affairs.
• Staff in international and regional organizations, NGOs, philanthropic organizations, universities and the private sector.
• Post-graduate level students of international health or international relations.

Knowledge and Benefits:

After completing the program, participants will be able to master the following:

• The field of global health diplomacy, its history, recent development and key challenges.
• Key concepts in global health, global health diplomacy and global health governance.
• Key cross-cutting issues of global health in relation to foreign policy, trade, climate change, human rights and other related disciplines.
• Explain the specific institutions and initiatives that are fundamental to current global health diplomacy activities and functions, and how these influence global health outcomes.
• The challenges facing health diplomacy and how they are being addressed by different groups and at different levels of governance.
• Summarize real-world examples where global health diplomacy either helped or limited global health outcomes, and explain the reasons for those outcomes.

• Introduction to Global Health Diplomacy
  • Definition and scope of global health diplomacy.
  • Evolution and historical context of global health diplomacy.
  • Importance of diplomacy in addressing global health challenges.
• Key Actors in Global Health Diplomacy
  • Roles and responsibilities of international organizations (e.g., WHO, UNICEF).
  • Role of national governments and ministries of health.
  • Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society in global health diplomacy.
• Health as a Foreign Policy Issue
  • Health security and its implications for national and global stability.
  • Linkages between health, development, and security.
  • Case studies on how health issues influence foreign policy decisions.
• International Health Regulations (IHR)
  • Overview of the International Health Regulations framework.
  • Implementation challenges and successes.
  • Role of IHR in global health emergency response (e.g., pandemics, outbreaks).
• Diplomatic Skills for Global Health
  • Negotiation techniques in global health diplomacy.
  • Cultural sensitivity and communication strategies.
  • Building alliances and partnerships in global health initiatives.
• Global Health Governance Frameworks
  • Analysis of global health governance structures.
  • Challenges of coordination and collaboration in global health.
  • Successful global health initiatives (e.g., Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria).
• Policy-making in Global Health Diplomacy
  • Policy analysis and formulation processes.
  • Role of evidence-based decision-making in health policy.
  • Advocacy strategies for influencing global health policies.
• Financing Global Health Initiatives
  • Overview of funding mechanisms in global health.
  • The role of public-private partnerships in financing health initiatives.
  • Sustainability challenges in global health financing.
• The Role of Public Health Data in Diplomacy
  • Importance of data collection and analysis in global health decision-making.
  • Challenges of data sharing across borders.
  • Use of health metrics in shaping international health policies.
• Global Health Communication Strategies
  • Effective communication frameworks for health diplomacy.
  • The impact of misinformation and disinformation on public health.
  • Strategies for engaging stakeholders through media and technology.
• The Intersection of Trade and Health
  • The impact of trade agreements on health outcomes.
  • Health implications of global supply chains.
  • Balancing trade interests with public health priorities.
• Capacity Building in Global Health
  • Importance of strengthening health systems in low-resource settings.
  • Training and education initiatives for health diplomacy.
  • Role of international cooperation in building health capacity.
• The Impact of Geopolitical Tensions on Global Health
  • Health diplomacy amid geopolitical challenges.
  • How geopolitical conflicts influence health outcomes.
  • The role of diplomacy in mitigating health crises arising from conflicts.
• Cultural Competence in Health Diplomacy
  • Understanding cultural contexts in global health initiatives.
  • Strategies for addressing cultural barriers to healthcare access.
  • Importance of local engagement in health diplomacy efforts.
• Emerging Issues and Future Trends
  • Global health threats and emerging infectious diseases.
  • Climate change and its implications for global health diplomacy.
  • Technological advancements in healthcare and their impact on diplomacy.
• Ethical Considerations in Global Health Diplomacy
  • Equity and access to healthcare as ethical imperatives.
  • Balancing national interests with global health responsibilities.
  • Human rights and health diplomacy.