PREPARING LEADERS TO MEET EVOLVING HEALTH CHALLENGES AND TO PROMOTE EQUITY IN A GLOBALIZED WORLD

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) recognizes that health systems of the 21st century must confront new challenges to achieve national and international health goals in the face of a globalized world. The Health Agenda for the Americas 2008-2017, launched in 2007 by the ministries and health secretariats of the Region, as well as the Millennium Development Goals, establish an ambitious set of priorities and commitments which require intersectoral and international action for their equitable and collective achievement. The right to health, human security in health, the introduction of new technologies, the opening of borders to trade, the growing migration of populations, and the expansion of regional and subregional integration processes have created new and urgent demands on States.

Health leaders are increasingly required to formulate and implement actions that take into account bilateral, subregional, regional and global treaties and agreements. More than ever, health leaders must also act across sectors in order to achieve balance between economic growth and social development in today's market economy. The challenge of equity is an imperative for leaders, which necessitates an understanding of the social determinants of health and requires that countries collaborate to design and implement intersectoral public policies to face common problems. Simultaneously, the emergence of new actors, alliances, and structures has altered the dynamics in the definition of the global health agenda and poses new challenges for international cooperation and for the countries who must reconcile the interests of these actors with their own national priorities.

"As we approach the 2015 mark, I am optimistic that in the post-MDG era there will be global agreement to work towards universal health coverage as a fundamental public health goal. Universal health coverage represents for me the spirit of Alma Ata in 21st century terms. Rooted in the principles of the renewal for Primary Health Care and framed within the context of the social determinants of health, it opens up a new opportunity to place people at the core of development. Responding to this challenge requires strong and competent leaders who are cognizant of the national and global factors that impact health and are capable of working across borders and sectors as effective health diplomats to advance health goals."

Dr. Carissa F. Etienne
PAHO Director
February 2013

 

I. Program Description
- A Changing Global Context
- Preparing Leaders to Meet Evolving Health Challenges
- New Challenges / New Focuses
- The Edmundo Granda Ugalde Leaders in International Health Program
- Benefits
- Important Dates for 2013
- Program Structure

II. Eligibility Criteria and the Application Procedures
- Eligibility Criteria
- Application Procedures

 LIHP 2013 - Application form

 LIHP 2013 - Application form

III. Contact Information
- Contact

Brochure:
 LIHP 2013 - Brochure (525.29 kB)

I. Program Description

A Changing Global Context
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) recognizes that health systems of the 21st century must confront new challenges to achieve national and international health goals in the face of a globalized world. The Health Agenda for the Americas 2008-2017, launched in 2007 by the ministries and health secretariats of the Region, as well as the Millennium Development Goals, establish an ambitious set of priorities and commitments which require intersectoral and international action for their equitable and collective achievement. The right to health, human security in health, the introduction of new technologies, the opening of borders to trade, the growing migration of populations, and the expansion of regional and subregional integration processes have created new and urgent demands on States.

Health leaders are increasingly required to formulate and implement actions that take into account bilateral and multilateral treaties and agreements. More than ever, health leaders must also act across sectors in order to achieve balance between economic growth and social development in today's market economy. The challenge of equity is an imperative for leaders, which necessitates an understanding of the social determinants of health and requires that countries collaborate to design and implement intersectoral public policies to face common problems. Simultaneously, the emergence of new actors, alliances, and structures has altered the dynamics in the definition of the global health agenda and poses new challenges for international cooperation and for the countries who must reconcile the interests of these actors with their own national priorities.

This international scenario requires the training of human resources - in public health and in international relations, as well as in other fields - so that they are not only technically prepared, but they also have a more profound understanding of international forces and their impact on health, thereby enabling them to effectively analyze, define, advocate and project their national health interests within this complex global context.
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Preparing Leaders to Meet Evolving Health Challenges
Within this context, the PAHO/WHO Edmundo Granda Ugalde Leaders in International Health Program aims to contribute to the development of the Health Agenda for the Americas 2008-2017 by strengthening the capacity of countries in the region to understand, act upon and positively influence the international determinants of health, to promote their national interests, and to achieve intersectoral health agreements in international environments, at all times guided by the principle of greater global equity in health.
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New Challenges - New Focuses
The Edmundo Granda Ugalde Leaders in International Health Program incorporates an updated curriculum, problem-based learning modules, and a decentralized operating model to enhance participants' abilities to integrate the learning into their countries' contexts. The LIHP is based within PAHO's Virtual Campus for Public Health, a virtual space that contributes to the development of the public health workforce through sharing learning resources and creation of networks. Through its problem-based learning strategy, the Program utilizes a variety of virtual and practical experiences through which the participants will analyze the principal concepts, theories, actors, forces, and processes related to the field and practice of international health.

The following topics are among those to be considered by program participants: nutrition and food security, migration, border health, processes of conflict and peace, disasters, climate change, access to medicines, chronic diseases, and risk surveillance and protection, and tobacco. Through the Program, participants will develop and hone the competencies needed to fulfill the following six essential functions as they relate to international health: situation analysis, policy design and decision-making, negotiation and advocacy, project management and cooperation, generation and dissemination of knowledge, and communication.
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 The Edmundo Granda Ugalde Leaders in International Health Program
The 2013 Edmundo Granda Ugalde Leaders in International Health Program encompasses eight months, launching in the participant's country under the guidance of the Program Coordination and the PAHO/WHO Country Office. During this initial phase, participants engage in different activities, discussions and visits related to the principal health and development challenges facing the country and the region as well as the main actors involved in the same, and begin to define a project to be developed later in-country in coordination with PAHO/WHO, government and other authorities. Participants subsequently attend a one-week intensive training in international health that is projected to take place in a country of the region, after which they return to their countries where they can continue to function in their normal employment capacity on a part-time basis if needed, while devoting approximately 50% of their working hours to the Program. Participants maintain close ties with the PAHO/WHO Country Office, allowing them to experience the technical as well as the diplomatic and political dimensions of international cooperation. They engage in a program of work and learning opportunities involving PAHO/WHO and other relevant local actors in international health, including country-based offices of the United Nations and other multilateral and bilateral agencies, sub-regional entities, non-governmental organizations and academic institutions. These experiences are reinforced through a series of problem-based virtual modules, fomenting a community of practice and learning that reaches beyond the Program participants. The Program culminates in February 2014 with the presentation of final projects.
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 Benefits
 PAHO will cover the cost for the cost for the implementation of the virtual components of the Program. The one week on-site module is contigent upon the identification of additional resources.
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 Important Dates 2013*

26 March:	Application deadline
Early May:	Notification of selected participants
20 - 24 May:	Orientation to virtual learning
28 May - 5 July:	Initial phase (in conjunction with PAHO/WHO Country Office)
8 - 12 July:	On-site training (to be confirmed)
July- November:	Work in participant(s) countries
13 December:	Last day virtual modules
February 2014:	Presentation final projects

*  Proposed dates. Actual dates may vary.

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Program Structure 2013

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II. Eligibility Criteria and Application Procedures

 Eligibility Criteria
The minimum requirements for participating in the Edmundo Granda Ugalde Leaders in International Health Program are as follows:

 Graduate professional of a university-level degree program that is at least eight (8) semesters duration and approved by the national ministry of education in the issuing country;
 Minimum of three years' work experience at the managerial or directive level in public health, international relations, or related fields. Experience may be in services, teaching or research;
 Current employment at the managerial or directive level in public health, development, international relations or a related field in an institution dedicated to the public good within a PAHO/WHO Member Country;
 Citizen or resident of a PAHO/WHO Member Country;
 Excellent knowledge of either Spanish or English, with a basic ability to understand and read the other language.
 Availability for the Program as follows:

 One week full time for onsite training (TBC)

 Approximately 20 hours per week during the remainder of the Program, including 2 to 4 hours per week for synchronous virtual sessions.

 Availability of Internet and audio. Access to Internet should preferably be at a minimum speed of 64K.

Application Procedures:
The application procedure includes submitting the following documents:

  Completed application form
Download:

 LIHP 2013 - Application Form
 LIHP 2013 - Application Form (PDF)

This application form can also be requested through the PAHO / WHO Representation Office in your country.

Curriculum vitae
Please submit resume (CV) only (no more than 5 pages.) Do not include certification of participation in courses, workshops or seminars that did not lead to a degree.

Photocopy of undergraduate diploma(s). Originals will not be returned.

Photocopy of graduate and/or postgraduate diploma(s) (if applicable). Originals will not be returned.

Letter from one's home employment institution
Certifying agreement with applicant's participation in the Program, including allotting them the time necessary to devote themselves to the Program half time during working hours as well as full time during the onsite week, and the intention to continue one's employment during the same.

Letters of reference are welcome, although not required.

The original application form and documents mentioned above should be submitted to the PAHO/WHO Country Office in your country of residence.  You should submit an extra copy of all documents, preferably in electronic format, attaching each document as a separate file. Incomplete applications (in which one or more of the required documents are missing) will not be considered.  Please contact the country office for more information.

The PAHO/WHO Country Office will invite only the top applicants for an in-country interview. The results will be sent to PAHO Headquarters in Washington DC as input into the selection process.
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III. Contact Information

For more information, please contact your PAHO/WHO Country Office or the Edmundo Grande Ugalde Leaders in International Health Program at the following address:

Edmundo Granda Ugalde Leaders in International Health Program
Health Systems based on Primary Health Care
Pan American Health Organization
525 Twenty-third St., NW
Washington, DC 20037-2895
Tel: (202) 974-3803
Fax: (202) 974-3612
email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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