Course Outline

Module 1: Foundations of Health Policy and Governance

• Understanding health systems and determinants of health

• Key concepts: health policy, governance, equity, stewardship

• National vs. decentralized governance structures

• Policy actors: government, private sector, donors, civil society, and communities

• Case Study: How governance affects health system performance

Module 2: Health Policy Development Process

• Stages of the policy cycle: agenda setting, formulation, decision-making, implementation, evaluation

• Techniques for identifying and prioritizing health problems

• Evidence-based decision-making tools

• Writing effective policy problem statements

• Practical Exercise: Developing a health policy concept note

Module 3: Policy Implementation, Stakeholder Engagement, and Coordination

• Roles and responsibilities in policy implementation

• Managing stakeholder interests and power dynamics

• Collaboration and inter-sectoral coordination mechanisms

• Communication strategies for policy advocacy

• Simulation: Stakeholder negotiation and consensus building

Module 4: Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reform of Health Policies

• Designing performance indicators for policy monitoring

• Data collection, reporting, and policy performance reviews

• Identifying implementation gaps and corrective actions

• Policy adaptation and reform strategies

• Workshop: Designing a policy monitoring and evaluation framework

Module 5: Governance, Accountability, Ethics, and Leadership in Health Policy

• Transparency and anti-corruption in health governance

• Ethical considerations in health resource allocation

• Leadership styles that support effective policy change

• Ensuring public accountability and citizen participation

• Practical Exercise: Developing an action plan for governance improvement