Submission ID 117059
| Issue/Objective | Given the magnitude and frequencies of conflicts in the MENA region along with their devastating impact on health systems, responses, and outcomes, there exists a strong need to invest in contextualized, innovative, and accessible Global Health Capacity Building (GHCB) initiatives to enhance leadership and skills of the health workforce. However, evidence on their effectiveness is scarce and fragmented especially in conflict affected settings, particularly for initiatives that adopt innovative learning approaches that capitalize on digital tools in their delivery. |
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| Methodology/Approach | To address this gap, the Global Health Institute (GHI) at the American University of Beirut (AUB) incepted the Academy Division, which equitably delivers multiple GHCB interventions to different populations (health workers, humanitarian workers, and displaced community health workers) in fragile settings in the MENA region through innovative learning modalities (online, hybrid, in-person). The interventions include online courses, in-person courses, remote mentorship program, among others that aim to improve knowledge and skills in various health domains. However, given the scarcity of research on evidence-based knowledge needed to optimize the design, implementation, and evaluation of such GHCB initiatives, GHI incepted the evaluation of CAPacity building program (eCAP) to assess their effectiveness through a mixed methods approach and accordingly to produce best practices guidelines in a consolidated comprehensive evaluation framework. |
| Results | In this presentation, we describe lessons learned from 5 years of implementing eCAP, the process of developing the program, and related outcomes from its 3 phases of: (1) situational assessment including production of 3 systematic reviews, and development of standardized evaluation tools and approaches, (2) production of 5 evaluation case studies covering 3 learning modalities and 3 different population groups and 3 levels of evaluation (individual, organizational, and community), and (3) meta-assessment of all case-studies leading to the creation of a generalized evidence-based model for GHCB in fragile settings. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | eCAP provides a comprehensive, context-adaptable, and scalable framework for evaluating GHCB initiatives in conflict-affected settings. Its findings offer valuable insights for practitioners, researchers, and policymakers by informing the design, delivery, and evaluation of future GHCB efforts. The framework offers a novel and timely contribution to the literature, that may be of strong utility across diverse health domains and fragile settings. |
| Presenters and affiliations | Shadi Saleh Global Health Institute, American University of Beirut Hady Naal Global Health Institute, American University of Beirut Rim Alaeddine Global Health Institute, American University of Beirut Tracy Daou Global Health Institute, American University of Beirut Nisrine El Hadi Global Health Institute, American University of Beirut |
