Advancing global health diplomacy education in Georgia: a model for capacity building

Background

Global Health Diplomacy (GHD) is increasingly recognized as essential for professionals at the nexus of public health, international relations, and policy negotiation. To address this critical need, the University of Georgia launched the region’s first GHD course through the Global and European Health Education and Study Institute, supported by the Fogarty International Center and the WHO Country office.

Methods

This intensive multi-day training, running since 2023, targets public health professionals, diplomats, and individuals from NGOs and international organizations working at the global health-policy interface. The curriculum covers global health governance, official development assistance, international health regulations, health security, pandemic preparedness, climate and planetary health, digital health innovations, and negotiation strategies. Teaching methods include lectures, interactive case studies, policy simulations, and expert-led panels. Real-world scenarios include vaccine diplomacy and pandemic treaty negotiations.

Results

Evaluation results indicate high participant satisfaction and improved competence in applying diplomacy to address global health challenges. The course has successfully trained professionals across multiple sectors, demonstrating effectiveness in building capacity at the intersection of health policy and diplomacy.

Conclusions

This course presents a replicable model for integrating diplomacy and policy training into public health education as continuous professional development and within formal academic programs. The University of Georgia is institutionalizing the course within its forthcoming Master of Global Public Health program, contributing to strengthened national and regional capacities for addressing global health threats through informed and collaborative diplomacy.

Key messages

• Integrating global health diplomacy into professional education with case-based learning and policy simulations builds capacity for professionals working at the health-policy interface.

• Institutionalizing global health diplomacy course within academic program provides a replicable model for strengthening capacities to address global health threats through collaborative diplomacy.