Health Diplomacy Programs

Institutions within the Health Diplomacy Network offer a range of academic and professional programs to strengthen skills in global health diplomacy. Whether you are a student or an experienced practitioner, you will find opportunities that vary in both content and time commitment. These offerings are designed to accommodate different levels of experience, professional goals, and availability.

Explore the categories below to identify programs that align with your goals and background.

Executive Programmes

Canada
University of Toronto, Dalla Lana School of Public Health Read more on the University of Toronto website

In collaboration with the Office of International Affairs for the Health Portfolio, Government of Canada, this executive training course is the first-of-its-kind in Canada. Designed for professionals working in health or health-related sectors, this course will explore a wide range of global health diplomacy issues, with an emphasis on current affairs and urgent global health challenges, while offering a uniquely Canadian approach. The course includes lectures, discussions, group work, case-based learning, simulation and expert mentoring with a focus on practical global health diplomacy skills.

China
Peking University, School of Public Health

The program is aimed toward mid-career professionals from central and provincial government health agencies from China and overseas. The program includes the lectures, working group discussions and exercises, presentation and discussions, and high-level panel discussions, in the areas of global health governance, health and foreign policy, the WHO governance and its reform. It is organized at the requests from national and local governments.

Guinea Bissau
Institute for Global Health and Development and Catholic University of Guinea Bissau

The Bissau Executive Program 2025 is designed to raise awareness of the importance of health diplomacy, the need to advocate for including health into the diplomatic agenda of the country and to fill an alignment gap on the political, policies and diplomatic axis around health. This inaugural edition will bring together professionals from various ministries including the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Health, and Justice as well as key civil society actors.

The program features a dynamic mix of keynotes, lectures, simulations, discussions, and practical exercises, covering topics such as health diplomacy, international cooperation, national public health policy, foreign affairs, and climate-related health challenges. A joint initiative between IGHD and the Catholic University, the program will run for eight weeks, starting in May 2025.

Japan
Institute for Global Health Policy Research (iGHP), Bureau of International Health Cooperation, Japan Institute for Health Security Read more

The iGHP conducts, with the support from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Global Health Diplomacy Workshops for young and mid-level practitioners who are to participate in governing body meetings of international organizations in the foreseeable future. Lectures focus on topics such as the landscape of global health diplomacy, practical tips for making effective interventions at the governing body meetings, sharing of real-world experiences in the various global health diplomacy forums. Role-play exercise includes mock plenary meeting, drafting group meeting and bilateral meetings to negotiate for the draft resolution or decision.

Sweden
Karolinska Insitutet, Department of Global Public Health and Stockholm School of Economics, House of Governance and Public Policy Read more on The Health Diplomacy Initiative website

The executive program follows a unique 'practitioner-to-practitioner' approach, connecting experienced leaders in global health with the next generation of health leaders skilled in health diplomacy. This is the primary component of the initiative which takes 25-30 mid-career global health leaders (fellows) every year from around the world and across sectors. Benefits include practical learning, networking, research opportunities, and career development.

USA
Georgetown University, Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS) Read more on the Georgetown University website

The Jimmy Kolker Fellowship for Global Health Security and Diplomacy has been established at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy in the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. The Kolker Fellowship is a year-long fellowship available to State Department employees dedicated to this mission. The fellowship year is designed to further the academic and professional development of the fellow and contribute to the programs of the Institute, the School of Foreign Service, and the University.

Postgraduate Programmes

China
Peking University, School of Public Health Read more on the Peking University website

The Institute for Global Health and Development fosters an interdisciplinary and multicultural learning environment. The Doctoral Program requiring 4-5 years to complete, covers core curriculum including applied economics, public health science, international relations and diplomacy, population science, and environmental science, political science, and other theoretical and professional courses in humanities and social sciences.

The course covers lectures, presentation, group work, field visits, simulation and debates in the areas of essential to diplomacy, health diplomacy and global health diplomacy, global health instrument and tools, health diplomacy negotiations, and global health practice in China.

China
China Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), School of Population Medicine and Public Health in collaboration with China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU), Center for Global Biosecurity Governance

The postgraduate program on Global Health Diplomacy includes a blend of expert lectures, research projects, simulations, internships, international field work and career support. Seven core courses include An Introduction to Global Health, Diplomatic Studies and China’s Cases, Global Health and International Organizations, Global and Regional Public Health Governance, Global Health Security Studies, Survey and Diplomatic Negotiation on Global Health, and Global Biosecurity. For the doctoral or master's thesis, students are required to participate in concrete public health cooperation between China and foreign countries, such as organizing international training courses or doing collaborative research.

Photo: HSA Centre for Global Health

Pakistan
Health Services Academy, Islamabad Read more on the Health Services Academy website

The Postgraduate Diploma in Global Health Diplomacy at the Health Services Academy, Islamabad, is a one-year program designed to equip professionals with the knowledge and skills to navigate the intersection of international relations and global health. Through a blend of theoretical learning, case studies, and research, the course focuses on global health governance, diplomatic negotiations, and health policy development. It prepares graduates to engage with international stakeholders, shape equitable health policies, and take on impactful roles in global health institutions, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations.

USA
Georgetown University, Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS) Read more on the Georgetown University website

The Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, in conjunction with the Science, Technology and International Affairs Program, offers a Graduate Certificate in Global Health Diplomacy, designed to prepare students to work in a variety of environments, engaging in multilateral, bilateral, formal and informal efforts to advance health and foreign policy. The certificate will work with students from all SFS graduate programs and disciplinary studies to fill gaps in knowledge and provide the training necessary to operate effectively in the health diplomacy space.

The certificate’s requirements seek to help students integrate and complement their graduate degree programs, to provide them with the skills to assess the complexity of issues and actors in global health diplomacy, to synthesize a wide range of information sources, to extrapolate from relevant case studies and broad strategic goals, and to devise innovative, yet pragmatic policy implementation steps.

Short Courses/Workshops

Switzerland
Geneva Graduate Institute, Global Health Centre Read more on the Geneva Graduate Institute website

This is an in-person course geared to professionals working and/or interested in the Geneva global health space, offered by the International Geneva Global Health Platform. It offers an introduction to the New Diplomacy of Global Health, providing insight and perspectives into what is at stake in global health after the COVID-19 crisis, and in light of emerging geopolitical faultlines, biotechnological and financial developments and controversies, and the move to decolonise global health. Together with recent events, diplomacy is even more essential for global health. For professionals new to Geneva and/or global health, it offers the practical knowledge they need to successfully navigate International Geneva’s global health space. More seasoned practitioners will be able to update their knowledge of contemporary issues. The course will also offer invaluable networking opportunities for participants.

Thailand
International Health Policy Foundation (IHPF) Read more on the IHPF website

Workshops are organized by the Enhancing Leadership in Global Health-Thailand program under the WHO-Royal Thai Government Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS-EnLIGHT). The workshop aims to strengthen understanding and capacities on global health as well as support networking among participants from different countries. The program includes global health in many perspectives (from MOPH, MFA, WHO, Academia), global health platforms, global health direction, experience sharing on how to drive global health agenda and how to link global health to local implementation.

UK
University of Oxford, Wolfson College

The University of Oxford provides a Postgraduate Certificate for early to mid-career professionals working in the field of GHD, or related fields. Over the course of 5 days, participants learn the combination of international relations theory and practical skills related to the negotiation process.

USA
Georgetown University Read more on the Georgetown University website

Global Health Security and Diplomacy courses are offered twice per year to undergraduate or postgraduate students. The course is a full academic course that integrates didactic training with up to three simulations. The training institute also offers course in statistical analysis, One Health and qualitative methods, depending on the year.

Health Diplomacy Key Competencies

Members of the HD Network have identified five key competencies as foundational for effective practice in health diplomacy. These competencies are collectively promoted and integrated across institutional programs and activities.

Key Competencies
Political analysis and diplomacy skills	• Recognize and navigate political dynamics and power structures across diverse contexts. • Demonstrate awareness and understanding of formal and informal political decision-making processes, including the powers and influence of various stakeholders. • Apply negotiation skills and strategies to build relationships and foster collaboration effectively. • Integrate health diplomacy priorities with broader political objectives to align and advance shared goals. • Navigate the intersection of global health and foreign policy with domestic and regional priorities, ensuring coordinated approaches.
Essential global health knowledge	• Understand health systems, governance, and financing and their interconnections with negotiation processes (e.g. bilateral, multilateral). • Situate global health within broader development and policy frameworks, demonstrating its relevance to wider societal goals. • Apply legal frameworks pertinent to health systems and diplomacy to address complex challenges and support decision-making. • Demonstrate an understanding of contemporary challenges to health (e.g. climate change, humanitarian crises, geopolitical tensions), and their implications for global health systems and diplomacy.
Strategic decision-making and leadership	• Demonstrate strong leadership skills and drive change and innovation. • Assess and take calculated risks in complex environments. • Uphold ethical principles and values. • Use data and evidence to shape and influence high-level decisions. • Manage uncertainty effectively and adapt to evolving challenges.
Cross-cultural and interpersonal communication	• Build trust, nurture relationships, and form effective networks across sectoral, geographical, cultural, and political boundaries. • Leverage health to influence political and policy-related decision-making. • Understand how the private sector impacts and can contribute to political and health policy decisions.
Coalition-building and advocacy	• Understand when, how, and what to communicate. • Engage effectively with diverse stakeholders, including governments, international agencies, and communities. • Demonstrate cultural sensitivity and adaptability in multicultural settings.

Photo: KI