Short Course in International Health Consultancy
Liverpool, UK
Course Dates:
9th - 27th May 2011
Increasingly donors funding international development programmes and ministries of health are demanding high quality consultancy with an emphasis on the use of national consultants, whilst continuing to use international consultants to provide leadership, international expertise and quality assurance. With extensive experience in managing technical assistance programmes as well as providing capacity development programmes, LATH and LSTM have jointly developed an intensive 3-week short course in International Health Consultancy. As part of our commitment to delivering high quality technical assistance, we offer this course to further develop a pool of national, regional and international consultants whose work is robust, evidence-based and grounded in the reality of resource-poor settings.
Who should apply?
This course is applicable to emerging consultants as well as providing an excellent continuing professional development opportunity for established consultants. Additionally a limited number of places are available for those actively involved in consultancy management.
Course content
We aim to mirror the reality of working as an international health consultant with an emphasis on both individual and team working. Over the duration of the course we will examine the context in which international health consultancy is delivered by focusing on the following key technical areas:.jpg)
• Aid architecture and aid effectiveness
• Strategic planning
• Monitoring and evaluation
• Pro-poor and gender-equity approaches
• Human resources for health
• Health systems strengthening
• Capacity development
• TA provision in fragile states
We will help you develop the core competencies and skilled required to being a successful international health consultant, strengthening your skills in:
• critical analysis and synthesis
• application and adaptation of research methods to consultancy
• communications (written and oral)
You will learn about the business side of international health consultancy ranging from preparation of proposals for short term technical assistance through to quality assurance of specific assignments. Within this framework you will review the importance of the CV as a key tool to present your own skills and experience.
An exciting aspect of this course is that you will work in multi-disciplinary teams to apply your skills and learning through undertaking a project within the Merseyside area. This will consist of planning for the assignment, face to face meetings with clients and other stakeholders, data collection, analysis and interpretation, report writing and presentation of your findings to outside agencies. This forms part of the formal course assessment and will be critically evaluated.
Consultancy Opportunities:
LATH actively seeks to find suitable consultancy opportunities for course alumni to further strengthen and embed the skills developed during the course. Several course alumni have gone on to conduct both long and short-term consultancies on behalf of LATH.
Student Evaluation:
Student evaluations have been very positive (refer to student testimonials)
“…the course highlights unique "soft skills" and practical but systematic approaches to any consultancy process. It took me from the "luxury" of research work to the reality and complexity of international health problems. It is a great advantage to combine research and consultancy skills. I have enjoyed the course, the teamwork and the project.”
Dr Imad Tleyjeh, Alumni, IHC Course 2010
“Being already an international health consultant; the course provided me with a framework for "good quality consultancy", to make me confident of the work I'm doing. Another benefit of the course was the networking; I have already a consultancy work in process with people from LATH and ex course students. Finally I have to recognize that the course was an opportunity to make new friends.”
Dr Xavier Mas Canal, Alumni, IHC Course 2010
“I have found that a lot of what was taught on the course has greatly helped me to manage technical assistants and consultants; including working with the MOH to identify their needs for technical assistance, drafting TOR, quality assurance of each stage of the TA process, and finally the checking of all reports before going to the MOH for approval.”
Dr Simon Gould, Alumni, IHC Course 2009 & LATH Programme Manager for the Technical Assistance to Health Priorities Project (TAHP) Southern Sudan
".. I learned quite a few new concepts and skills, was inspired several times during the course, and realized some important strengths that I was not so aware of as well as areas I need to work on. I also made a few friends and important networks. Liverpool is one of the friendliest cities I've been too....beautiful and great fun.... not bad for three weeks!"
Dr Habib Afsar, Student, Alumni IHC Course 2008
