Data to
Policy
About the Course
Many low- and middle-income countries struggle to use public health data to inform policy decisions. This is partially due to a shortage of epidemiologists and other public health staff with specialized health policy-writing and communication skills, as well as the lack of a forum in which to share scientific findings. The Bloomberg Philanthropies Data for Health Initiative is providing technical assistance in 20 low- and middle-income countries worldwide to build their capacity to use scientific data to guide and support health policy development and health program decision-making. The Data to Policy (D2P) training program comprises one component of this initiative. Led by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the New York-based nonprofit Vital Strategies, D2P involves collaboration with ministries of health to expand their use of data in policy-making.
Building Capacity
The D2P training program trains local public health experts to leverage existing data for the development of policy briefs with high-yield and cost-effective policy recommendations. The program builds competency in multiple areas critical for policy development, including formulating policy questions; identifying policy options; conducting health impact and cost-effectiveness analysis; visualizing data; stakeholder analysis; and writing a policy brief.
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Who Should Apply
D2P is designed for government staff working in epidemiology or surveillance who wish to develop advanced analytic skills around policy development and decision analysis, and for policy/planning staff who want to add quantitative methods to their current approaches to developing policy recommendations. Participants can expect to participate in the D2P training program for a total of 10 to 12 weeks, which comprises an online training component, an interim period during which participants complete pre-course deliverables, and a two-week in-person classroom session.
