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.
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.
