Development of the World Health Organization Global competency and outcomes framework for the Essential Public Health Functions
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background: Competency-based education has variable uptake in public health, despite calls for effective education-to-employment pathways. A WHO and partners’ Roadmap to strengthen the public health and emergency workforce called for a holistic globally-relevant competency-based framework oriented to practice and delivery of the Essential Public Health Functions (EPHFs). This research answers the question: What are the relevant competencies and practice activities for the breadth of the public health workforce to deliver the 12 globally-relevant EPHFs? Methods: A mixed methods approach was used to build the competency framework, informed by literature review; content analysis of existing frameworks and curricula using the WHO competency model as an organizing framework; and an iterative approach to drafting, consultation and consensus about the framework content. Results: Twenty competencies were identified as relevant to the public health workforce across contexts, geographies and role responsibilities, organized into six domains: community-centeredness; decision-making; communication; collaboration; evidence-informed practice; and personal conduct. Forty practice activities that describe the work required to deliver the EPHFs are organized into five domains: health systems enablers; public health intelligence; public health programs and services; management of resources for public health programs and services; and public health emergency management. Discussion: Whilst the 20 competencies unite the public health workforce, irrespective of occupational group, public health priority or context, practice activities are role-specific and require contextualization. Competencies and practice activities must be interpreted together to provide a holistic approach to competence. The value of the framework is in its contextualization and application. Different components of the framework provide a common language but can be adapted to inform education and employment. Reflections on the methodology and the framework construct and organization are offered, confirming the WHO competency model application as a lens to interpret content from multiple sources to provide clarity about learning and assessment of educational content.
Date Issued
2025-04-01
Date Acceptance
2025-06-01
Citation
Education for Health, 2025, 38 (2), pp.91-102
Publisher
The Network: Towards Unity for Health
Start Page
91
End Page
102
Journal / Book Title
Education for Health
Volume
38
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© Education for Health. This is an open access journal, and articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-Share Alike 4.0 License, which allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as appropriate credit is given and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms.
Identifier
10.62694/efh.2025.341
Subjects
competency-based education
competency framework
essential public health functions
public health
emergencies
workforce
competencies
practice activities
World Health Organization
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2025-06-25