GOARN initiates leadership training to empower women in global health and emergency response
30 Sep 2024
The Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) launched the first edition of its Outbreak Response Leadership Training for Women, designed to strengthen individual and collective emergency response leadership skills of highly experienced outbreak responders. This initiative underscores GOARN’s commitment to fostering gender equity and enhancing the leadership capacity of women in directing public health emergencies and outbreaks.
The training was recently hosted by GOARN partner, the National Critical Care Trauma and Response Centre’s (NCCTRC) Public Health Operations in Emergencies for National Strengthening in the Indo-Pacific (PHOENIX) program. It brought together 24 women leaders from 12 countries across Asia Pacific. Participants engaged in interactive discussions, case studies, and networking sessions designed to strengthen their strategic, operational, and decision-making skills in complex emergency settings.
The lifeline of any emergency outbreak response — is the workforce
“The lifeline of any emergency outbreak response—is the workforce,” said Dr Gina Samaan, WHO’s Regional Emergency Director in the Western Pacific. “GOARN has invested in building a multi-faceted, multi-layered training program to enable public health specialists to adapt their skills during an emergency response and navigate challenging, dynamic and low-resource situations.”
The program featured global leaders with extensive experience in public health and outbreak response, offering participants insights into effective leadership styles, crisis management, and strategies for overcoming barriers to leadership in the global health sector. Tailored mentoring sessions further supported participants in navigating the unique challenges faced by women in leadership roles.
"The first edition of GOARN's Outbreak Response Leadership Training for Women highlights a critical step forward in advancing gender equity and strengthening leadership in public health emergencies across the Indo-Pacific. The NCCTRC is delighted to be partnering with GOARN to foster collaboration and build these essential leadership skills, empowering women to be at the forefront of managing global outbreaks, making our collective response more resilient and effective, “ Professor Len Notaras, Executive Director NCCTRC.
Women are disproportionately affected during outbreaks and emergencies. It is therefore crucial to make space for women’s voices at the table to ensure that emergency responses address everyone’s needs— in particular, those most vulnerable.
In addition to building individual leadership skills, the training created a connected community of women leaders who can collaborate and share best practices across international borders. By investing in women leaders, GOARN seeks to contribute to more effective and equitable global health responses.
Reiterating the value of the program, Amanda McClelland, Senior Vice President, Prevent Epidemics, Resolve to Save Lives (and a program mentor), noted: “Women are disproportionately affected during outbreaks and emergencies. It is therefore crucial to make space for women’s voices at the table to ensure that emergency responses address everyone’s needs— in particular, those most vulnerable.”
The Outbreak Response Leadership Training is part of a broader initiative to promote gender equality and capacity building within the global health community. GOARN continues to support its partners in developing the expertise and leadership needed to respond effectively to any public health emergency.
About GOARN:
The Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) is a collaboration of institutions and organisations coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO) to provide rapid and effective support to countries facing outbreaks and public health emergencies. GOARN ensures the timely deployment of technical expertise and resources to minimise the impact of outbreaks on affected communities.
About PHOENIX:
The Public Health Operations in Emergencies for National Strengthening in the Indo-Pacific (PHOENIX) project, delivered by the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre (NCCTRC) and funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), is a three-year multinational initiative aimed at building stronger public health emergency response capabilities across 22 countries in the Indo-Pacific region.
