Public health intelligence competency framework
Overview
Rapid identification of and response to health threats are critical for global health security. Recent major public health events have underscored the need to define essential public health intelligence (PHI) competencies to mitigate effects of such events and support countries to meet health regulation mandates. To address this need, the World Health Organization, in collaboration with global partners, has created the Public health intelligence competency framework, which aims to standardize core elements and competencies of the PHI workforce.
The development of the Framework was informed by a comprehensive landscape assessment, including literature reviews, job analyses, expert consultations and stakeholder surveys. This process identified key gaps in existing PHI training resources and helped shape the structure of the Framework.
The Framework is organized into four technical domains – detect, verify, analyse and assess – with each technical domain covering core PHI competencies, and a functional domain focused on collaborative information exchange. These domains align with an all-hazards and multisectoral One Health approach, recognizing the interconnectedness of human health, animal health and the environment. The Framework is accompanied by the Public health intelligence curriculum, which is designed to support the development of PHI competencies, knowledge, skills and abilities for PHI professionals in the context of health threats.
The primary intended users of the Framework include organizations involved in public health surveillance, emergency response, policy-making, education and workforce development. Employers across sectors can use the Framework for hiring and performance evaluations. Regulatory agencies may apply the Framework to accreditation and licensing. Educators and trainers can integrate the Framework into preservice, in-training and in-service curricula. The PHI workforce can leverage the Framework to assess their skills and identify areas for improvement.
The Framework is adaptable to various organizational and regional contexts, ensuring relevance across different professional and geographical settings. As a dynamic and evolving resource, it is intended to be updated regularly to reflect advancements in PHI, emerging public health threats and evolving best practices. By providing a structured approach to PHI training and competency development, the Framework aims to enhance global public health preparedness and response capabilities. Strengthening PHI capacity through standardized competencies will ultimately contribute to improved health security, better coordination among stakeholders, and more effective decision-making in routine public health operations and emergency responses.
