Learning & Leadership Circle Strengthens Global Health Professionals’ Skills

Many global health professionals are on the front lines of disasters and health emergencies, helping to remove barriers to healthy living in different parts of the world. For the past several years, PHI’s Sustaining Technical and Analytic Resources (STAR) program has helped to grow the global health workforce and equip global health professionals with critical leadership tools that are necessary for battling some of the most challenging health issues throughout the globe.

STAR fellows, interns and partners collaborate in the development of systems and tools that strengthen and sustain local and global health responses to better address diseases, epidemics, and pandemics in resource variable settings. The program also aims to connect and support global health professionals during and after they’ve completed.

Through the STAR Learning and Leadership Circle (STAR LLC), global health professionals can participate in a peer coaching program that addresses their dynamic needs and cross-cutting skills, critical for successful leadership. STAR LLC helps global health professionals build and strengthen their facilitation skills, translate technical skills into practice and provides safe spaces for networking and enhancing career opportunities.

The STAR LLCs consisted of two phases:

First Phase: A core group of participants were trained in process-design and facilitation skills through a 12-hour blended training using digital, video, mobile and experiential learning formats.

Second Phase: Participants were grouped into teams, where they co-facilitated five sessions on leadership-related topics.

Data that was captured from participants indicated:

• Over the course of two years, 16 participants were trained as facilitators and 70 fellows attended one or more sessions.
• 100% of respondents indicated that the STAR LLC facilitator training was useful for their professional roles.
• After delivering STAR LLC sessions, trained facilitators reported a 68% increase in comfort to facilitate meetings.
• The program was available to global health professionals originating from many countries, however, 95% of the participants were based in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), reflecting the need for participants in LMIC contexts to connect.
• Over 80% of STAR LLC participants felt that the sessions were professionally relevant for increasing knowledge, skills, perspective, and networking.

About STAR

STAR is a global health talent hub that offers paid internships and fellowships at all career levels. STAR builds and strengthens the capacity of diverse global health professionals and organizations to make inclusive, collaborative and innovative contributions to global health. STAR sources and recruits talented individuals (fellows and interns), sub-partners and academic institutions to support significant technical and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility needs of the USAID Global Health Bureau. Through this program, participants are equipped with the skills, tools and immersive experiences at global health organizations and institutions to build their capacity and contribute technical expertise to addressing global health challenges. For more information, visit the STAR website.