EU Preparedness Training Course on Human Resources Planning and Capacity Building: prevention, preparedness and response (PPR) planning
This course will be held twice in 2025. Please note that the application process is now closed. We appreciate all submissions and will be in touch with selected participants soon.
- 1–2 April 2025 in Brussels, Belgium.
- Venue and accommodation: Le Plaza
- 27–28 May 2025 in Warsaw, Poland.
- Venue and accommodation: Four Points by Sheraton Warsaw Mokotow
Logistics for both training courses
Arrival: Participants are expected to arrive the evening before the training starts. For the first training course in Brussels, this will be on 31 March 2025.
Welcome reception: Participants are invited to an informal welcome reception on the evening before the training begins, scheduled for 19:00 local time. To help us plan accordingly, our event managers will check in with participants in advance to confirm attendance.
Venue and accommodation: Details will be shared closer to the event.
Flights: Event managers will contact registered participants to coordinate flight bookings and will take care of all flight arrangements.
Costs: All costs, including accommodation, meals, and travel, will be covered by the EPIC11 project. Please check the Reimbursement Policy.
About the course
Are you ready to tackle one of the biggest challenges in emergency preparedness?
An effective healthcare workforce is the backbone of a resilient emergency prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR) system! Without it, even the best response plans can fall short. It entails planning for a diverse, well-prepared health workforce that can respond effectively in any emergency.
Europe faces well-documented health workforce shortages, and during emergencies, these gaps become a crisis within a crisis. This dynamic course equips you with the skills to develop and refine human resources for health (HRH) policies and strategies that strengthen emergency preparedness, so that preparedness plans don’t just exist on paper but they work when it matters most!
You'll learn how to harness data for smarter decision-making, covering healthcare worker production, deployment, and retention. Special focus is given to mobilizing personnel in emergencies and fostering international collaboration to tackle workforce shortages.
Course Overview:
Day 1: Interactive training, case studies, and discussions on HRH in emergency preparedness, health labor markets, and governance.
Day 2: Workforce estimation, mobilization strategies, equitable distribution, crisis performance, and continuous education, all with real-world applications.
Participants
This course is designed for leaders and experts shaping emergency preparedness and response across EU Member States, Lichtenstein, Norway, Iceland, and international organisations. If you’re involved in any emergency prevention and response planning, health workforce will always be part of and therefore this training is for you!
Ideal for:
✅ Decision-makers & strategists – Mid- and high-level managers, policymakers, and technical experts driving PPR planning.
✅ Public health specialists & advisors – Professionals ensuring emergency response plans are backed by strong HRH strategies.
✅ Health sector leaders & managers – Those responsible for PPR planning and policy at national and sub-national levels.
✅ IHR & PPR focal points – Experts coordinating national and regional preparedness efforts.
✅ Legal & governance professionals – Public health legal advisors working on regulations, policies and cross-border collaborations, including on health workforce.
This course will equip you with the tools and insights to lead with confidence!
Programme
Day 1
|
Time |
Session |
Speaker / Trainer |
|
08:45 – 09:00 |
Registration |
EPIC11 |
|
09:00 – 09:25 |
Welcome The EU Health Security Framework |
Jaroslaw Waligora (European Commission - DG SANTE) |
|
09:25 – 09:45 |
Overview of the training programme and introduction of participants and facilitators |
EPIC11 |
|
09:45 – 09:55 |
Introduction to the training agenda |
EPIC11 |
|
09:55 – 10:15 |
Pre-test |
EPIC11 |
|
10:15 – 10:35 |
1.0: Keynote address - Future-proofing European health systems – Expediting HRH prevention preparedness and response (PPR) planning |
Crispin David Paul Scotter (WHO Euro) |
|
10:35 – 11:00 |
1.1: Setting the scene – A case scenario: Anthrax |
Nigel Lightfoot (EPIC11) |
|
11:00 – 11:30 |
Coffee break |
|
|
11:30 – 11:50 |
1.2: The role of HRH in PPR |
Marjolein Dieleman, Nigel Lightfoot (EPIC11) |
|
11:50 – 12:10 |
1.3: Health Labour Market Framework and HRH policies and strategies related to PPR |
Marjolein Dieleman (EPIC11) |
|
12:10 – 13:00 |
1.3.1: Skill-building session 1: Discuss HRH policies and strategies in PPR and in the context of HLM |
Nigel Lightfoot, Marjolein Dieleman (EPIC11) |
|
13:00 – 14:00 |
Lunch break |
|
|
14:00 – 14:30 |
1.4: Emergency Operations Centre – MoH capability and structures |
Marjolein Dieleman (EPIC11) Crispin David Paul Scotter (WHO EURO) |
|
14:30 – 15:30 |
1.4.1: Skill-building session 2: Stakeholder analysis |
Nigel Lightfoot (EPIC11) |
|
15:30 - 15:45 |
Coffee break |
|
|
15:45 – 16:15 |
1.5: Core HRH governance components key to successful preparedness planning |
Marjolein Dieleman, Nigel Lightfoot (EPIC11) |
|
16:15 – 17:15 |
1.5.1: Skill-building session 3: HRH governance application |
Nigel Lightfoot (EPIC11) |
|
17:15 |
End of Training Day 1 |
|
|
19:00 |
Dinner |
|
Day 2
|
Time |
Session |
Speaker / Trainer |
|
09:00 – 09:15 |
Opening of Day 2, summary of Day 1 |
EPIC11 |
|
09:15 – 10:00 |
2.0: Health workforce intelligence/ modelling
|
Graham Willis, Crispin David Paul Scotter (WHO EURO) |
|
10:00 – 10:45 |
2.1: Estimating HR needs for preparedness planning and forecasting |
Graham Willis, Crispin David Paul Scotter (WHO EURO) |
|
10:45 – 11:00 |
Coffee break |
|
|
11:00 – 12:00 |
2.1.1: Skill-building session: Needs exercise |
Graham Willis, Crispin David Paul Scotter (WHO EURO) |
|
12:00 – 13:00 |
2.2: Strategies for mobilisation - 3Rs 2.3: Strategies for equitable workforce distribution (trade-off/ consequences- making uncomfortable decisions and ethics) |
Alison Leary (EPIC11) |
|
13:00 – 14:00 |
Lunch break |
|
|
14:00 – 15:00 |
2.2.1: Skill-building session: Using evidence-based solutions to address HR needs |
Graham Willis, Crispin David Paul Scotter (WHO EURO) Marjolein Dieleman, Nigel Lightfoot (EPIC11)
|
|
15:00 – 15:15 |
Coffee break |
|
|
15:15 – 15:35 |
3.0: Performance in times of crisis |
Marjolein Dieleman, Nigel Lightfoot (EPIC11) |
|
15:35 – 16:25 |
3.1: Skill building session: Case study |
Nigel Lightfoot (EPIC11) |
|
16:25 – 16:45 |
4.0: Continuous education for health workforce planning |
Crispin David Paul Scotter (WHO EURO) |
|
16:45 – 17:00 |
Evaluation Sessions |
EPIC11 |
|
End of Training Day 2 and Departure |
||
Trainers
