February 26, 2021

HSP, INDOHUN Hold “Soft Skills” Training With GHSA Leaders To Improve Multi-Sector Coordination, Communication

In January, HSP and our partner the Indonesian One Health University Network (INDOHUN), led two training modules focused on building soft skills for a cohort of Indonesian Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) Leaders fellows.

Often health security training programs offer instruction on technical skills but do not train their participants on soft skills, like interpersonal communication, listening, and time management. However, these skills are crucial to advancing science-based policy effectively.

The first module was focused around the One Health OH-SMART tool developed by the University of Minnesota, to help support global health security engagement across multiple sectors. The second module was centered around a lecture by the U.S. State Department’s Dr. Sapana Vora, who shared her perspectives on building consensus across the U.S. government agencies in order to advance biosecurity. Both of the modules produced robust discussion amongst the fellows about how they could enhance coordination, communication, and collaboration across their government and multiple sectors.

These trainings were the latest in the yearlong, virtual mentorship series, funded by the U.S. State Department’s Biosecurity Engagement Program (BEP), that helps foster the next generation of health security leaders in Indonesia.