Defining Global Health Diplomacy: Assessing United States Global Health Diplomacy actors’ knowledge, skills, and competencies.

Publication date: May 20, 2026

The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally reshaped the field of Global Health Diplomacy (GHD), necessitating a coordinated international response that strived for equitable access to limited health resources. The pandemic, however, also exposed gaps in GHD actors’ preparedness and response capabilities, which impacted their ability to navigate critical global health challenges. Addressing gaps in the knowledge, skills, and competencies of GHD actors is crucial to ensuring a more effective response to emerging infectious diseases and health challenges, particularly amid reduced foreign assistance. This study, conducted between December 1, 2023, and January 10, 2024, explores the knowledge, skills, and competencies required by U. S. GHD actors using an integrated Grounded Theory and descriptive research design. It identifies thematic similarities and differences across Core, Multistakeholder, and Informal GHD actors, offering actionable recommendations for tailored GHD training and competency-building. The findings provide critical insights into the professionalization of GHD and its role in advancing global health security and diplomacy in a post-pandemic era. With ongoing resource constraints, geopolitical shifts, declining multilateralism, and changes to the field of global health, strengthening GHD is even more vital for addressing emerging health threats and building future resilience.

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