Framework Development with the WHO

Challenge

Global health emergencies require a skilled and well-coordinated workforce, yet competency standards for incident managers and community health workers (CHWs) remain fragmented and inconsistent across regions. Health systems lack clear, scalable frameworks to define roles, guide professional development, and support assessment in both high- and low-resource settings. This limits countries’ ability to rapidly prepare, deploy, and evaluate frontline emergency responders and leaders.

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Solution

In collaboration with WHO, Humanitarian U/NextGenU.org developed the Incident Manager Capacitation Pathway (IMCP): A three-tier framework defining leadership, coordination, and decision-making skills for health emergency incident managers. A second framework is in development, the CHW Emergency Competency Framework & Implementation Guide: A 14-domain, three-level framework with practical guidance to build and verify CHW emergency response skills, adaptable to diverse contexts and resource levels.

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Both frameworks integrate competency mapping, experiential learning, and portfolio-based assessment tools. They provide a foundation for training, professional development pathways, and real-world performance evaluation.

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Impact

Once the frameworks are finalized and implemented, countries will be better equipped to build resilient, well-prepared health emergency workforces. They will guide the creation of national training pathways, accelerate local capacity-building, and foster consistent, high-quality response capabilities across regions. Over time, this will translate into faster, more coordinated responses, stronger community trust, and improved health outcomes during emergencies worldwide.