Title:	Strategic Planning for Health Interventions
Keywords:	Planning and programming Management Leadership Health systems Health Policy
Country:	Switzerland
Institution:	Switzerland - Swiss Tropical & Public Health Institute, Basel
Course coordinator:	Christoph Pimmer Bernadette Peterhans Axel Hoffmann
Date start:	2025-10-13
Date end:	2025-10-17
About duration and dates:	Application deadline: 08 September 2025 Prep phase: 15 September – 10 October 2025 Hybrid face to face week: 13 – 17 October 2025 Post phase: 20 October – 28 November 2025
Classification:	advanced optional
Mode of delivery:	Face to face Blended-learning
Course location: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
ECTS credit points:	6 ECTS credits
SIT: TOTAL SIT: 180 h - Hybrid face-to-face hours: 40 h - Self-study hours: 140 h (incl. around 60 hours self-organized, tutored group work)
Language:	English
Description: After successfully completing the module, students will be able to: ● Design the main objectives and strategies of a health programme, according to local realities and needs ● Outline a project/programme proposal including monitoring and evaluation and budget using an integrated health system strengthening approach ● Analyse a situation related to (a) health problem(s) in resource poor settings ● Identify main stakeholders and the role they play in project planning and implementation ● Use different tools for evidence-informed resource allocation
Assessment Procedures: During the preparation period, students have to prepare a situation analysis of a given case study. This assignment will be graded and will account for 20% of the final grade for this module (Situation analysis: 1500 – 2000 words, plus 1 page SWOT analysis in bullet points). Guidance is provided in an inception meeting at the beginning of the preparation period and facilitators are available for questions and to support. Following the hybrid face-to-face week, a final assignment will ask students to demonstrate their understanding of the main topics of the module. They are asked to develop a project proposal for the case study project as a group. This assignment will be graded and will account for 40% of the final grade for this module. Writing up a full project proposal including annexes such as logframe budget, timeline organogram and staffing of the project: The participants have to present their final project proposal in groups (online) in front of the other working groups and the two examiners at the end of the assignment phase (25-30 min presentation and 10-15 min group discussions and Q&A). The presentation will account for 40% of the final grade for this module. A failing grade (less than 60%) in the assignment of the preparation phase is allowed as long as the total mark for the module is 60 out of 100 points or better. In the case of a failing grade in the post-campus assignment students will get a new assignment, similar to the original one which needs to be submitted in the next 6 months
Content: The following topics will be covered: ● Project cycle management approach ● Tools for comprehensively analyzing the general context as well as the health structure and people’s health situation in resource poor settings (e.g. situation analysis, problem tree, SWOT analysis) ● Stakeholder analysis (incl. RACI (responsible, accountable, consulted, informed) model) ● Priority setting, resource allocation and equity considerations ● Designing health programmes and projects using an integrated and health system strengthening approach, including decentralisation of health systems ● Introduction to the logframe structure ● Indicators of success ● Timeline and budgeting ● Monitoring and evaluation tools and integration into the project/programme plan
Methods: During the two distance-based phases, students will engage in self-directed learning, to meet learning objectives, using materials and tools provided on the online learning management system (Moodle). ● Preparation phase: consists of 40 hrs of independent study (readings, assessed tasks and assignments) to prepare for face-to-face sessions. Contact to the course coordinators to support is given. ● Post-campus phase: consists of 100 hours of independent study; students have to finalize the logframe for the planned intervention in small groups (4 – 6 persons); this logframe (to be handed in two weeks after the on-campus phase will be reviewed by the coordinators and feedback for finalization of the logframe is given within max. 1 week. After finalization of the logframe, students have to write the project proposal as a group. The hybrid face-to-face week (40 hours) is taught through short plenary lectures to give the basic knowledge needed, followed by intensive group work (groups of 4-6 students) where students will apply new knowledge to analyse and elaborate on a case study. Students will practice using tools for situation analysis and priority setting and will practice developing a full project proposal. Moreover, students will learn how to define and how to formulate objective indicators for success and how to integrate monitoring and evaluation into project plans and develop the budget. The class structure and teaching methods employed will be interactive in nature, and class or online participation is essential. Learning will be facilitated by individual and group work, case study analysis and class discussions.
Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree and at least two years' relevant work experience. tropEd candidates must show an English language level TOEFL test 550 or 213 computer-based or 79/80 internet-based or IELTS band 6.0 or equivalent, or native speaker or completed higher education in English (with written proof) Students need a reliable internet connection to follow the preparation phase and the post-campus (assignment) phase. No specific software licenses are needed.
Attendance: Maximum of 20 students per course; maximum number of tropEd students: 8 Minimum number: 8 students.
Selection: For tropEd students: First come, first served principle Latest application deadline: 11 March 2024
Fees: Students who are enrolled in a tropEd Master programme pay the reduced fee of CHF 2’450; other students pay CHF 2’850.
Scholarships: none
Major changes since initial accreditation: No major changes made, however content is adapted according to new developments and evidence The assignment has changed to a group assignment writing up the full proposal to reduce the workload for the participants. Face to face week can be taken online and on campus by now – before it was only on campus – however the participants have to decide one or the other way and stay in that group.
Student evaluation: The participants rate the course very high and appreciate the interaction with the colleagues and facilitators. They highlight the strong practical and theoretical background of the facilitators, a very interactive course, allowing learning by doing.
Lessons learned: A hybrid set-up with students participating online and on-campus needs at least two facilitators, especially when working interactively, in order to individually support the online group and the on-campus group/groups.
tropEd accreditation: Accredited in January 2019, in Lisbon.Re-accredited Feb GA 2024 This accreditation is valid until February 2029.
Remarks: This module is offered regularly as a core-module in Swiss TPH’s MBA in International Health Management programme, therefore the number of tropEd students we can admit is limited. Throughout the module, an online learning management system (Moodle) will be used to support learning activities in the distance-based phases, during which students will be required to complete assignments, communicate with their working groups and upload learning products. Through the electronic platform, students will also have the opportunity to interact with each other (and the facilitators) at their convenience to discuss these same learning products, using discussion forums and other tools. On request, distance-based, more detailed discussions with facilitators are possible during agreed timeslots and using Adobe Connect.
Email Address:	christoph.pimmer@swisstph.ch
Date Of Record Creation:	2019-02-15 09:44:56 (W3C-DTF)
Date Of Record Release:	2019-02-15 14:50:50 (W3C-DTF)
Date Record Checked:	2019-02-15 (W3C-DTF)
Date Last Modified:	2024-07-25 07:42:59 (W3C-DTF)