INTRODUCTION:
Recurrent epidemics in west africa have exposed persistent gaps in public health emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. Countries remain heavily dependent on external partners for training, with limited multisectoral engagement and recovery planning. The Public Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery (PHEPRR) Fellowship was conceptualized to address these challenges using a competency-based training model to strengthen regional surge capacity. To guide its design, a regional needs assessment was conducted to identify priority competencies, underutilized professional groups, and systemic barriers.

METHODS:
A mix-methods assessment using a structured questionnaire and focus group discussions were conducted. 229 stakeholders representing ministries of health, national public health institutes, partner organizations, and non-health sectors such as finance, ICT, agriculture, and traditional leadership in 15 west african countries participated. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. The Analyze-Design-Develop-Implement-Evaluate (ADDIE) instructional design framework was utilized to develop the PHEPRR training curriculum.

RESULTS:
The assessment found that national coordination capacity was moderately strong, with an average self-rated score of seven out of ten, but dependence on partner-led training remained high. Skilled professionals including paramedics, surveillance officers, psychosocial staff, data managers, and community leaders were observed to be underutilized. Training needs clustered around rapid risk assessment, strategic planning, and operational planning, while recovery and community engagement were consistently deprioritized. Reported barriers included weak political will, limited intersectoral collaboration, lack of contingency planning, insufficient infection prevention training, and workforce attrition.

CONCLUSIONS:
The needs assessment highlighted the importance of a regional, multisectoral approach to workforce development. Technical expertise exists but is underused and overshadowed by reliance on external partners. Findings informed a thirteen-module fellowship curriculum integrating technical and non-technical competencies such as leadership, governance, recovery, and change management, aimed at building a resilient and deployable workforce to advance health security across the west african sub-region.