Building Transdisciplinary Capacity for Non-Communicable Disease Control in sub-Saharan Africa and Beyond: Lessons from the CAPSTONE Community of Practice
1
School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Techology, Kumasi, Ghana
2
Department of Global Public Health & Bioethics, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A1111
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for over one-third of deaths in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with premature mortality rising fastest in the region and placing growing pressure on health systems and the health workforce1. However, training in many Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) remains fragmented and insufficiently aligned with service delivery needs, professional standards, and national policy priorities2. The CAPSTONE (Capacity Strengthening of Transdisciplinary Education for nON-communicable disease care in West Africa) project addresses this gap by establishing a multisectoral Community of Practice (CoP) as a policy-engaged network of practice linking HEIs with the Ghana Health Service (GHS), regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders to co-design and implement workforce-relevant NCD education.
METHODS:
The CoP convenes clinicians, academics, GHS and Ministry of Health officials, health service providers, civil society partners, students, and regulatory authorities. Through structured virtual and in-person meetings (2024–2026), members jointly set priorities; co-developed six competency-based NCD short courses; embedded these within existing MPH and MPhil programmes; advanced accreditation of a multi-institutional MPH; and aligned curricula with professional and regulatory standards. Collaborative workshops, peer review, and stakeholder consultations supported implementation and sustainability planning.
RESULTS:
The CoP produced six harmonised courses, shared teaching resources, and enabled joint delivery across institutions. Engagement with GHS and regulators ensured policy alignment, strengthened accreditation processes, and linked training to service delivery requirements. Partnerships expanded mentorship, placements, and applied learning opportunities, while institutions strengthened teaching capacity and cross-sector collaboration, creating a pipeline of practice-ready NCD professionals.
CONCLUSIONS:
Embedding a multisectoral Community of Practice as an implementation platform moves beyond knowledge sharing to coordinated action across education, regulation, and service delivery. The CAPSTONE CoP demonstrates a scalable and replicable model for strengthening workforce capacity and accelerating NCD control in Ghana, SSA, and globally, offering a pathway to integrate transdisciplinary training with national and international health system priorities.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for over one-third of deaths in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with premature mortality rising fastest in the region and placing growing pressure on health systems and the health workforce1. However, training in many Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) remains fragmented and insufficiently aligned with service delivery needs, professional standards, and national policy priorities2. The CAPSTONE (Capacity Strengthening of Transdisciplinary Education for nON-communicable disease care in West Africa) project addresses this gap by establishing a multisectoral Community of Practice (CoP) as a policy-engaged network of practice linking HEIs with the Ghana Health Service (GHS), regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders to co-design and implement workforce-relevant NCD education.
METHODS:
The CoP convenes clinicians, academics, GHS and Ministry of Health officials, health service providers, civil society partners, students, and regulatory authorities. Through structured virtual and in-person meetings (2024–2026), members jointly set priorities; co-developed six competency-based NCD short courses; embedded these within existing MPH and MPhil programmes; advanced accreditation of a multi-institutional MPH; and aligned curricula with professional and regulatory standards. Collaborative workshops, peer review, and stakeholder consultations supported implementation and sustainability planning.
RESULTS:
The CoP produced six harmonised courses, shared teaching resources, and enabled joint delivery across institutions. Engagement with GHS and regulators ensured policy alignment, strengthened accreditation processes, and linked training to service delivery requirements. Partnerships expanded mentorship, placements, and applied learning opportunities, while institutions strengthened teaching capacity and cross-sector collaboration, creating a pipeline of practice-ready NCD professionals.
CONCLUSIONS:
Embedding a multisectoral Community of Practice as an implementation platform moves beyond knowledge sharing to coordinated action across education, regulation, and service delivery. The CAPSTONE CoP demonstrates a scalable and replicable model for strengthening workforce capacity and accelerating NCD control in Ghana, SSA, and globally, offering a pathway to integrate transdisciplinary training with national and international health system priorities.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
