Guidance For One Health Field Epidemiology Mentorship

This document was developed to assist field epidemiology training programmes in establishing mentorship programmes using a One Health approach. [Author] It describes core competencies for mentors that programmes can use in selecting and training field epidemiology mentors. [Author] The manual provides examples of existing mentor training programmes and provides guidance for training and evaluating mentors. [Author] In addition, the document describes mentor roles and responsibilities, benefits of mentoring for mentees, mentors and organizations, outlines the qualities of a good mentor, explores approaches to strengthen One Health mentoring in field epidemiology training programmes, and assesses the benefits and limitations of virtual mentoring. [Author]

The publication describes best practices for mentorship within the training programme, defines competencies for mentors and provides a tool for evaluating the mentorship programme.

The publication lays out a framework to develop and track high-quality learning activities for continuing education programmes in OH field epidemiology.

This publication offers recommendations for evaluating and certifying that training programme participants meet the minimum required competencies at the time of programme completion.

The publication provides programmes with proposed training topics and learning objectives to ensure participants reach the minimum core competencies outlined in the competency framework.

The COHFE framework defines the knowledge, skills, and competencies (KSC) needed for field epidemiologists to implement the One Health approach. It consists of 14 domains with guidance for the frontline, intermediate, and advanced training levels. KSC statements are further classified as core One Health, optional One Health, or sector-specific for human health, animal health, or the environment. Technical domains - Foundational knowledge & skills - Surveillance systems - Field investigations - Disease management - Laboratory capacity - Infection prevention & control, biosafety & biosecurity - Preparedness & response - Epidemiological studies - Data management, biostatistics & informatics - Ecosystem Health Functional domains - Leadership & management - Communication & community engagement - Training - Ethics

This document details higher order One Health competencies at the subdomain level based on competencies defined in the 14 domains of the COHFE Framework. [Author] The subdomain level higher order competencies are defined in Table X. [Author]1 for each domain (numbered by domain) at three training levels (frontline, intermediate and advanced), with each level building on the previous level so that demonstration of the previous level’s competencies is required in addition to those indicated at the given level. [Author] The guidance also recommends and describes curriculum topics and provides example learning objectives for all three training levels. [Author]

Following the 27th Tripartite Annual Executive Meeting, the FAO Programme Committee in its 130th session, March 2021, requested the joint development, by the Tripartite (FAO/WHO/WOAH) and others, of a strategy and action plan to prevent future zoonotic pandemics through the One Health approach. The One Health Joint Plan of Action (OH JPA) is intended to guide the four organizations of the Quadripartite to work together on One Health with the aim of supporting their Members to build One Health capacities. It provides a framework for action and proposes a set of activities that the four organizations can offer together to enable countries to advance and scale up One Health in managing human, animal, plant and environment health threats. The framework uses a One Health approach to strengthen collaboration, communication, advocacy, and coordination equally across all sectors responsible for addressing health concerns at the human-animal-plant-environment interface.