Health is a cornerstone of economic progress, sustainable development, democratic governance and global security. Strong political leadership is crucial to improving national health and well-being.
Program Structure
The MLIH Program combines ministerial level support with customized technical facilitation and capacity development tailored to the specific needs and priorities of participating countries.
Led by senior Harvard faculty and experts, together with a distinguished group of former and long serving ministers, the Harvard Ministerial Forum aims to enhance ministerial and political leadership, inform understanding of options for sustainable health financing, optimizing efficiency in health budget utilization, and strengthening health service delivery and outcomes. The Forum is not an academic exercise. It is a practically-focused interactive discussion informed by case studies and international experience, as well as the insights of the participating ministers. The Program is designed to ensure ministers leave Harvard with a clear pathway for achieving ambitious goals.
Participants
Approximately 10-12 serving health and finance ministers from Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America are invited annually to attend separate Ministerial Forums at Harvard University designed to address specific, as well as the overlapping interests of each. Ministers are invited based on their demonstrated leadership and supportive national political environment.
Since its inception in 2012, 76 ministers from 45 countries have taken part in the MLIH Program.
Program Features
Ministerial Forum at Harvard University
The Ministerial Forum at Harvard provides a non-official space, the time and expertise for ministers to reframe and redirect their policy and leadership goals; to refresh their vision and commitment; and to adapt new ideas and international experience to their nation’s conditions.
The curriculum concentrates on four main themes: leadership effectiveness, priority setting, sustainable financing and policy implementation.
The Forum for finance ministers convenes each year in April and health ministers in June.
In-Country Follow-Up
Institutionalizing more effective and efficient approaches to health resource utilization to improve standards of health care delivery and health outcomes is a key goal of the program. Following the Forum, a subset of participating countries is selected for more intensive technical support in developing country-specific plans. Harvard, together with other partners, works with senior-level health and finance ministry teams, to enhance capacity for planning and implementation management. We help facilitate and monitor implementation of the country plans over 18–24 months.
Peer Networking
A unique benefit of the MLIH Program is peer networking. In addition to on-going electronic information sharing, all MLIH alumni are reconvened annually to sustain discussion and provide support for progress in achieving their legacy goals. Additionally, the program continues to foster a network of both current and former ministers who are an important resource for serving ministers.