Building capacity in horizon scanning, early awareness, and disinvestment: a framework for education and training

OBJECTIVES: The increasing relevance of horizon scanning (HS), early awareness (EA), and disinvestment (DIS) highlights the need for a structured approach to capacity building. Although these fields are essential for evidence-based policy decisions, a harmonized education and training framework to develop necessary competencies is lacking. This article presents the development of a curriculum designed to address this gap in training. METHODS: A transdisciplinary working group was established, drawing on international stakeholders from academia, the public sector, and industry. Using an iterative consensus-driven approach, the group developed a modular curriculum. The curriculum design incorporated best practices from existing education programs in related fields and emphasized case-based learning strategies to ensure contextual adaptability. RESULTS: The resulting curriculum covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and decision-making processes related to HS, EA, and DIS in eight modules. It supports diverse learner needs, including trainees, training institutions, and public and private organizations, and is designed to be flexible, scalable, and applicable across different regional and organizational contexts. CONCLUSIONS: This curriculum initiative represents a major step toward harmonizing capacity building in HS, EA, and DIS. It fosters sustainability, enhances global health system preparedness, and provides a structured educational platform to support the effective integration of emerging health technologies and evidence-based disinvestment strategies.