Building capacities for international cooperation in health: a systematization of a training experience

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To address key challenges facing the Salvadoran health system — including communicable and chronic diseases, food insecurity, and climate change — it is essential to strengthen the technical capacities of health professionals through tools that facilitate strategic access to funding and international collaboration. In response to this need, the Faculty of Medicine at the University of El Salvador implemented the Diploma Program in Formulation of International Cooperation Projects for Health Sector Development in 2025. THE OBJECTIVE of this initiative was to equip university health faculty with the knowledge and skills required to identify, design, and manage international cooperation projects, enabling them to replicate these competencies with their students and contribute to a positive impact on the health sector. METHODOLOGY: Using a systematization-of-educational-experiences approach, a reconstruction and critical analysis of the training experience were conducted based on a final evaluation administered to participants at the conclusion of the diploma program. A mixed-methods instrument was employed, integrating Likert-type scales and open-ended questions, enabling quantitative assessment of participants' perceptions while also providing a qualitative understanding of their experiences across the program's academic, methodological, and organizational dimensions. RESULTS: Findings revealed a high level of participant satisfaction, particularly regarding the relevance of the content, the expertise of national and international facilitators, and the practical value of components such as simulation workshops. CONCLUSION: This systematic review allowed us to identify relevant pedagogical practices in the field of educational innovation, as well as transferable lessons for future training initiatives, replicability, and strategic planning for international cooperation in health.