Course Presentation

Course on Current Topics in Global Health and Health Diplomacy

Organized by CRIS/FIOCRUZ

The year 2025 promises to be pivotal in advancing knowledge and practices in global health and health diplomacy.

As the United Nations celebrates its 80th anniversary—having been established in 1945—it stands as the world’s largest international diplomatic and political organization, committed to maintaining peace, international security, and fostering cooperation among nations. Since the end of World War II, the UN has played a central role in discussions, conflicts, and development initiatives.

Its flagship initiative, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a comprehensive global action plan with numerous targets aimed for completion by 2030, will have reached two-thirds of its timeline by then. However, many countries face significant delays in achieving these objectives. In 2025, Brazil, which presided over the G20 in 2024 (comprising the 20 largest global economies, the European Union, and the African Union), will take the lead in BRICS+ and host the crucial COP30 in Belém, Pará.

Amidst this, major powers are increasingly clashing over political and economic dominance, often resorting to military might, including nuclear capabilities, rather than engaging in diplomatic dialogue. Ongoing military conflicts continue to claim thousands of lives, leaving millions with both physical and psychological scars.

Humanity's ongoing assaults on the planet have triggered a triple planetary crisis—climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution—without any signs of a better response from nature. The world is already grappling with extreme heat waves, floods, droughts, wildfires, and other disasters, resulting in countless deaths, suffering, and long-lasting consequences. Indeed, 2024 is projected to be the hottest year on record.

What are the underlying causes and the political, social, economic, and environmental consequences of these devastating trends? Why is it essential to gain a deep understanding of these issues as they unfold? How should we position ourselves in the face of these challenges?

These interrelated political, social, economic, and environmental phenomena significantly impact both human and planetary health, serving as undeniable determinants of well-being. These critical issues will be comprehensively explored in the COURSE ON CURRENT AFFAIRS IN GLOBAL HEALTH AND HEALTH DIPLOMACY, organized by CRIS/FIOCRUZ.
 


Course Structure


The course will be delivered online in a live, remote format, consisting of 22 Advanced Seminars (panel classes) held biweekly. These seminars will feature interactive debates between panellists and participants on platforms that facilitate direct communication, even from a distance.

The target audience includes higher education professionals and students in fields such as health, diplomacy, and international relations, human, social, and related sciences, as well as civil society leaders working or aspiring to work in global health and health diplomacy.

Through these Advanced Seminars, participants will systematically observe and analyze the global health landscape, focusing on key political spaces in global and regional governance, global health governance, and geopolitical dynamics.

Each seminar is designed as a "panel class" aligned with the global political calendar throughout the year. Panellists includes prominent international and national leaders, as well as experts in their respective fields, who will present cross-cutting themes relevant to global health and health cooperation. The sessions will be conducted via the Zoom platform.
 


Course Content

The course covers diverse topics related to global health policy and the Global Agenda, such as:
  • World Health Assembly (May 19–25, 2025)
  • High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), 2025 (July 14–18, 2025)
  • United Nations General Assembly (September 9–23, 2025)
  • WHO Regional Committees
  • BRICS+ Summit
  • COP30 (November 10–21, 2025)
  • And more.
 

General Information
  • Duration: 140 hours
  • Frequency: Biweekly, on Wednesdays, 10:00 AM–1:00 PM (Brasília time)
  • Modality: Online (live remote)
  • Simultaneous translation: Portuguese, Spanish, and English
  • Start Date: February 12, 2025
  • End Date: December 17, 2025