The global shortage of qualified health professionals is a growing challenge. According to WHO, an additional 10 million health professionals will be needed globally by 2030. The demand is particularly acute in low- and middle-income countries, where health systems are already overburdened. This is combined with a rapidly increasing prevalence of noncommunicable diseases such as cardiometabolic diseases, including diabetes and hypertension.
With the Partnership for Education of Health Professionals (PEP), the Novo Nordisk Foundation takes a step towards reducing inequity in health by strengthening the education of health professionals in rural regions of India, Kenya and eastern Africa.
- Our vision: People living in vulnerable positions in rural India and eastern Africa have equitable access to quality prevention of and care for cardiometabolic diseases.
- Our mission: Health professionals are equipped to provide quality prevention of and care for cardiometabolic diseases for people living in vulnerable positions, and female health professionals are empowered to prosper in their profession.
PEP works to build more responsive and resilient health systems by strengthening the educational and research capacity of medical schools and colleges that educate nurses, medical doctors, clinical officers and other key health professionals for serving in rural regions in India, Kenya and eastern Africa. Focus is on improving faculty competencies, novel teaching methodologies and technologies, evidence-based teaching content as well as on promoting new educational opportunities and career prospects to increase the agency of women in the health workforce.
To ensure that the educational interventions build on best practices and scientific knowledge, PEP holds a strong focus on research on educational content and delivery practices. Research helps ensure that evidence from the field feeds back into project design and teaching in the classrooms.
PEP is being implemented across multiple geographical locations in India and Kenya with future expansion in eastern Africa. PEP is being carried out in partnership with education, health and research institutions, government entities and other relevant stakeholders in India, Kenya ,eastern Africa and internationally. Under PEP, partner-driven projects are developed that consider local health needs, local priorities and alignment with government investments.
To address gender-based inequalities in health education and the health workforce, PEP applies an approach to gender mainstreaming across interventions and research activities, including targeted activities focused on women and minority groups.
PEP further builds a global partnership network to ensure that innovation and new knowledge are shared between partners in India, Kenya, eastern Africa, Denmark and globally.
Learn more about the PEP initiative in this film with CEO Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen:
Partnership for Education of Health Professionals (PEP) from Novo Nordisk Fonden on Vimeo.
Partners in India
PEP initially started in India in 2023 with four partnership projects with the following partners:
- Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore
- All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS)
- Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI)
- World Bank
Partners in Kenya
In 2024, PEP expanded to Kenya initiating three partnership projects with the following partners:
- Amref Health Africa implemented in partnership with Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK) and Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB)
- Africa Population Health Research Center (APHRC). The project is implemented in partnership with Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC)
- Non-Communicable Disease Alliance Kenya (NCDAK). The project is implemented in coordination with Ministry of Health Kenya.
Partners in Denmark
- PEP facilitates networks between educational institutions and Danish partner institutions for technical assistance, mutual learning and institutional development. PEP has established partnerships with two institutions:
- Center for Online and Blended Learning (COBL), University of Copenhagen.
- Three Danish University colleges namely University College Absalon, Københavns Professionshøjskole and VIA University College.
Relevant documents:
Partnership projects within the Partnership for Education of Health Professionals (PEP)