Describe how Global Health Engagement (GHE) Knowledge Management (KM) supports military objectives and has been implemented using a Theory of Change framework.
List the new activities of the GHE KM program and understand how they work together to support the objectives of GHE KM and are in response to user feedback.
Describe how GHE activities generate knowledge products that need to be shared with the GHE community.
Background: In response to the Joint Requirements Oversight Council's endorsement of the Global Health Engagement (GHE) Change Recommendation in 2019, the Department of Defense (DoD) established a GHE Knowledge Management program in 2023. This program aims to support the GHE community of practice by (1) curating knowledge effectively across the enterprise to enhance learning and informed decision making and (2) cultivating a knowledge sharing and collaboration culture to enrich the community with collective expertise and diverse perspectives. Methods: The Uniformed Services University's Center for Global Health Engagement (USU-CGHE) initially developed an implementation strategy based on a formal needs assessment and has since regularly sought feedback from the community to develop new initiatives. The program has been actively implemented throughout 2023 and 2024, driven by a whole user experience approach focusing on building a community of practice, creating information systems, addressing specific knowledge gaps, and providing tailored knowledge products. Results: The DoD GHE Knowledge Management program has gained traction through increased stakeholder engagement, the development of a community of practice and the implementation of targeted knowledge initiatives. Highlights include increased number of user submissions of partner health capability surveys on the program’s trademark platform MEDICAL OPTIONS; positive reception of the program’s knowledge sharing webinar series PEERS; upcoming curation of successes, lessons learned, and best practices in GHE design and implementation through What’s Your GHE Story?; and an upcoming catalog of GHE-focused learning questions available to students and stakeholders alike for research and publication opportunities in GHE QUERI. By employing an evidence-based approach, the program has demonstrated growing momentum in supporting DoD GHE activities and fostering collaboration. Conclusion: Interim results indicate that the GHE Knowledge Management program is effectively meeting the information needs of GHE stakeholders at strategic, operational, and tactical levels. Through the deliberate use of implementation science, evidence-informed feedback, and user-centered design, the program has shown success in capturing, curating, and sharing valuable knowledge.