Development is a major challenge worldwide. Arab countries are determined to continue stepping forward in population and health. Despite the efforts of Arab countries to resolve development issues, yet several concerns remain. Arab countries have in common most of these issues and concerns, as they share the same geographic location, language, cultural norms and traditions. The advent of the new millennium prompts efforts to understand the main obstacles hindering development and influencing populations in this region. Knowledge and capacity building are the major wheels to run the process. The module provides participants with the basic knowledge and understanding of the concepts of development, equity, social determinants of health and their inter-relationships. It also aims to increase the role of social research in guiding policy with a special emphasis on the Arab region.

The main aims of this module include:

• Highlight the development challenges in the Arab world

• Bring population and health equity to the forefront as the foundation for development in the region

• Introduce the social factors underlying the population and health inequities

• Stress the role of social research as a double edged sword in that it acts as a potent tool to provide evidence for policies, planning and implementation, as well as an essential means for the evaluation of implemented policies.

By the end of the module, trainees are expected to:

• Understand the main concepts and inter-relation between development, equity and social context

• Develop a working knowledge of the social research process

Participants are expected to:

• Present a development challenge from home country

• Develop a research proposal

• Present a research proposal

Participants are expected to develop computer skills using:

• Microsoft PowerPoint

• Microsoft Excel

• EndNote

This module will cover four different topics:

This topic provides an introduction to the concept, definition, strategies and assessment of human development. It presents the concerns in Arab development and identifies research priorities. The course is intended to overview the development challenges in Arab countries, focus on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and illustrate the needed strategies for their realization. Trainees are provided with the definition of terms, concepts and theories that are relevant to development. Lectures are intended to discuss the impact of the global movement to reform national social and health care systems in Arab countries. The course gives participants the opportunity to define development challenges in their home countries, as well as to share their concerns and experiences. They also benefit from presenting and discussing the main development challenges and expound the recommendations and national conventions to resolve these obstacles.

This topic introduces the definition, concepts and dimensions of equity; and demonstrates the fundamental dependence of human development on equity. Trainees are taught the conceptual differences between equity, equality and disparity. Equity is shown to be a value and a human right, and at course conclusion trainees are expected to be familiar with definition and concepts of rights and how they are used by different actors at national and international levels. Trainees benefit from discussing the equity differences within and between countries. Lectures involve general equity concepts and specific case studies on equity within and between countries. Trainees are expected to discuss the needed strategies for resolving inequities; and discussions will highlight the social differences between population categories and their impact on population and health.

This subject will aid trainees in the development and understanding of how social factors are the root causes of population and health inequities. Social determinants have a major impact on population and health, and the intent of this module is to develop a framework for the understanding of the social origins of ill health. Upon conclusion of this section trainees should be able to identify the various stratifiers as inextricably social determinants that have a profound impact on health. Trainees will also have an understanding of the various levels at which social determinants operate. Trainees will benefit by discussing the potential social contexts responsible for the emergence and establishment of inequities in Arab countries. They will also benefit by learning to identify policy entry points to reduce inequities.

In this section trainees will develop a common understanding of the basic concepts of social research. In particular, trainees will be introduced to the equity lens in social research. This, in turn, will allow them to develop the evidence building skills that are necessary for developing an equity oriented research proposal. Trainees will become acquainted with the principles of ethics in social research, as well as, the international ethical guidelines for conducting social research. Trainees will be introduced to the research process, as well as the scientific method; and will also be taught how to perform a thorough literature review. Through several group work sessions, trainees will be taught the process of selecting research ideas, relevant hypotheses and research questions. This section of the course will introduce trainees to the process of research design and analysis; as well as the process of preparing a budget and raising funds. Trainees will benefit by applying this research process to the development and presentation of a research proposal on population or health inequity applicable to Arab countries. One of the main purposes in this section is that trainees become aware of the relationship between ethics and culture and thus realize the need for emphasis on community partnerships and the engagement in social science research.

1. Written material that includes:

• Development challenge
• Complete research proposal

2. Formal oral professional presentations of:

• Development challenge
• Research proposal