Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are rising rapidly across sub-Saharan Africa, placing a significant strain on already stretched health systems. In response, the CAPSTONE project is equipping healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to address this challenge through education.
Led by a consortium of academic and development partners from Ghana, The Gambia, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands, CAPSTONE focuses on building sustainable capacity within higher education institutions to deliver transdisciplinary, challenge-based education in NCD care.
As the educational consultant on the CAPSTONE project, Elevate was tasked with designing the foundation for the educational components. This included two key deliverables:
Elevate facilitated the development of a comprehensive competency profile that defines the personal and professional capabilities required of learners. This profile applies to both students and healthcare professionals enrolled in CAPSTONE’s short courses. Developed collaboratively with partner institutions, it ensures that the courses are relevant, skills-oriented, and regionally grounded.
To guide effective course design, Elevate created an overarching didactical framework. This framework helps course developers plan content that:
Using the competency profile and didactical framework developed by Elevate, CAPSTONE partners follow a structured and collaborative process for course design. This approach ensures that educational outputs are aligned with both professional standards and local needs.
Partners begin by using the competency profile to clearly identify the intended outcomes of the course. This includes both knowledge-based and skills-based objectives, aligned with the real-world challenges of NCD care.
With guidance from the didactical framework, teams develop the course structure and select teaching methods and activities. Before moving forward, each course is reviewed against key criteria:
Learning content is developed using standardized templates for student and teacher guides. These materials reflect the principles outlined in the framework and are designed to support active, inclusive learning.
As part of the implementation strategy, Elevate continues to provide targeted educational guidance and structured feedback at specific development milestones. A shared development record is maintained with all partners, outlining when drafts should be submitted and when feedback will be provided. This ensures that quality and alignment are maintained throughout the course development process.
Each course is piloted with a representative group of learners to assess clarity, relevance, and engagement. This phase provides valuable insights into learner experience and instructional effectiveness.
Feedback from the pilot phase is used to refine the course. Revisions focus on improving instructional design, clarifying learning materials, and strengthening alignment with competency goals.
Currently, institutions across sub-Saharan Africa are using the competency profile and didactical framework to build courses that are relevant and practical for their local contexts.
CAPSTONE is already contributing to stronger educational practices, with courses that are more relevant, participatory, and responsive to real-world health challenges.
Educators are anticipated to gain confidence in delivering transdisciplinary content, while learners may begin developing practical, system-oriented skills. More importantly, institutions are now better equipped to sustain and expand this work beyond the project timeline, developing new courses, training additional staff, and integrating these approaches into broader curricula.
CAPSTONE demonstrates how collaborative, locally grounded, and well-supported curriculum development can play an important part in strengthening health systems. By enabling institutions to lead the design and delivery of high-quality NCD education, the project is helping to lay a foundation for long-term improvements in care, one that is not imported, but grown from within.
Are you interested in learning more about the CAPSTONE project or exploring opportunities for collaboration in NCD education and capacity building? Contact us!
More information: https://capstonewestafrica.org/
