Capacity Building in Global Health: Supporting LMIC Empowerment, Sustainability, and LMIC-LMIC Collaboration Towards Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Abstract
Colonization and neocolonialism have entrenched a global system in which low-to-middle-income countries (LMICs) depend on high-income countries (HICs) for various forms of support, from financial aid to medical supplies as well as research and educational opportunities. In what is often termed “the dependency model,” this reliance often leads to “brain drain” as skilled workers migrate from LMICs to HICs, from where resources are needed to where they are already plentiful. Capacity building (CB), a critical strategy in counteracting “brain drain,” focuses on nurturing skills, knowledge, and resources within LMICs, aiming to empower local communities and institutions. By investing in local expertise and infrastructure, CB enables the development of locally relevant solutions to health challenges and fosters sustainability. Moreover, it promotes inter-LMIC collaboration, reducing dependence on HICs while amplifying the pertinent skills and contributions of LMICs. The Nuvance Health Global Health (GH) Program is committed to CB through bidirectional partnerships in fourteen sites across eight countries. By emphasizing medical education, clinical research, infrastructure development, and academic scholarship in LMIC, it exemplifies an empowerment model. Meanwhile, the newly launched Majid Sadigh, MD GH Academy serves as a hub for training healthcare educators and promoting LMIC-LMIC collaboration. The objectives of this panel discussion include exploring the dynamics of dependency models in GH perpetuated by colonization and neocolonialism; examining the phenomenon of brain drain and its impact on LMICs; highlighting CB as a mechanism for empowering individuals, communities, and institutions within LMICs; and exploring challenges and opportunities in implementing CB initiatives, including funding, infrastructure, sustainability, collaboration, and innovation. Through an exploration of successful CB initiatives and their impact on healthcare infrastructure, education, research, and collaboration, the panel seeks to identify strategies for promoting sustainable development and self-reliance within and among LMICs. CB amplifies LMIC voices and contributes essential skills and knowledge to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing the significance of CB in advancing SDGs related to health, education, economic growth, innovation, reduced inequalities, peace, justice, and partnerships.