Amplifying the contributions of community health workers to health systems resilience: An engagement and planning process in the Philippines

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, community health workers have been crucial to pandemic response and recovery. Often embedded within resource-constrained communities, these workers have been on the 'frontlines' of addressing compounding health emergencies (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic and extreme weather events) in many low- and middle-income countries including the Philippines. Despite the recognition of their essential role, there is a gap in understanding how this work contributes to the resilience of health systems. Further, there is an opportunity to explore priorities and strategies for supporting these crucial actors in the health workforce amid compounding health emergencies. This engagement and planning process aims to: (1) engage with representatives from Philippines-based civil society organizations and government to understand the current role of community health workers in the context of compounding health emergencies and how this work can be supported; (2) synthesize findings, including conducting a scoping review, to identify research gaps and future opportunities; and (3) co-develop a detailed research plan, grounded in an existing partnership with a Philippines-based non-governmental organization. Overall, this engagement and planning process will build a critical foundation for subsequent collaborative and community-based research that aims to amplify the contributions of community health workers and support them in responding to current and future health emergencies.