Deliberative Discussion: Reimagining the Future of Global Health Initiatives Study, 14 June 2023, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The ‘Deliberative Discussion’ was co-hosted by Africa CDC and the five-university research consortium contracted by Wellcome Trust to generate research and evidence to underpin the FGHI process. Participants included a purposely-selected group of individuals, comprised predominantly of national actors (ministers of health officials, NGOs, researchers etc.), in addition to members of the FGHI Steering Group. The list of attendees can be found here.
The event provided an opportunity to update attendees on the FGHI process and introduce the preliminary findings from the programme of research that is underpinning it. The objectives of the event were three-fold:
- To gain feedback on the preliminary findings of the research.
- To gather input regarding recommendations for the Future of Global Health Initiatives study.
- To begin to prioritize the recommendations (taking into consideration expected impact, national capacity, political feasibility, and time horizon).
The early findings and draft recommendations presented by the research consortium will continue to be shaped throughout July. The research report, which is an important input to the FGHI process, is expected in early August and will be available at www.futureofghis.org. It will help to inform Steering Group deliberations in the second half of the year, which will culminate in a set of commitments for collective action to optimize global health initiatives’ support to national health priorities and countries’ progress toward universal health coverage.
Event overview
Dr Abdulaziz Mohammed, Head of Division, Disease Control and Prevention, Africa CDC, opened the event with welcome remarks and a short overview of the Africa CDC’s commitment to the FGHI process.
Dr Mercy Mwangangi, Co-Chair of the FGHI’s Steering Group, kicked off the agenda by sharing a short overview of the FGHI and its aims.
Professor Karl Blanchet, Director of Geneva Centre of Humanitarian Studies at the University of Geneva, and part of the FGHI research consortium, gave a presentation on the research’s aims, the overall approach, and status of the research, before passing the baton to the wider research team for a series of presentations on the key findings from the global interviews as well as the challenges, lessons learnt and initial recommendations from the research process to date.
Dr Natasha Palmer from Queen Margaret University shared a presentation on the early global findings, outlining the questions that have been explored throughout interviews with recipient countries, GHIs and other global health stakeholders. The interviews highlighted the significant gains made in global health over the past two decades and the critical role played by GHIs, as well as some of the key challenges. Dr Palmer also spoke about lessons from previous initiatives to improve alignment and co-ordination (IHP+, SDG3 GAP, Act-A, HSDP).
Professor Rene English from Stellenbosch University shared a presentation on the key findings of the South Africa case study (one of three case studies in the research process). Professor English set out the global health challenges at a country level. The session also set out a range of recommendations applicable to South Africa on the themes of programmatic and health system priorities; financing; accountability mechanisms; governance, coordination, and alignment; and health system strengthening. (The full distillation of recommended changes relevant to each of the three case studies will be set out in the final report).
Dr Séverine Carillon from the Institute of Health and Development at Cheikh Anta Diop University presented the Senegal case study which also outlined country context, challenges, lessons learnt and recommendations specific to Senegal.
Professor Shehla Zaidi from Aga Khan University presented the final case study focused on Pakistan, adopting the same format: country context, challenges at a country-level, lessons learnt and recommendations specific to Pakistan.
Following the case study presentations, the floor was opened to questions and comments from in-person and online attendees, moderated by Professor Karl Blanchet.
Dr Ruth Nigatu, Chief of Staff, Ministry of Health, Ethiopia, rounded off the morning’s presentations with Ethiopia’s perspective.
The second half of the event commenced with a presentation by Professor Sophie Witter from Queen Margaret University, setting out the research consortium’s initial thinking on a range of recommendations emerging from the research process.
Following Professor Witter’s presentation, breakout sessions were convened for attendees to discuss and share feedback before a final plenary discussion of themes emerging from the day.
John-Arne Røttingen, FGHI Steering Group Co-Chair, drew the session to a close, welcoming additional input and feedback from the group in the month ahead as the research consortium shapes the final research report and outlining the policy dialogue process that will follow in the second half of the year.
We would like to thank the research consortium, speakers, and all participants for taking part in this event, and Africa CDC for hosting.