In just over four years, the GHRI partnership has stimulated a lot of inter-agency activity, including support for global health research teams in Canada and LMICs. The partnership has also engaged national and international communities. Below is a summary of the GHRI's key research programs and events launched and/or supported since 2001.
Partnership Building Workshop. In June 2003, with support from the GHRI partners, CIHR hosted a workshop to mentor meritorious teams of its first global health research competition in the skills of developing true partnerships amongst multiple stakeholders. Thirty-one teams were represented at the meeting held in Toronto over two days. For additional information please visit Results of the CIHR RFA "Global Health Research Program Development and Planning Grants"
Summer Institute for Global Health Research led by the CCGHR. In 2004-05, the CCGHR collaborated with the Centre for International Health at Dalhousie University, Halifax, July 11-15, 2004 to host its inaugural Summer Institute, a five-day intensive program that engaged 22 new global health researchers from Canada and lower middle income countries, explored 'south-north partnerships,' and addressed specific global health challenges through 'research to action' 1. This year, a second Summer Institute took place in Tanzania engaging more LMIC students and facilitators. The general design of this year's Summer Institute was similar to the very successful pilot.
Canadian Coalition for Global Health Research (CCGHR). Meeting GHRI Strategic Targets, "shaping and responding to the global health research agenda", the GHRI partners, in consultation with the global health research community in Canada, have fostered and promoted the evolution of the Canadian Coalition for Global Health Research (CCGHR) as a not-for-profit organization. The CCGHR has been instrumental in coordinating global health research in Canada and leading Canada and LMIC in training and capacity building efforts. The GHRI have supported the CCGHR operational activities (staff support, board meetings, etc.) through the GHRI Secretariat since it was established in fall 2003. The GHRI will continue this support until the CCGHR becomes eligible for core support funding through major federal agencies (2006).
Canadian Conference on International Health (CCIH) and Joint GHRI-CCGHR Workshop at the CCIH. The Canadian Society for International Health's (CSIH) annual conference, the CCIH, attracts a broad range of GHR stakeholders including non-governmental organizations, research institutions, government, national and international agencies in Canada and around the world (over 500 participants attended last year). The GHRI partners have contributed to the Conference for the past three years. The CCIH also hosted the annual Joint GHRI-CCGHR Workshop. Over the past three years, the GHRI partners have joined forces with the CCGHR and the CSIH to plan and participate in an opening-day conference workshop aimed at coordinating and mobilizing support for global health research in Canada. More than 200 people participated in last year's workshop. Now that it has established an independent presence in the community, the CCGHR will lead this event and engage the GHRI partners as appropriate.
Engaging the International Community
Supporting MDGs: Canadian commitment to Africa CIHR-led consultations. Championing "The Role of Health Research in Contributing to Global Health and Economic Development in Africa": At the June 2002 G8 Summit meeting in Kananaskis, Canada, the G8 member countries recognized the importance of health research under the Africa Action Plan. The GHRI and CCGHR were part of the CIHR-led consultations that contributed to the consensus reached at the meeting around the importance of global health research to development. Since this time, the GHRI and CCGHR have continued to build relationships and strengthen networks with their African colleagues. (The IDRC-supported African Leadership Program is an example of the outputs to date).
Team Canada at The Global Forum for Health Research (GFHR). Every year, the GFHR attracts more than 700 participants with an interest in reducing the 10/90 Gap (international and national health research funders, government, NGOs, researchers, etc.). "Team Canada'" (the GHRI, the Canadian Coalition for Global Health Research - CCGHR, the African Health Research Forum -AfHRF2 and many other welcome guests from Canada and lower and middle income countries) continues to earn its reputation for coordinated involvement in the past 4 annual Fora. This year's Forum 9 in Mumbai was no exception.
1 Participants' interests included: * improved access to health care access in Bolivia focusing on non-financial barriers such as gender, ethnic and marginalized groups; * management of psychiatric clinical trials in Cuba; * pediatric oncology in China;* strengthening health systems (Uganda); * domestic violence health policies in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Thailand; * epidemiological studies for priority setting; * multi-centered North-South network for evaluation of treatment of HIV/AIDS (Mali); * improved access to health care systems for the indigenous peoples of Burkina Faso; * community based child health education programming in Uganda, * disease burden and management practice of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (China); * ecosystem approach to trachoma control in Tanzania; challenges of translating research evidence into the community context (Malawi).
2 The AfHRF was created following an extensive Africa-led consultation in 2000 to take stock of national and regional developments in health research; and to provide a forum to promote health research for development in Africa and to strengthen the "African voice" in setting and implementing the global research agenda.
