Council on Health Research for Development - COHRED

1. Council on Health Research for Development - COHRED Sylvia de Haan An introduction Copenhagen, September 26

2. Our mission statement ‘We aim to improve health, equity and development by supporting countries to develop strong research and innovation systems.’ COHRED’s primary goals are to: • Work with low- and middle-income countries optimise their research and innovation system; • engage with other (global) actors inmaking their actions more supportive of national research and innovation systems; and • Advocate for research and innovation as key drivers for health, equity and development.

3. Our history • 1987– Commission on Health Research for Development set up to quantify the problem and propose ways to make health research more responsive to the health and development needs of low-and middle-income countries; • 1990– Commission tables its – now ‘classic’ – statement that only 5% of all funding for health research globally was spent on the group of diseases that cause 93% of mortality worldwide…..the “’10/90 gap”…… • 1993– COHRED is formed; • 2011 – COHRED Group (incl GFHR) • Findings: • “10/90 Gap” • Recommendations: • ENHR • Global Financing • Collaborations • Global Platform

4. A southern alliance with key northern partners The COHRED Group COHRED is a non-profit organisation with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Our board and staff represent low and middle income countries – the majority are residents and citizens of the countries we work with.

5. Supporting research and innovation systems for health equity and development Health System Social & Political Development Health Health Research Economic Development InnovationPathway • Products • Services • Organizational systems

6. Supporting research and innovation systems for health equity and development Do Enable

7. Overview of our work

8. Research for Health Africa (R4HA) • A partnership with NEPAD and three countries – Mozambique, Senegal and Tanzania. • Successes and results • Worked with Tanzania to set-up a cross-sector national research agenda. The country has gone on to commit 0.7% of GDP to science and technology. • In Senegal, R4HA helped to set-up a national Council for Research for Health. • In Mozambique , R4HA is working to define a national Research for Health agenda. Global Forum Capacity Building Research Management Priority Setting EthicsReview Policy Development

9. Strengthening R4H systems in West Africa • A collaboration with the West African Health Organization (WAHO) and four West African Countries: Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali and Sierra Leone. • Successes and results • WAHO made ‘strengthening research and innovation system development’ one of its strategic objectives • Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau develop national policies and agendas • Liberia has created a Research Unit in its Ministry of Health Global Forum Capacity Building Research Management Priority Setting EthicsReview Policy Development

10. Strengthening management in Latin America • With the RIMAIS network, we provide training to National Research for Health Managers in Latin American countries. • Successes and results • In July 2011, an introductory course was held in Antigua, Guatemala. • Through 2012, three on-line courses (30 hours each) are offered. • Issues of focus include: research policies; monitoring and evaluation; use of research results. Global Forum Capacity Building Research Management Priority Setting EthicsReview Policy Development

11. Research Ethics Web • Successes and results • Information on 155 Research Ethics Committees (RECs) have been collected in 34 African countries and uploaded to the Research Ethics Web. • Over 1000 RECs in Latin America • http://rhinno.netA web-based information and management system for research ethics committees, governments, researchers and medicines regulatory authorities. Global Forum Capacity Building Research Management Priority Setting EthicsReview Policy Development

12. Global Forum for Health Research

13. CSO engagement in Research for Health • Part of COHRED’s philosophy • But not operationalised • WG of Susan Reynolds Whyte – provided theoretical framework • Consultative meeting in Copenhagen (2008) provided call to action for Bamako Ministerial Forum

14. CSO engagement – Why? • Drive, participate in and conduct research that embraces health in its broadest sense, including the determinants of health and health-related inequities. • Can hold all stakeholders accountable for the commitments they make towards research for health. • Can increase the skills and capacity of local actors, enabling them to respond effectively to national and international priorities and demands. • Provide missing viewpoints and cultural perspectives to research for health. • Translate research for health into action for health. • Disseminate research findings to a wide audience of stakeholders in health using more accessible and most appropriate formats such as stories and narratives.

15. CSO engagement – Challenges

16. PROCOSI – Producer and user PROCOSI (El Programa de Coordinación en Salud Integral) conducted research on knowledge, attitudes and practices of sexual reproductive health in indigenous populations of Bolivia. Research results used by local women’s community organizations to train women in areas of sexual reproductive health. Maternal mortality was reduced by 75%. www.procosi.org

17. Research!America– Shaper

18. ZonMW– Promoting CSOs as shapers

19. COHRED – Enabling CSOs to become active research partners Providing tools Continue advocacy Continue raising issue in technical collaboration with countries

20. CSO Research Web (cso.healthresearchweb.org) • Increasingvisibility • Findingpartners, guidelines, tools • Starting discussion groups

21. Contact us COHRED 1-5 Route des Morillons P0 Box 2100 1211 Geneva Switzerland Tel +41 22 591 89 00 Email cohred@cohred.org www.cohred.org COHRED on social media Twitter:www.twitter.com/cohred Facebook: www.facebook.com/cohredgroup YouTube: 'cohredgroup‘ Flickr:http://www.flickr.com/photos/cohred