IndiaSpend’s Post

The Center for Values in International Development (C4V) is pleased to call your attention to Madhukar Pai and his outstanding keynote address “Building Equity in Global Health: The Role for Global North Actors”, which he delivered recently at the Yale Institute for Global Health Symposium. To C4V as development ethicists, his talk exemplifies the power and importance of moral and ethical messaging in addressing needed reforms in foreign aid and international development, and what he presented has a great deal to do with how the major practitioner institutions of development and humanitarian response ought to be situating themselves to be leading allies to the Global South in this work. Given his audience at Yale University, his pitch centers on academia, but it takes very little shifting for development practitioners, researchers, development policy makers, funders and philanthropies, all to see the direct relevance in his argument. To meet priority moral and ethical goals in the framing of development work in the Global South, the changes that need to happen are systemic and profound – and of a fundamentally different nature than what you see in the advocacy of groups such as Unlock USAID. As the Global South becomes more vocal and demanding in the context of localization, appropriate change will have to happen. Whether those in the existing Global North development industry are allies in that change, or reluctant (or even obstructive) gatekeepers in that process has everything to do with seeing and properly responding to the moral assertions contained in Dr. Pai’s talk. C4V is comforted to note how much we have been pushing a similar message, albeit without matching Dr. Pai’s clarity, brevity, and eloquence. Building equity and advocating for an elevated focus on human dignity, human rights, and social justice is what C4V is all about, and creating the institutional receptivity among both the leadership and the rank and file to move in that direction is what our work in values mapping seeks to facilitate.

Lesson 3: The public and private sectors have a long way to go to figure out how to work together. It starts with candid, off the record dialogue and a multilateral mindset. I was going to save this lesson for a future post, but I was prompted by Dr. Derek Yach's comments as well as the upcoming  2024 #UnitedNations #UNGA with the theme “Multilateral solutions for a better world.” Derek recently shared insights of how the private sector’s efforts to address significant public health concerns are being thwarted by ideologues. His experiences in food/beverage and tobacco #harmreduction are strikingly similar to mine in beverage alcohol. Achieving public health goals AND helping businesses thrive are NOT incompatible activities. The two can co-exist, but public and private stakeholders have to talk to each other to make informed decisions. Bringing different groups together to discuss ideas and address challenges is essentially the definition of multilateralism, the heart of the UN. I personally made inroads within companies about how to address public health issues, as well as inroads with public officials who have been skeptical about the private sector. However, these kinds of conversations need to happen at scale to achieve meaningful impact. We need more safe spaces and less accusations of nefarious intent (on all sides) to allow them to happen. Not once within a private sector organization did I ever hear, “What can we do to harm people’s health?” A dead consumer is not a good consumer. Duh. The private sector has a vested interest in people’s health, as do health authorities. Constructive conversations are a highway to harness creativity and innovation. Stakeholders need a safe space to build trust, share concerns, and brainstorm. Foundations and think tanks are great places for this dialogue, as are schools of public health. I’m looking at my alma maters (University of Michigan School of Public Health and UC Berkeley School of Public Health) who foster the next gen of thinkers! United we stand, divided we fall. Our fire walls are leaving us burned – let’s come together for pragmatic solutions! Cheers to the #UN and cheers to #multilateralism!

🚨 Just 2 days to go! We’re thrilled about the impact our #FREE #webinar will bring as part of the #Career Chats with #EDAS Consulting series. Sharing valuable insights and actionable tips with our audience is always at the heart of what we do. Growth often comes with change, and navigating #transitions is a critical part of that journey. If this resonates with you, don’t miss this webinar—it’s tailored for those ready to embrace and excel through #change. 👉 All the details are in this post. We can’t wait to see you there!

🌍 Join us in addressing the urgent need for skilled policymakers in navigating today's complex global health landscape. As crises intersect and vulnerabilities amplify, understanding the intricacies of health governance is crucial. 🔍 Our course offers a comprehensive exploration of global health policy, advocacy, and diplomacy, equipping participants with the tools to effect change at regional and national levels. 📅 Mark your calendars for an immersive journey: Day 1: Understanding governance and decision-making processes Day 2: Mastering advocacy for global health Day 3: Delving into diplomacy with simulations and case studies Day 4: Navigating complex policy ecosystems with real-world examples Day 5: Shaping the future of global health policy 🎓 Don't miss out on this participatory and interactive experience, featuring expert insights, role-playing, and on-site visits to major organizations. 📍 Course venue: University of Geneva premises, taught in English. Let's shape a healthier world together. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/ecDECdX8 #summerunige #GlobalHealthPolicy #HealthAdvocacy #DiplomacyInHealth

'We will see a permanent level of crisis management in our societies' - Jacob Torfing Today, the ROBUST team successfully presented a series of webinars on our research into #RobustGovernance, with a keynote introduction by Milka Sokolović, Director General of the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA)! 🚀 After interviewing over 110 public sector decision-makers involved in making hard decisions during the Covid-19 pandemic - including people working in municipalities, local health care, schools, and civil society organizations - we shared an introduction to the topic of robust governance and what this means for the public sector. Jacob Torfing of Roskilde School of Governance, Roskilde University, shared core concepts of robust governance and how it can be used strategically in the public sector, followed by an intervention by Elma Isufi of The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR). The next presentation was by Tiziana Caponio of the University of Turin, drawing on examples from the migration crisis. Steven Nõmmik, Junior Researcher at TalTech – Tallinn University of Technology presented his work on hybridity, drawing on examples from the Scientific Advisory Board in Estonia. Finally, Chiara Russo, PhD Researcher at University of Antwerp discussed societal intelligence, and the role of political, expert, and 'lifeworld' knowledge. Thank you to all who joined for your input and lively discussion! If you have questions, reach out to us at our LinkedIn page! Eager to share examples of good governance during Covid-19? Join our Learning Hub: https://lnkd.in/ezJ6DcXT #IRSPM #RobustGovernance #Covid19 #CivilSociety

Call from 100+ pantheon of global leaders for urgent agreement on governments to reach ambitious and equitable international deal to prepare for and prevent future pandemics. Prominent figures including 23 former national Presidents, 22 former Prime Ministers, a former UN General Secretary, and 3 Nobel Laureates are issuing a compelling plea today for urgent action on an international agreement aimed at fortifying the world's readiness and response to future pandemics. Under the auspices of the World Health Organization's Constitution, they advocate for a Pandemic Accord, recognizing its pivotal role in averting the kind of devastation witnessed during the COVID-19 crisis. With the toll of the COVID-19 pandemic officially documented at 7 million lives lost and a staggering $2 trillion in economic losses worldwide, negotiations among 194 nations commenced in December 2021 to establish a groundbreaking Pandemic Accord. Set with a target deadline of May 2024, these discussions represent a historic opportunity to forge a unified global strategy against future pandemics. As the ninth round of negotiations unfolds this week and next, the signatories of today's collective appeal aim to galvanize all participating nations to stay steadfast in their commitment and ensure the timely realization of this critical accord. They emphasize the urgency of dispelling misinformation campaigns targeting the World Health Organization, the designated entity tasked with implementing the accord, and urge negotiators to redouble their efforts to meet the looming deadline. Emphasizing the imperative of readiness in the face of inevitable future threats, the leaders stress the importance of an inclusive and collaborative approach to pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. They call upon national leaders to prioritize the completion of the accord by the May deadline, underscoring its potential to not only safeguard lives and livelihoods but also reaffirm the efficacy of international cooperation in addressing global challenges. In delivering a global pandemic accord, the leaders contend, lies not only the protection of countless lives and livelihoods but also a resounding testament to the enduring power of international cooperation in confronting shared crises amidst a complex and interconnected world. #PandemicPreparedness #GlobalHealth #InternationalCooperation #PandemicAccord #WorldHealthOrganization #GlobalSolutions #COVID19Response #UrgentAction #Negotiations #PublicHealth #GlobalLeadership

The panel discussion titled 'Locally Grounded Research: Advancing Equity in Global Research' examined how empowering researchers from Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) profoundly shaped policy and drove sustainable development. This discussion, moderated by Ms. Caroline Nyuguto, featured an esteemed panel including Dr. Constantine Manda (UC Irvine), Marianna Balampama (Pact), Dr. Jaah Mkupete (UDSM), and Zakayo Zakaria (ESRF). Together, they uncovered valuable perspectives that emphasized the critical role of local expertise in informing effective decision-making. Participants joined in this important conversation! #ESRFTZ30yrsAnniversary #Empowerment #PolicyImpact #SustainableDevelopment #ResearchExcellence #GlobalEquity

Long-term development trends are reversing, with hunger on the rise. Tasneem Mirza, Policy Specialist from the Human Development Report Office - United Nations Development Programme, highlights these critical issues in Chapter 1 of the #HDR2024. Watch the video and discover the challenges we are facing in this polarized world. How can we effectively manage interdependence for sustainable development? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below! 📚 Read full report: https://lnkd.in/duFp-fmU