As public health problems in the developing world grow more complex and resources to address them remain limited, global health partnerships become increasingly important. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is a prime illustration. No organization working alone could hope to have a sustainable impact on such an urgent, enormous and multi-faceted issue.
Against this backdrop, partnerships on many levels – local, national and global – and among many actors – governments, local communities, donors, corporations and private voluntary organizations – are more than desirable. They are vital. The power of partnerships is in bringing together actors with diverse yet complementary skills and resources around a shared vision that none could realize alone. For example, the CARE-CDC Health Initiative brings together CARE’s experience working alongside poor communities to help end poverty with CDC’s scientific expertise and surveillance capability. Together, CARE and CDC seek to provide better solutions to problems that pose a threat to both the health and the livelihood security of people in poor communities in developing countries.
Although global health partnerships can bring many benefits, making them work – and optimizing them – can be a tough challenge. Effective partnerships should be based on: a shared purpose and values; clear expectations; trust, respect and cooperation among partners; and agreed-upon rules for sharing power, making decisions and resolving conflict. It is critical that global partnerships extend to a broader set of relationships with local communities and governments.
Learning Objectives: 1) Explore the role of partnerships in advancing global health objectives, especially on HIV/AIDS issues. 2) Examine the practical challenges of global health partnerships and to arrive at strategies to overcome these challenges.
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.