Global Health Programme

The Global Health Programme GHP at the Graduate Institute was established in Spring 2008 as one of the first of its kind in an institute devoted to international relations and development. It reflects a wider trend in both the practice and the analysis of global health which pays increasing attention to the links between health, foreign policy, trade and development. It builds capacity by engaging in research, knowledge translation and diffusion for and with major global health stakeholders, particularly those present in Geneva.

The Global Health Programme examines which characteristics and mechanism define successful global health governance at the beginning of the 21st century. In particular, it engages in the following three key areas:

• Innovation in global health diplomacy and governance
• The powershift in global health
• The role of Switzerland in global health governance

The Global Health Programme builds partnerships with a wide-range of different actors at international, regional and national levels.

NEWS

Second annual training course on global health diplomacy in China

From 5-9 July, 2010, the Global Health Programme at the Graduate Institute and the Institute for Global Health at Peking University organized the second annual executive course on global health diplomacy in China. Around 40 participants attended the course from the Department of International Cooperation in China, line departments from the Ministry of Health and its affiliated institutions, other ministries, academic institutions, bilateral and multilateral agencies in China, provincial health officials, and a potential international staff pool for the Ministry of Health. All of the participants are involved in international cooperation activities. The course was supported by the Department of International Cooperation (DIC), Ministry of Health (MoH), China, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health, the Health Human Resources Development Centre, MoH, China and the World Health Organization.
Download the full report [pdf]

The White Paper "The Food System"

The White Paper "The Food System" was launched successfully at the IUHPE 2010 Conference and presented by Ilona Kickbusch. Download the document[pdf]. More information.  

Fourth annual executive course on global health diplomacy - The course brings together health professionals and diplomats from around the world.  

Between 21 and 25 June 2010, 19 participants took part in the Global Health Programme’s annual executive course on global health diplomacy in Geneva, as part of the programme’s expanding capacity-building initiatives. During the course of the week, the participants – including representatives of health and foreign affairs ministries, as well as staff of international organizations and non-state actors from around the world – had the opportunity to meet and learn from leading policy-makers and practitioners in global health.

Course director Professor Dr Ilona Kickbusch – also director of the Global Health Programme – and co-director Dr Gaudenz Silberschmidt – also vice-director and head of the International Affairs Division of the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health – guided participants throughout the week, which started with an opening panel of experts on ‘Health and foreign policy: the challenges and impact on health’. This included the course directors and the following representatives: Ambassador Sigrun Mogedal of Norway, Mr Luvuyo Ndimeni from the South African Mission and Dr Rüdiger Krech from the World Health Organization. The morning panel was opened up to a wider audience and attracted representatives from the diplomatic health community in Geneva.

After being introduced to the newly emerging field of global health diplomacy and its associated challenges, participants visited the World Health Organization, the leading venue for negotiations on global health. The following day, they took part in an interactive simulation exercise on a global health negotiation of international importance. Other topics explored during the week included national global health strategies, cross-cutting issues with health, and new actors and stakeholders in the changing global health landscape. Course participants were encouraged to apply and share their knowledge through practical and interactive exercises that are relevant within the contexts of their own day-to-day work. Participants from Mali, Indonesia, Peru and the Netherlands presented examples from their own countries on how they coordinate for global health at national level.

Executive courses on global health diplomacy have been pioneered by the Global Health Programme ever since it held its first course in Geneva in 2007. These courses were developed in response to the increasing interdependence between health and foreign policy issues and the need for training in this field. The courses aim to increase participants’ understanding of the dynamics of global health governance and to improve their negotiation skills. New skills are needed by health and foreign affairs professionals to negotiate global regimes and international agreements and treaties, and to maintain relations with a wide range of actors.

The Global Health Programme, established at The Graduate Institute in 2008, continues to receive international recognition for its initiatives in capacity-building and research, which aim to examine the links between health, foreign policy, trade and development. Over 200 participants worldwide have been trained to date, creating an established network of alumni. Forthcoming executive courses in 2010 will be held in China and Indonesia. In addition, global health diplomacy courses will soon be complemented by a series of accompanying tools including a training manual, textbook and a series of case studies. Download the summary report [pdf]

The Global Health Programme is now member of the WFPHA!

The Global Health Programme became a sustaining member of the WFPHA at the last Genera Assembly of WFPHA held on 16 May in Geneva.

CALLS FOR PAPERS

• Global Symposium on Health Systems Research - Call for abstracts
• call for book proposals for the Global Health Diplomacy Book Series

Master of Laws in Global Health Law and International Institutions - Collaboration between the Graduate Institute and Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C.More information on this programme and details on how to apply.International Health Law Course at the Graduate Institute, Geneva.