PHA-Exchange> Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI)

[Aviva]

From: "Walter Gulbinat" <gulbinatw at who.int>

> Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI)
> ------------------------------------------------------
>
> Request for Proposals for the Secretariat - Global Forum for Health
> Research
>
> Health research is essential to improve the design of health inter-
> ventions, policies and service delivery. Every year more than US$ 70
> billion is spent on health research and development by the public and
> private sectors. An estimated 10% of this is used for research into
> 90% of the world's health problems. This is what is called 'the 10/90
> gap'. The Global Forum for Health Research is an independent interna-
> tional foundation established in 1998 in Geneva, Switzerland. Its
> central objective is to help correct the 10/90 gap by focusing re-
> search efforts on diseases, determinants and risk factors represent-
> ing the heaviest burden on the world's health and by facilitating
> collaboration between partners in both the public and private sec-
> tors.
>
> The Global Forum is supported financially by the Rockefeller Founda-
> tion, World Bank, World Health Organization and the governments of
> Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. The Global
> Forum supports networks in health research bringing together a wide
> range of partners in a concerted effort to find solutions to priority
> health problems.
>
> Background
>
> The Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) is a re-
> cently formed network of interested partners supported by the Global
> Forum for Health Research. CHNRI is actively working on methodologi-
> cal issues of priority setting on Child Health, Nutrition and Devel-
> opment research, and on a life-cycle approach to child health and nu-
> trition research. It aims at increasing the level of communication
> and discussion amongst players working on research on child health
> and nutrition, such as nutritionists, child health specialist, and
> child development specialists. It further stimulates research and
> supports the expansion of research into priority child health and nu-
> trition problems on a global basis, especially in low and middle in-
> come countries.
>
> The need for a global initiative on child health and nutrition re-
> search (CHNRI) is based on the requirement of increased communication
> among disciplines working on research on child health, nutrition and
> development. CHNRI provides a platform to initiate and maintain de-
> bate on the importance and direction of the research. It brings to-
> gether scientists and implementing bodies to discuss issues relevant
> to the current status of knowledge and the requirements for the fu-
> ture. Further, CHNRI allows communication with donors and potential
> contributors, thereby helping direct funds to the cause. The initia-
> tive, therefore, makes an effort to ensure that identified gaps are
> being highlighted and addressed.
>
> When CHNRI was initiated, the view on its governance was that the Se-
> cretariat would rotate among developing country partners at regular
> intervals in order to represent all CHNRI partners. In the meantime,
> the Secretariat was hosted by the Global Forum for the last two
> years. This current tenure of the CHNRI Secretariat at the Global Fo-
> rum will come to an end on December 2002. This Request for Proposals
> invites institutions, particularly in low- or middle-income coun-
> tries, to express their interest in hosting the Secretariat for the
> Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative for an initial period
> of two years, renewable by the CHNRI board.
>
> Objectives of CHNRI
>
> The specific objectives of CHNRI are:
> * To promote priority research discussions within a broadened ap-
>   proach to child health, nutrition and development
>
> * To expand global knowledge on childhood disease burden and the
>   cost-effectiveness of interventions
> * To ensure adequate inclusion of developing country institutions and
>   scientists in the setting of priorities and formulation of plans for
>   child health and nutrition research
> * To promote appropriate research capacity development in low and
>   middle income countries for participation in these activities
> * To stimulate donor participation by proposing clearly defined and
>   focused research activities and a plan of action, and to increase
>   funding for child health and nutrition research.
>
> Governance of CHNRI
>
> CHNRI activities are carried out by three main organizational compo-
> nents: the CHNRI partners, the CHNRI Board, and the CHNRI Secre-
> tariat. "Partners" are defined in the broadest and most inclusive
> sense of the word; all actors working to reduce the 10/90 gap in
> child health and nutrition are already partners in the process. The
> Secretariat provides cohesion between the CHNRI activities and en-
> sures coordination through frequent exchange of information between
> various parts of CHNRI. However, the CHNRI Secretariat is the opera-
> tional arm of the network. Governance is the main function of the
> Board. The members of the Board represent organizations/NGOs/Groups
> of Child Nutrition; donors/funding agencies; public sector/networks;
> academia/research organizations in low/middle income countries and
> from high income countries; the Global Forum, WHO; and the secretary.
> The CHNRI Secretariat reports to the Board.
>
> Terms of reference of the CHNRI Secretariat
>
> The Secretariat of CHNRI
> * maintains coherence, collaboration and communication among differ-
>   ent CHNRI activities in compliance with the Board guidance.
> * serves as the spokesperson for CHNRI activities
> * will support the Board and partners generate funds for CHNRI ac-
>   tivities
> * rotates among partners at a regular interval, approximately every
>   two years or as decided by the board, to maintain the equitable na-
>   ture of CHNRI and to represent all CHNRI partners.
> * communicates CHNRI activities to all constituents through the CHNRI
>   email listserve
> * updates the CHNRI section on the Global Forum web site in collabo-
>   ration with the communication's unit of the Global Forum.
> * helps raise the profile of CHNRI by publicizing CHNRI activities,
>   especially for fund raising efforts
> * helps organize and conduct Board and partner meetings at specified
>   times of the year
> * reports to the Board, both financially, scientifically and adminis-
>   tratively
> * provides regular feedback to all CHNRI partners.
>
> Review criteria
>
> Proposals will be reviewed by the Board. Organiza-
> tions/institutes/agencies will be considered for hosting CHNRI Secre-
> tariat that can demonstrate their capacity to
> * maintain international communication, including easy e-mail access
> * organize and manage international health programmes
>   and projects
> * manage international health research, preferably in the fields of
>   child health and nutrition
> * develop a work-plan for proposed activities to be carried out by
>   the Secretariat over a 2 year period
> * develop and manage a budget for the Secretariat and its activities
> * support workshops, meetings and symposia to promote research and
>   networking of CHNRI
> * maintain the infrastructure necessary for providing support to the
>   Board.
>
> The institution should have a public health mandate from any public,
> private or academic sector in a low- or middle-income country.
>
> The Secretary will lead the secretariat and should
> * be a national of a developing country
> * be a recognized health researcher and manager
> * have international experience in networking.
>
> Budget of CHNRI activities
>
> Support for the functioning and activities of the CHNRI Secretariat
> is expected to be available for some staff costs, administrative
> help, communications, and small meetings. The support will come from
> several sources:
> * from the host organization as a sign of their commitment (funds,
>   resources, materials)
> * seed support for core functions from the budget of CHNRI, approved
>   by the Board and managed by the Secretariat and the host
>   institution.
> * other partners or fund raising efforts initiated by the secretariat
>   under guidance of the Board.
>
> Schedule of work
>
> The deadline for letters of intent is 30 September 2002. Review and
> selection of groups will take eight weeks and results will be an-
> nounced by late November 2002. To aid the transfer of knowledge and
> enable the Secretariat to become functional as soon as possible after
> the transfer, it is envisaged that the current Secretariat will work
> with the newly elected Secretariat for a 2-3 month time period. Ap-
> plication process Applicants are requested to send in a proposal of
> no more than 10 pages (excluding appendices which should also not ex-
> ceed 10 additional pages) covering the following sections:
> * Letter of intent (detailing mailing and email address)
> * Description of the organization/institute/agency, including its na-
>   tional and international roles
> * Description of internal management processes (e. g. governing bod-
>   ies or processes, financial control, reporting and approval
>   requirements)
> * Capacity and experience of the institution vis-à-vis the stated re-
>   quirements
> * Proposed method of work
> * Institutional/government support for the functions of the Secre-
>   tariat
> * Estimated budget
> * Résumé of the proposed secretary.
>
> Proposals should be received by 30 September 2002 at the
>
> Global Forum for Health Research
> (Attention Walter Gulbinat)
> c/o WHO
> 20 Avenue Appia
> 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland
> Tel: +41-22-791-4463
> Fax: +41-22-791-4394
> mailto:gulbinatw at who.int
>
> Please note: institutions are cautioned that there will be no exten-
> sion on the above-stated time-frames. Applicants should carefully
> consider their capacity to deliver the products on time.
>