Jacob H. Eckles
Senior Program Officer, Global Biological Policy and Programs
Global Biosecurity Dialogue
Reducing biological risk and enhancing global security
Challenge
Biological risks are becoming increasingly complex and global. Many countries do not invest in biosecurity assistance, and financial commitments are not well-tracked.
Action
A new, international cross-sectoral dialogue to elicit and track specific actions to advance global biosecurity.
Results
Concrete steps for countries to fill gaps and overcome barriers to strengthening biosecurity capability.
Biosecurity is under-represented as a policy and financial priority among countries and international institutions working to address global health security and to counter the risks associated with weapons of mass destruction. Even among countries and regions that have made commitments to improve biosecurity capability, few mechanisms are available to track or account for them. In light of increasingly complex and widescale biosecurity threats, these limitations pose a serious concern for international security.
NTI’s Global Biosecurity Dialogue brings together senior officials from ministries of foreign affairs, health, defense, agriculture and other relevant sectors to address these limitations and identify new and measurable actions to advance international biosecurity. Over time, this Dialogue seeks to:
- Build cross-border collaboration to achieve specific biosecurity targets.
- Increase the number of countries providing national, regional, or global financial and technical support to strengthen biosecurity.
- Promote new actions and investments among senior officials to mitigate emerging biological risks.
The Global Biosecurity Dialogue will complement existing international efforts to mitigate biological threats, including the Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction and the Global Health Security Agenda. NTI’s Global Biosecurity Dialogue also should serve as a leadership model for identifying new actions and promoting change within other elements of health security.
Those involved in GBD activities can access the GBD portal here.
2023
NTI | bio Hosts 2023 Global Biosecurity Dialogue Workstream Meetings
NTI | bio hosted more than 50 high-level biosecurity experts and professionals from governments, civil society, and regional and international organizations for the 2023 Global Biosecurity Dialogue Workstream meetings.
2022
Global Biosecurity Dialogue Convenes in Cape Town to Improve Biosecurity and Address Emerging Risks
NTI | bio convened experts from around the world from governments, industry, and civil society in Cape Town, South Africa to discuss emerging biological risks and offer actions to address them.
Fourth Annual Global Biosecurity Dialogue Identifies Steps to Improve Biosecurity in 2022 and Beyond
2021
NTI | bio convenes global experts to assess progress on Global Biosecurity Dialogue actions
NTI | bio brought together 100 biosecurity experts from around the world for virtual discussions about actions taken since the 2021 Virtual Global Biosecurity Dialogue, the future of biosafety and biosecurity, and lessons learned from COVID-19.
NTI | bio and Africa CDC Work to Build COVID-19 Biosafety and Biosecurity Capacity in Northern Africa
NTI | bio and Africa CDC Work to Build COVID-19 Biosafety and Biosecurity Capacity in Northern Africa
First Virtual Global Biosecurity Dialogue Yields Important Pledges to Strengthen Biosecurity
First Virtual Global Biosecurity Dialogue Yields Important Pledges to Strengthen Biosecurity
2020
NTI | bio Partners with Africa CDC to Build COVID-19 Biosafety and Biosecurity Capacity in Eastern Africa
The NTI Global Biological Policy and Programs team partnered with ACDC to sponsor a training for experts across the Eastern African region to reduce biological risks.
2019
NTI | bio Hosts Dialogue on Biosecurity and Emerging Risks at the 2019 BWC Meeting of States Parties
NTI | bio hosted two events designed to discuss steps to fill global gaps in capability to prevent biological events and to reduce biological risks.
NTI | bio and Africa CDC Convene Biosecurity and Biosafety Experts from Central Africa
NTI'S biosecurity program partnered with ACDC to sponsor the second event in a series of workshops to advance ACDC's initiative to stregthen biosecurity and biosafety.
NTI | bio and Africa CDC Convene Biosecurity and Biosafety Experts from Southern Africa
The workshop sought to develop strategies for addressing biosecurity and biosafety capacity gaps at both the national and regional levels.
NTI | bio presents ongoing biosecurity work at Global Health Security Conference in Australia
NTI bio participated in the first annual Global Health Security (GHS) Conference
NTI Convenes Global Biosecurity Dialogue in Addis Ababa, Partners with African Union to Launch Africa CDC Initiative to Strengthen Biosecurity and Biosafety
Participants developed four new proposals to advance biosecurity policies, develop country capability, and create capacity to identify and reduce emerging biological risks.
Past Event
Tabletop Exercise for Senior Global Leaders on International Response to Deliberate Biological Events
Munich, Germany
2018
Past Event
Taking Action to Advance Biosecurity and Biosafety Globally
Bali, Indonesia
NTI | bio Announces Winners of Next Generation Competition, Advances Biosecurity Capability during Global Health Security Agenda Ministerial
NTI | bio will join senior officials and experts from around the world to advance global biosecurity capability during the 5th Global Health Security Agenda.
NTI Experts Emphasize Preparedness and Response to Deliberate Bio Events at the Biological Weapons Convention 2018 MX4
NTI's Hayley Severence and Michelle Nalabandian participate in the 2018 BWC Meeting of Experts on Assistance, Response, and Preparedness (MX4)
NTI | bio Hosts Inaugural Global Biosecurity Dialogue in London
NTI | bio held its inaugural Global Biosecurity Dialogue this week in London...
2017
NTI and World Economic Forum Partner to Discuss Biological Risks Posed by Advances in Technology
The event explored the current state of international biological risk and next steps to catalyze additional efforts toward biological risk reduction.
NTI Urges Enhanced Focus on Biosecurity at Gathering of Synthetic Biology Experts
NTI's Beth Cameron was invited to participate in a security-centered dialogue that will focus on assessing and reducing risks from emerging technologies.
NTI Highlights Health-Security Partnerships, Emphasizes Urgency, and Presses for Measurable Progress in Countering Biological Threats at WHA
NTI joins hundreds of international government officials and experts during the 70th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland to highlight health and security partnerships.
2016
November BWC Review Conference Tackles Major Biosecurity Developments like Gene Drives
A new analysis from Gabrielle Tarini and Raymond Zilinskas of CNS examines gene drive systems and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention
2014
Sam Nunn: Fighting Infectious Disease is a Health & Security Imperative, International Action Needed
NTI Co-Chairman Sam Nunn released this statement on the eve of two important global health meetings in Washington, D.C.