Working Together on the Global Health Security Agenda: Fostering Collaborations among the Government and Non-governmental Sectors

Washington, D.C. — Government and non-governmental sectors will convene a one-day conference at the Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University on July 23, 2015 to discuss the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) and efforts towards GHSA implementation. The purpose of this event is to provide a platform for dialogue, to promote best practices, and to develop collaborations among government, research and academia, technical experts, health professionals and professional organizations, international organizations, industry, private sector, and philanthropy–all players in implementing GHSA.

Since the February 2014 launch of the GHSA, international organizations and more than 50 countries have engaged in the GHSA, with the shared goal of strengthening global capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats. The one-day conference will include a number of break-out sessions to discuss how government and non-governmental sectors can collaborate to promote the GHSA. A discussion during lunch will explore the role of the private sector, as well as how the GHSA applies to the future of women and girls. There will also be a discussion with GHSA Next Generation representatives. This will be followed by an afternoon poster session and reception, where participating organizations will have an opportunity to showcase their projects and network. 

Confirmed speakers include Dr. Elizabeth Cameron, Director, Countering Biological Threats, National Security Council; Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, Coordinator, Threat Reduction Programs, U.S. Department of State; Ambassador John Lange, Senior Fellow, Global Health Diplomacy, United Nations Foundation, Joanne Manrique, President, the Center for Global Health and Diplomacy; Phyllis Arthur, Senior Director, Vaccines, Immunotherapeutics and Diagnostics Policy, Biotechnology Industry Organization, as well as other experts in the prevention, detection, and response to infectious disease threats. NTI's Deborah Rosenblum will facilitate a discussion on GHSA efforts in the Middle East and North Africa. She will also discuss the role of philanthropy in GHSA activities.

See the full agenda here.

The event is organized by the U.S. Department of State, the Center for Global Health Diplomacy, Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University, the Nuclear Threat Initiative, the UPMC Center for Health Security, Gryphon Scientific, the Elizabeth R. Griffin Research Foundation, United Nations Foundation, CRDF Global, GE Foundation, International Medical Corps, Biotechnology Industry Organization, Health Security Partners, PATH, Association of Public Health Laboratories, and the University of Milan.