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-�-vis the stated re-
quirements
* Proposed method of work
* Institutional/government support for the functions of the Secre-
tariat
* Estimated budget
* R�sum� 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@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.
--
To send a message to AFRO-NETS, write to: afro-nets@usa.healthnet.org
To subscribe or unsubscribe, write to: majordomo@usa.healthnet.org
in the body of the message type: subscribe afro-nets OR unsubscribe afro-nets
To contact a person, send a message to: afro-nets-help@usa.healthnet.org
Information and archives: http://www.afronets.org