GLOBAL SOLUTION NETWORKS

Global Diseases, Collective Solutions:

Networking in the New Epidemic Age

by Ben Ramalingam

Global  Diseases,  Collec.ve  Solu.ons:  Networking  in  the  New  Epidemic  Age  

GLOBAL SOLUTION NETWORKS

“When it comes to global health, there is no ‘them’… only ‘us.’” — Global Health Council

Executive Summary

•  Rapid spillovers from local into regional and global crises reveal major gaps in the global system for dealing with infectious disease.

•  A number of GSNs address failures of systems, institutions and markets.

•  GSNs are changing the rules by opening structure, sharing knowledge, developing new products and creating markets.

•  Increased collaboration has enabled new organizational forms including unprecedented speed from detection to disease management.

! 1/5 of all deaths can be attributed to infectious disease.

! Infectious disease contributes to

chronic poverty and burdens families, communities and societies.

! Pandemic threats as well as persistent diseases.

! Aid for funding has topped US$30 billion a year.

Global  Diseases,  Collec.ve  Solu.ons:  Networking  in  the  New  Epidemic  Age  

GLOBAL SOLUTION NETWORKS

Acceleration of trade and travel has caused the globalization of disease.

•  The global health response is challenged by bureaucracy, erratic and insufficient funding and changing objectives.

•  Across the range of actors there is insufficient coordination and collaboration.

•  Securing one country’s health requires securing the health of others.

•  Outdated institutions do not deal well with new disease challenges.

•  Markets for drugs and vaccines are not conducive to targeting areas of need because of relatively low revenue.

Evolving Foes, Imperfect Responses

We live in the “anthropocene.”

•  An era of profound human

influence on the planet. •  A changing world radically alters

the microbes and the niches they inhabit.

•  Transformation of natural and socio-economic systems are affecting the ecology of infectious pathogens.

•  This is a “new pandemic age” with drug resistance emerging in diseases that had been under control and new diseases emerging.

Global  Diseases,  Collec.ve  Solu.ons:  Networking  in  the  New  Epidemic  Age  

GLOBAL SOLUTION NETWORKS

The Four Characteristics of Global Solution Networks:

1.  Diverse Stakeholders (beyond one nation state)

2.  Self-Governing

3.  Exploits Digital Technology

4.  Addresses a Global Problem

Global Solution Networks are 21st century tools designed to solve 21st century problems.

There is a fundamental change underway regarding how global problems can be solved and perhaps how we govern ourselves. Emerging non-state networks of civil society, private sector, government and individual stakeholders—what we call Global Solution Networks—are achieving

new forms of cooperation and social change as well as the production of global public value.  A growing numbers of GSNs are currently mobilizing to address global disease.

The Role of Global Solution Networks

Global  Diseases,  Collec.ve  Solu.ons:  Networking  in  the  New  Epidemic  Age  

GLOBAL SOLUTION NETWORKS

•  Watchdog Networks—GOARN international surveillance of disease and ProMED global reporting of outbreaks.

•  Knowledge Networks—Global Virus Network collaboration early in outbreaks’ FoldIt gamers working to solve data problems.

•  Operational and Delivery Networks—Stop Transmission of Polio, GAVI alliance distributing vaccines

•  Policy Networks—Medicus Mundi promotes access to health care, EVIPnet building policy capacity

•  Advocacy Networks—One Health Global Network promotes joint health policy in human and veterinary medicine.

Numerous multi-stakeholder collaborations of different organization types are addressing complex challenges.

Ecosystem of GSNs—An Era of Partnerships

Global  Diseases,  Collec.ve  Solu.ons:  Networking  in  the  New  Epidemic  Age  

GLOBAL SOLUTION NETWORKS

Global Diseases,

Collective Solutions: Networking in the New Epidemic Age

By Ben Ramalingam

Global Solution Networks:

Don Tapscott, Founder and Chairman Dr. Joan Bigham, Executive Director Review all research results on our web site: gsnetworks.org

Global Solution Networks provide fundamental changes in approaches to global pandemics.

A focus of GSNs is to make sense of the problem space from a technical and scientific standpoint. Pay careful attention to political and policy contexts. Pay attention to relationship management.

Navigate power dynamics and negotiation. Central focus on innovating new programs and paradigms. Obsession with performance and impact.

Implications for Network Leaders