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Call for Proposals to host the
Fifth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research (2018)
Please send queries and complete proposals to [email protected] by
15 April 2015. Emails should have the following subject line: “Proposal to host the Fifth
Global Symposium: [Institution Name]”.
The mission of Health Systems Global (http://www.healthsystemsglobal.org), an
international membership society, is to: “convene researchers, policy-makers and
implementers from around the world to develop the field of health systems research and
unleash their collective capacity to create, share and apply knowledge to strengthen health
systems interest in improving the performance of health systems.” Health Systems Global is
requesting proposals from interested parties to host the Fifth Global Symposium on Health
Systems Research, to be held in the autumn of 2018.
The symposium is likely to take place over a three-day period, with one or two days of
satellite sessions before and/or after the official programme. It is expected to bring together
around 2000 participants from around the world. As many as 200 to 300 participants from
low- and middle-income countries will receive financial assistance via the Symposium
secretariat.
The host of the Fifth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research is expected to be an
academic institution with a track record in the field of health systems research. However,
other candidates will be considered. Applications from consortia are encouraged. It is
preferable for the host to have an expression of interest from the national Ministry of
Health. To the extent possible, symposia are held in different World Health Organization
regions every two years. Previous global symposia have been held in Montreux, Switzerland
(Europe), Beijing, China (Western Pacific), Cape Town, South Africa (Africa) with the fourth
being held in 2016 in Vancouver, Canada (the Americas).
Health Systems Global has the primary responsibility for the global symposia. The local host
will work on behalf of Health Systems Global to organise and run the event. This includes
both programme content and logistical issues. The host needs to be able to carry out the
following functions:
1. Working with Health Systems Global Secretariat to plan the Symposium. The host
should act as the local secretariat for the symposium and will be a member of the
symposium’s Executive Committee. This entails playing a leading role in the
Programme Working Group, including managing the scientific committee and
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selecting, under the guidance of the Executive Committee, the keynote speakers.
Further, it will engage with local, national and regional governmental, research and
non-governmental bodies to increase awareness of the event and participation in it.
This support will be considered an “in-kind” contribution.
2. Fundraising. Applicants should indicate the extent to which they will make in-kind or
monetary contributions towards defraying the costs of hosting the symposium. They
will work with Health Systems Global to raise funds for the event by interacting with
funding agencies and by submitting funding proposals together with or on behalf of
Health Systems Global. The proposal should briefly describe a fundraising strategy,
including how the costs that the host cannot meet may be covered.
3. Visa and travel support. The host will be expected to manage visa letters as needed
for international participants, as well as to organise discounted blocks of rooms at a
range of hotels, from low-cost to high-cost.
4. Venue. It will be the host’s responsibility to suggest and secure a conference venue
that accommodates a minimum of 2,000 people. The venue should be easily
accessible by public transportation and should have a variety of rooms for plenaries,
parallel sessions, satellite sessions, poster exhibits and meetings. The venue should
be able to cater coffee breaks and lunch for symposium participants.
5. Communications. The host will be expected to ensure adequate coordination and
communication between the Health Systems Global Secretariat and the symposium
working groups. The host should be able to manage press relations in advance of the
symposium and on-site during the event. Further, the host will be responsible for the
webcasting of all plenary sessions.
6. Logistics and administrative support. The host will be expected to provide logistical
and administrative support including organising on-location meetings of the relevant
symposium working groups (e.g. Programme Working Group). The host may also
propose the hiring of a conference organiser. If a conference organiser is employed,
the host should serve as the liaison between the Secretariat and conference
organiser for all logistical and administrative matters.
7. Financial management. The host will be responsible for financial management
associated with the symposium, including entering into and managing contracts, as
agreed with Health Systems Global.
8. Long-term post-symposium role. The host should prepare a plan on how local
symposium organisers can continue their relationship with Health Systems Global
after the event, focusing on their role as supporting networking in health systems
research. Such a role should catalyse and convene regional health systems
stakeholders and should suggest events at which Health Systems Global and its
members could continue to engage at a regional level.
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In addition to addressing the above issues, the proposal should include a description of the
venue city and preferably the suggested event venue. It should identify unique contributions
the host may make to the Fifth Global Symposium and summarise the experiences of key
members of the local organising (host) committee with regards to health systems expertise
and conference/symposium organising. Please include their CVs.
Selection criteria:
The criteria listed below will inform the Board of Health Systems Global in the selection of
the candidate, and must therefore be clearly provided in the bid.
Health systems research expertise of institutions involved in the bid (provide the CVs
and describe the health systems-related track records of the lead persons in the
country submitting the bid).
Experience with managing international events involving 2,000 participants or more,
including scientific and logistical issues (provide evidence of any prior experience.)
Ability to support fundraising and make in-kind contributions.
Financial viability (a draft budget must be provided covering expected income and
costs including costs involved in the use of the proposed conference venue)
Proposed conference venue with information about its capacity including number
and size of plenary halls/auditoriums, number of breakout rooms, and exhibition
halls.
Availability of the venue with suggested dates (Sept-Nov 2018).
Availability of hotels at different price ranges and affordability of hotel and per diem
costs in the conference area.
Ease of acquiring visas for symposium attendees, taking into account visa
requirements for highly restricted countries, if applicable.
Ease of access from other countries (air connections).
Local, regional and national expressions of support.
Details about the Third Global Symposium can be found at:
http://hsr2014.healthsystemsresearch.org/
For details about the Second Global Symposium, see:
http://www.healthsystemsresearch.org/hsr2012/
And for details about the First Global Symposium, see:
http://healthsystemsresearch.org/hsr2010/
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