Joint Coordinating Board (JCB): 32nd session, June 2009
Summary of main conclusions and recommendations
JCB(32) key conclusions:
Regular business
- Commended TDR on the progress made in the implementation of the new strategy during the past year and accepted the reports of: Director TDR; Chair JCB; the Standing Committee and the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC).
- Accepted the TDR interim financial report for 2008, financial status and budget revisions in 2008-2009.
- Approved a Programme budget for the 2010-2011 biennium of US$ 121 million. Noted that TDR aspires to the level of US$ 146 million in line with the targets agreed in the TDR Business Plan 2008-2013.
- Agreed that JCB(33) will take place in Shanghai, China, followed by site visits during the week of 14-18 June 2010; and that JCB(34) will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, on 14-16 June 2011.
Strategic issues
- Endorsed the recommendations of STAC and the Standing Committee on TDR's proposed response to the Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property. Requested Director TDR to move forward to the next planning phase and to present a detailed plan and budget to STAC-32 and to JCB(33) in 2010.
- Recognized the opportunities for enhanced collaboration and synergies between WHO and Geneva based organizations focusing on research for health. Noted the 11 May 2009 meeting in Geneva on collaborative arrangements in global research for health and the steps being taken by the organizations and programmes concerned to take this issue forward. Requested TDR to actively engage in this process and to keep the JCB fully informed of developments.
- Agreed to set up a working group, under the co-chairmanship of Chair JCB and Chair Standing Committee, to further examine the options for the future composition of the JCB and to propose a revised option for consideration by JCB(33) in 2010.
Opening session, and election of Chair, Vice-Chair and Rapporteur
- Thanked the representatives of the TDR co-sponsoring agencies for their opening statements to the JCB.
- Elected Dr Jorge Motta, Associate Investigator, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, and Member of the National Directing Council of the National Research System, Panama, as
- Chair of the JCB for the coming two years.
- Elected Professor Rossitza Kurdova-Mintcheva, Head, Parasitology and Tropical Medicine Department, Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Ministry of Health, Bulgaria, as Vice-Chair of the JCB until its thirty-third session in 2010.
- Elected Sir Isi Henao Kevau, Executive Dean and Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Papua New Guinea, as Rapporteur of JCB(32).
- Expressed its deep gratitude to Professor Rolf Korte, Senior Health Policy Advisor, German Agency for Technical Cooperation, for his excellent chairmanship of the JCB over the past two years and looked forward to his continuing support and commitment as the JCB representative of his Government.
- Thanked Professor Rodrigo Corrêa-Oliveira, Director, René Rachou Research Centre, Brazil, for his work and commitment as Vice-Chair of the JCB over the past year.
- Thanked Dr Jorge Motta, Panama, for his work as Rapporteur of JCB(31).
Report by the Chair of the Joint Coordinating Board
- Thanked Professor Rolf Korte, the outgoing JCB Chair for his excellent report and accepted the report of the JCB Chair.
Report of the Standing Committee
- Accepted the report of the Standing Committee and thanked the TDR Standing Committee members for their activities carried out since JCB(31). Looked forward to their further work and engagement during the coming year, based on regular review of the Programme.
Report of Director, and scientific progress and plans
- Accepted the report of the TDR Director and commended the Programme on the progress made in the past year.
- Noted the importance of TDR taking a holistic multisectoral approach to research on diseases of poverty, with links to poverty alleviation strategies and the Millennium Development Goals.
- Requested TDR to take into consideration the increasing degree of neglect of some tropical diseases.
- Recognized the need for political will to apply the products of research for the control and elimination of disease.
- Recognized the diversity of situations within regions and within many middle income countries, which often contain pockets of poverty, and encouraged TDR to pay particular attention to the needs of worst affected communities.
- Reiterated the request that adequate attention be paid to the needs, especially for capacity building and operational research, of Eastern European countries, the Caucasus and those countries in Asia where parasitic diseases, including malaria and visceral leishmaniasis, are re-emerging.
- Welcomed TDR's exploration of opportunities to leverage bilateral support to countries for research.
- Looked forward to receiving frameworks for collaboration with the co-sponsoring agencies and other appropriate partners. Matters related to leadership, visibility and indicators
- Encouraged TDR to move beyond its stewardship function to take on a leadership role in global health research for diseases of poverty.
- Re-emphasized the importance of the disease endemic countries (DECs) being enabled to play a pivotal role, and stressed the need for the rapid development of indicators, in collaboration with the DECs, for this important area.
- Re-emphasized the need for greater visibility of the Programme at regional and country level through the regional and country offices of all the TDR co-sponsoring agencies, including through the WHO Regional Committee meetings as indicated below.
- Encouraged TDR to better capitalize on its strong research and capacity building outputs when compared to many other organizations, despite its limited resources.
- Encouraged TDR to explore opportunities to link with regional research organizations operating beyond the health sector, notably in science and technology.
- Encouraged TDR to explore ways of utilizing its meetings held outside Geneva to link with decision-makers.
- Requested TDR to provide JCB participants with interim updates on progress between JCB sessions.
Matters related to TDR strategic and technical functions
- Encouraged that more emphasis be placed on the reporting of outcomes by the Stewardship and Empowerment strategic functions, rather than reporting on process.
- Requested TDR to explore ways, in collaboration with other partners, to assist DECs to develop capacity to set their own national research agendas and priorities.
- Requested TDR to explore ways to assist DECs in accessing resources for research from other funding agencies.
- In the area of Empowerment, encouraged TDR to strengthen the capacity of research institutions in addition to individuals.
- Reiterated the need for TDR to develop a strategy for providing support to strengthen research capabilities in smaller, low income countries.
- Emphasized the value of South-South collaboration and working with and through other partnerships and networks, e.g. the African Network for Drugs and Diagnostics Innovation, and the value of engagement with the private sector in the DECs.
- Recognizing that the gap between research and policy is often wide, encouraged TDR to provide more information on mechanisms and best practices to transfer research outcomes into policy and practice.
- Urged TDR to continue to provide support for basic research, particularly through the promotion of partnerships and networks.
- Urged TDR to continue to provide support for operational research activities.
- Noted with concern the reports of artemisinin resistance, recognizing that the appropriate use of rectal artesunate should not contribute to the development of such resistance.
- Requested TDR to consider the integration into existing business lines of activities currently outside business lines.
Matters related to the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC)
- Accepted the report of STAC and looked forward to receiving information on the implementation of its recommendations by TDR. Thanked the Chair and members of STAC for their hard work over the past year, including their participation in the additional sub-group meeting in May 2009.
- Expressed appreciation of the transparency of the documentation provided by STAC and its constructive critical advice, scientific review and assessment of TDR.
- Looked forward to receiving feedback from STAC on TDR's organizational and managerial processes to ensure the effective use of resources, maximizing collaboration and leverage both within and outside WHO.
- Requested STAC to consider whether (i) emerging tropical diseases should be included in the TDR research portfolio, and (ii) research to assist elimination strategies should be included more centrally within the portfolio.
Matters related to WHO, including WHO Regional Offices
- Welcomed the closer collaboration between TDR and the WHO Regional Offices and encouraged further efforts to strengthen this collaboration. Noted the appreciation and value of the small grants programme in most of the Regions and the desire to extend the programme also to the African Region.
- Noted with pleasure the regular item on the agenda of the annual meeting of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia concerning feedback from the JCB session to the Regional Committee and encouraged other Regional Committees to consider the adoption of this practice. Encouraged the participation of representatives of the JCB and senior TDR staff in such Regional Committee meetings.
- Welcomed the ongoing efforts to enhance technical collaboration with the WHO disease control programmes but recognized that more needs to be done. Encouraged the participation of representatives of such WHO programmes in the sessions of the Joint Coordinating Board and similar participation by TDR staff at key review meetings of the control programmes.
- Encouraged TDR, where appropriate, to take advantage of the use of WHO collaborating centres.
Matters related to financing
- Recognized that with the current critical economic and financial environment, there is a need for strict prioritization and the demonstration of progress and impact based on high-level indicators.
- Notwithstanding this economic and financial environment, requested TDR to maintain a balance of long-term, medium-term and short-term research activities.
- Requested TDR to ensure that it only accepts funding for new activities which are aligned with the Programme's strategy and Business Plan.
- Encouraged TDR to explore opportunities for co-funding of activities with countries and noted in particular the opportunities to do this with middle income countries.
Technical presentations
- Welcomed the continuation of the practice of inviting TDR-supported investigators or TDR trained scientists to give technical presentations to the JCB which provide an understanding of the substantive nature of the work being supported by TDR.
- Thanked the two scientists - Dr Rasheda Samad, Assistant Professor of Paediatrics, Chittagong Medical College and Hospital, Bangladesh; and Dr Wellington Oyibo, Associate Professor, Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Lagos, Nigeria - for their excellent presentations.
New related international initiatives: role and implications for TDR
- Endorsed the recommendations of STAC and the Standing Committee on TDR's proposed response to the Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property. Requested Director TDR to move forward to the next planning phase and to present a detailed plan and budget to STAC-32 and to JCB(33) in 2010. Noted that the short-term costs for the development of the plan are limited.
- Welcomed the complementarity and synergies which exist between the draft WHO strategy on research for health and the TDR strategy, and the opportunities presented by such synergies.
- Noted the opportunities presented during the development of the World Health Report on research in 2012, to work with many organizations globally in order to produce a strong document to advocate on research for health.
- Recognized the opportunities for enhanced collaboration and synergies between WHO and Geneva based organizations focusing on research for health. Noted the 11 May 2009 meeting in Geneva on collaborative arrangements in global research for health and the steps being taken by the organizations and programmes concerned to take this issue forward. Requested TDR to actively engage in this process and to keep the JCB fully informed of developments.
Governance
Transition arrangements under paragraph 2.2.1 of the TDR Memorandum of Understanding
Agreed to continue the exceptional transition arrangements towards constituencies under paragraph 2.2.1 of the TDR Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2009 and 2010.
Composition of the JCB
- Thanked the Standing Committee for the document submitting proposals for the future composition of the JCB, based on the preferred option and other requests from JCB(31) in 2008.
- In light of the fact that JCB participants had a variety of views on the proposed option, agreed to set up a working group (details of the membership and terms of reference are shown in Annex 1) to examine these views in detail, in collaboration with the Standing Committee and to propose a revised option for consideration by JCB(33) in 2010.
Other issues raised by JCB(31)
- Agreed:
- To the proposed revision of the ex officio JCB representation at the Standing Committee meetings: to be covered by just the Chair and Vice-Chair of the JCB, and the Chair of STAC, with the proviso that:
- additional members will be co-opted on an ad hoc basis if needed for (a) particular meeting(s);
- at least two participants from disease endemic countries are present at each Standing Committee meeting [1];
- efforts should be made to avoid major gender imbalance.
- That the Standing Committee keeps under review and reports to the JCB annually on the continuing efforts to strengthen relationships among the JCB, STAC, the TDR Secretariat and WHO.
- That the Standing Committee keeps under review and reports to the JCB annually on whether there is a need for a specific documented administrative services agreement within the context of WHO acting as the Executing Agency for TDR
- That the Standing Committee should monitor any potential implications of WHO policies on TDR, such as the new partnership policy, and bring them to the attention of the JCB.
Financial and communications issues
- Accepted the Interim Financial Report of the TDR Programme Manager for 2008 and Financial Status 2008-2009.
- Welcomed TDR's continuing efforts towards timely expenditures and good implementation rates.
- Approved the budget revisions in 2008-2009.
- Requested the TDR secretariat to continue its careful management of financial resources and adjustments of the budget in line with available resources.
- Approved a Programme budget for the 2010-2011 biennium of US$ 121 million and requested clarification of the end products associated with this budget level in a revised budget document.
- Noted that TDR aspires to a Programme budget for the biennium at the level of US$ 146 million in line with the targets in the approved TDR Business Plan 2008-2013.
- Appreciated the ongoing work to develop strategic alliances, increase outreach and leverage activities, strengthen resource mobilization and communications and advocacy activities.
- Welcomed the re-branding of the Programme, including the new TDR web site, logo and strapline.
- Looked forward to receiving the new resource mobilization strategy.
- Encouraged all JCB participants to redouble their efforts to raise funds for TDR, including the disease endemic countries, despite the financial crisis.
- Encouraged donors to ensure that their contributions are identified for TDR and to provide undesignated funding and multi-year pledges to the extent possible.
Membership of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC)
- Endorsed the proposed membership of STAC as of 1 January 2010.
Update on TDR engagement in special initiatives
- Welcomed the update on the five [2] initiatives and TDR's engagement in them. Expressed the hope that the benefits of these initiatives will reach all countries around the world which need their assistance.
JCB membership from 2010
- Noted the selections made by the TDR resource contributors for JCB membership for four years from 2010 under paragraph 2.2.1 of the Memorandum of Understanding:
- the Government of Brazil
- the new constituency of the Governments of Ghana and Nigeria
- the new constituency of the Governments of India and Thailand
- the continuing constituency of the Governments of Norway and Switzerland.
- Selected two Governments for JCB membership for four years from 2010 under paragraph 2.2.3 of the TDR Memorandum of Understanding:
- Iran (Islamic Republic of)
- Japan.
Date and place of JCB(33) and JCB(34)
- Recommended that the Thirty-third Session of the Joint Coordinating Board take place in Shanghai, China, during the week of 14-18 June 2010, with two and a half days for the JCB, to be followed by site visits to institutions which carry out collaborative activities with TDR.
- Decided to hold the Thirty-fourth session of the Board at WHO headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland, from Tuesday 14 June to Thursday morning 16 June 2011.
Closing session
- Thanked Director TDR and his staff, and all other staff involved, for their help and support to the JCB(32) session.
Annex 1
Governance Working Group
Members:
- Open to JCB members and Standing Committee, and other Cooperating
Parties as may be co-opted by the Chairs
- Co-Chairs: Chair of JCB and Chair of Standing Committee
Terms of Reference
The Working Group will:
- Develop a revised option for the future composition of the JCB under paragraph 2.2.3 of the TDR Memorandum of Understanding and address other governance issues, including paragraph 2.2.1
- Make a detailed recommendation on paragraph 2.2.3
- Develop broad principles for other governance issues
- As a basis of its work, consider the views expressed by the JCB in respect of TDR's future governance
- Provide regular information/updates to, and opportunities for comments from, JCB members which are not participating in the Working Group, as well as JCB observers.
- Report to JCB(33) in 2010
1 It should be understood that members of the Standing Committee may only represent the views of their respective organizations.
2 The Bamako Global Ministerial Forum on Research for Health; the Berlin stakeholders meeting on strengthening research partnerships for neglected diseases of poverty; ESSENCE on Health Research -Enhancing Support for Strengthening the Effectiveness of National Capacity Effort; the Positive Synergies Project - research at the interface between global health initiatives and health systems; and The Yaoundé Process - strengthening health innovation in Africa.