The Global Health Corporate Champions: Expanding the Boundaries of Global Health

The intersection of the public and multi-private sector expertise
Feb 10, 2016 9:30 AM ET

Devex

“There is a shift taking place in the public health arena to strategically engage the private sector to address global health needs,” said Bridget McHenry, a fellow for Global Health Fellows Program II, serving as organizational development adviser for Office of Population and Reproductive Health in U.S. Agency for International Development’s Global Health Bureau.

An increasing number of companies are turning their attention — and their resources — to the vast health needs of the global population for two essential reasons: It represents opportunities to create shared value and it is foundational to a thriving economy. Relatively new to the landscape of international development, strategic partnerships help to guide the strategies, investments and on-the-ground engagements that can inform the deployment of the resources only the private sector can bring.

Continue reading at Devex.com for examples of projects you might be surprised fall into global health.

The Opportunity to Get Involved

Benefit from this expanding concept of global health by taking part in the Global Health Corporate Champions. Global Health Corporate Champions is making pro bono experiences more accessible and affordable for companies interested in exploring pro bono in a critical emerging market. PYXERA Global recently announced that it is fielding a multi-corporate, cross functional team of 10-12 professionals for a four-week assignment in Accra, Ghana in June, 2016, under the USAID Global Health Fellows Program II.

"This initiative is a new way to engage companies to contribute their most valuable resources -- their people -- to make a difference in global health,” said Sharon Rudy, Ph.D., Director of the Global Health Fellows Program II, implemented by the Public Health Institute.

Although the focus will be on critical public health issues, selected professionals with a variety of business and operational expertise from companies across industry sectors are needed to help host client organizations address operational needs and improve their ability to serve their communities.

Global pro bono program participants gain an extraordinary and accelerated professional development experience; local clients gain an infusion of talent and experience to meet critical needs which would otherwise be unmet, and sponsoring companies gain authentic reputations for social responsibility, insights into new markets, and employees with honed global leadership skills.

Openings are still available for interested companies to place individual employees in this innovative new program. Click here to learn more.