In its first two-year phase, the network will bring together 10 - 15 academic and research institutions, including some 60 professionals, who will contribute to setting research priorities and authoring a series of initiating papers. The papers will frame a policy research question, summarize the key literature and recommend an analytical approach to address the question. Working groups, comprised of a diverse set of experts from a variety of disciplines, will then be convened around topics developed in some of the initiating papers. Through consultation, review of the existing knowledge base, and commissioning of new work, the Working Groups will develop evidence-rich policy reports, designed for government, private sector and philanthropic policy decision makers. An Advisory Board, with senior representation from each of the core institutions as well as health policy leaders from the developed and developing world, will meet periodically to review research priorities.
Initiating Papers: Synthesis of desk research aimed at framing a policy research question, summarizing key literature, recommending the right approach to address the question (e.g., bringing together experts into a Working Group).
Policy Reports: Evidence-rich documents, written primarily for a policy audience, which summarize the state-of-the-art thinking on a particular topic, and chart a path forward. They are the primary product of Working Groups, and will be issued 6-12 months after the initiation of a Working Group, depending on the topic.