Improving health worldwide through collaboration and dialogue: IDRC at the World Health Summit 2021

This Summit is a well-known and high-profile international event that, over three days, brings together 6,000 participants (in person and online) from 100 countries and features 300 speakers on a wide variety of topics. Governments, UN agencies, NGOs, and foundations are represented. 

A by-invitation-only Side Event, organized by IDRC and focused on the importance of international collaboration among research and development funders, will take place during the Summit. Discussions will emphasize IDRC’s Strategy 2030, the importance of collaboration to prevent and mitigate the impact of COVID-19, and coordination to tackle the significant development challenges that are hindering attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.   

Specifically, the Side Event will focus on three key themes:  

• Pandemic preparedness and response (including COVID-19 and One Health)  

• Artificial intelligence (AI) and health (including emerging opportunities and the challenges of AI in global health) 

• Women’s health and the economy (including the role of women workers responding to COVID-19 and sexual, reproductive and maternal health) 

If you would like to attend the Summit this year, digital participation is free and possible without prior registration. All keynote sessions, panel discussions, and workshops will be available online with a Q&A function to join the discussion. The individual Zoom links, as well as information on speakers and topics, can be accessed directly in the online program.