The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare profound failures in global health governance, from intellectual property rules that constrained equitable vaccine access to institutional weaknesses that left the international system struggling to respond effectively. This ENSURED webinar brings research and civil society perspectives together to examine how these shortcomings can be transformed into meaningful reforms that contribute to more effective, robust, and democratic global health governance
Drawing on three ENSURED reports – The Intellectual Property and Public Health Regime Complex, The WHO Pandemic Agreement, and Reforming the World Health Organization After the COVID-19 Pandemic – the webinar will explore what the adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement in May 2025 means for global health equity. We'll also consider how fragmentation between intellectual property and public health institutions continues to shape outcomes, how persistent North–South divides influence both political negotiations and practical capability, and what democratic reforms could make global health governance more responsive and inclusive.
Over 90 minutes, we’ll explore important questions like:
- How does the fragmentation between intellectual property and public health institutions impact global health governance?
- What does the WHO Pandemic Agreement mean for addressing the failures revealed during COVID-19, particularly around vaccine access?
- How do developed-developing country divides affect health governance effectiveness, and what mechanisms exist to bridge these gaps?
- What reforms could strengthen democratic governance, civil society participation, and institutional preparedness in future health emergencies?
- How can the EU use its regulatory influence and financial resources to advance more equitable global health governance?
- ... and much more!
The discussion will reflect on how the EU can use its regulatory and financial influence to promote fairer global health governance, and how civil society organisations can navigate a complex institutional landscape while maintaining a clear focus on equity and access.
Our panelists include:
- Óscar Fernández, Maastricht University
- Jaume Vidal, Health Action International
- Nina Jamal, Four Paws International
- Moderator: Samuel King, CIVICUS
To participate, make sure to register for the webinar.
About the ENSURED Webinar Series
In Conversation with Civil Society is a year-long webinar series exploring how global governance institutions can become more effective, robust, and democratic. Each session brings together ENSURED researchers, policymakers, and civil society leaders to discuss practical reform pathways across seven key policy areas. Through a conversational format, the series connects analytical research with civil society experience, identifying political opportunities for institutional change and highlighting where advocacy can have the greatest impact across fragmented governance landscapes and persistent North–South divides.
The series is coordinated and facilitated by CIVICUS.
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