The Role of Civil Society in Pandemic Preparedness - Innovation in Global Health Governance - page 105

chapter 6
the role of civil Society
in Pandemic Preparedness
Kathryn white and Maria banda 1
Today, in an interconnected world, bacteria and viruses travel almost as fast as
e-mail and financial flows. Globalization has connected Bujumbura to Bombay
and Bangkok to Boston. There are no health sanctuaries. No impregnable walls
exist between a world that is healthy, well-fed, and well-off and another that is
sick, malnourished, and impoverished. Globalization has shrunk distances, broken
down old barriers, and linked people. Problems halfway around the world become
everyone's problem.
—Gro Harlem Brundtland, former director general, World Health Organization
The rise of civil society is indeed one of the landmark events of our times. Global
governance is no longer the sole domain of Governments. The growing participation
and influence of non-State actors is enhancing democracy and reshaping
multilateralism. Civil society organizations are also the prime movers of some of the
most innovative initiatives to deal with emerging global threats.
—Fernando Henrique cardoso, chair of the United nations Panel of
eminent Persons on the United nations-civil Society relations
this chapter sets out a framework by which civil society actors can identify their
role in preparing for, mitigating, and confronting one particular international threat,
namely avian influenza. Governments and multilateral organisations have recognised
the need to work with civil society across a range of issues. For example, in response
to avian influenza and its alarming human mortality rate, as well as the resulting cross-
sectoral economic and societal damage, in october 2005 the canadian government
convened a meeting of 30 health ministers in an attempt to coordinate transnational
planning and response. at the same time, the United nations association in canada
(Unac) called for the full engagement of civil society in this critical dialogue.
the chapter is in fact an example of knowledge transfer among the civil society
organisations, governments, multilateral organisations, the private sector, and,
ultimately, citizens who must be ready, able, and trusted to slow the next threat. 2
civil society organisations range from strong international groups with their own
health, agriculture, and security experts to volunteer-based groups that are much
closer to the ground and focussed on protecting their communities. as such, civil