CERN-Global Fund Pre-Meeting #1

Friday 6 Aug 2021, 10:30 → 11:30 Europe/Zurich

Exploratory meeting with Purnima Mishra, Adda Faye and Michael Johnson

CERN-Global-Fund-Premeeting #1.key

CERN-Global-Fund-Premeeting #1.pdf

1. Overall a positive discussion on the possibility to leverage CERN’s BIG data capabilities in elevating and addressing The Global Fund’s data management & governance needs. It was heartening to note a mutually shared vision in using technology for fostering critical & transparent, evidence-based information to make a real difference to our respective organizational goals. The Global Fund was appreciative of CERN’s commitment and willingness to share its capabilities to serve the wider need of public health beyond its core scientific & organizational mandate for particle physics.
2. A diagnostic questionnaire to be prepared for determining the model data governance needs at the Global Fund- which would be useful to be taken up by CERN to see how best to shape the next steps
3. Cost of Tools/ Services- CERN certainly has tools that are available for free but adaptation of these tools would be an important step which would require a mutual beneficial partnership framework. Supervision and expertise could come from CERN. Customization specs and definition of strategy would be led by The Global Fund needs. The resources and schedule (short mid and long term) would be defined after further deliberation between the organisations.
4. Data residence vs data access- separate cloud clusters and tools could be dedicated for the Global Fund data management project and housed at CERN’s premises (eg: UNOSAT UNITAR separate satellite and data imagery services). The data access rights will be defined by The Global Fund including rules, policy and administration.
5. Data repository- correlation of data and access thereof, esp. partner/ other entity data of mutual relevance and importance. Data sharing between the organisations to be elaborated.
6. Adda’s definition of one of the desired outcome- modelling a forecast for a given country/ data denominator with players like IMF/ World Bank/ WHO/ Others to enable predictive forecasting so that we have a 3-6 years outlook providing a better leverage over donors/ partners. Particularly to drive higher absorption on the funds being invested by The Global Fund in the fight against the 3 diseases (HIV-AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis) and COVID-19. Simulation models could be undertaken within the portfolio of partnership.
7. Mike’s point on challenge of data completeness- finance on a higher maturity curve than other parts of the organization. So could make sense to begin with financial data and progressively scale-up the success story to other functional areas in The Global Fund. A pilot project would serve the purpose for demonstration, visibility and establishing credibility with worldwide partners, who would need to be trained. Capacity building would be a focus.
8. The demo pilot would focus on quick-wins aiming at 6-8 month projects with defined outcome.
9. Adda and Mike also provided an insight on the automation project currently being pursued by Finance in close collaboration & sponsorship with IT within Global Fund.
10. Mike would work out the next steps in consultation with Adda. At that stage Archana would bring together a team of subject matter experts (SME) from CERN who work together with SME’s from The Global Fund in form of a mini taskforce towards elucidating the partnership details, diagnosis of the pilot program, resources and schedule. 
11. Eventually this would lead to an MoU between the organisation to set the path for a longer term impact on Global Fund open data management strategy and governance.
12. A formal meeting to be scheduled end August early September with all stakeholders.