International football offers lessons for global health, showing how solidarity, resource-sharing, and fair benefit models can strengthen cooperation and equity.
The policy challenge:
The fraught negotiations for a pandemic treaty have thrown up several shortcomings in approaches to pandemic preparedness, that mean the world continues to be very vulnerable to future pandemics. Global health is now characterised by deep-seated mistrust both among countries, and between institutions and scientists about fairness in access to and use of knowledge, and in benefit-sharing among countries and institutions. This colors willingness to collaborate for global health security, which is an unwelcome state of affairs for everyone, everywhere. Existing legal frameworks, such as the International Health Regulations and the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework, have not provided sufficient incentives for equitable data sharing, leading to hesitation in sharing vital data during pandemics.
The strategic approach:
We have joined forces with the Paris Peace Forum and Spark Street Advisors to explore innovative solutions, drawing inspiration from the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)’s benefit-sharing model, examining how mechanisms like training compensation and solidarity payments could be adapted for global health. We want to see how a private sector driven mechanism, ultimately concerned with profit has understood the importance of investment at all levels from grassroots to top-flight to institute a sustainable model for excellence. Our focus has been on mechanisms to incentivize data sharing and ensure that LMICs receive the recognition and compensation they deserve for their contributions to global health innovation, data generation and surveillance.
„This interdisciplinary collaboration reflects our commitment to leading thought.“
The collaborators:
In addition to PPF and Spark Street, we have listened closely to a diverse group of experts in global health and law. By engaging with representatives from the FIFA Clearing House, we have identified valuable parallels for enforcement between international football and global health. This interdisciplinary collaboration reflects our commitment to leading thought in creating more equitable benefit-sharing practices in global health, creating an environment where everyone is invested, and everyone wins.
The SDGs:
This work aligns particularly with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 8 (Decent Work and economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovationand Infrastructure), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequality). We are dedicated to promoting equitable access to health resources and fostering international cooperation in pandemic preparedness, contributing to a more just and resilient global health system.
