RFP HSR2028
Request for Proposals to host the Tenth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research in 2028
The Health Systems Global (HSG) is a global membership society of individuals and organizations working on health policy and systems research issues and is registered in Switzerland with the Secretariat hosted by MannionDaniels (UK) and ARK Foundation (Bangladesh). HSG’s mission is to “connect and engage researchers, policymakers, health care administrators, educators, civil society, the media, and donors from around the world to advance the field of health policy and systems research and create opportunities for unleashing their collective capacity for generating, sharing and applying knowledge, necessary for health systems strengthening.”
The organization is the owner and organizer of the Global Symposia of Health Systems Research which take place biennially. Past symposia were organized in Montreux 2010, Beijing 2012, Cape Town 2014, Vancouver 2016, Liverpool 2018, Dubai and Lebanon 2020 (held virtually), Bogota 2022, and Nagasaki in 2024. The Ninth Symposium will take place in Dubai in November 2026. HSG is now soliciting bids to host the Tenth Symposium which will tentatively be held in November 2028.
The symposium typically takes place over a three-day period, with satellite sessions running throughout the program (plus one day in advance for venue build). It is expected to bring together around 1,500 participants from around the world including 100-150 scholarship recipients from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) that will receive financial support from HSG and symposium sponsors. The symposium will be conducted primarily in English, though some sessions in the program may be delivered in other languages with simultaneous translation, as funding permits.
Eligibility
The prospective hosts of the Tenth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research is expected to be a consortium of academic government and non government organizations and other institutions with a strong track record in the field of health policy and systems research (HPSR). The consortium needs to demonstrate its ability to convene and actively engage global and national health policy makers, academia, students, civil society, private sector, and media in the event.
Applications from consortia are strongly encouraged to broaden national and regional ownership of the event and, where necessary, to enhance the capacity of the prime applicant, however, applications from a single host institution will also be considered. The host(s) submitting the full proposal or expression of interest will be expected to secure documented support from the relevant national Ministry of Health and/or the National Government reflecting the importance of the event for the country/region and its expected contribution to HPSR and to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
As HSG is a global organization, with a global membership, it tries to the extent possible, to rotate symposia locations to different World Health Organization (WHO) regions to ensure global coverage where possible, and depending on the bids submitted. Locations that have not hosted a recent event or have otherwise been under-represented in previous Symposia are strongly encouraged to apply.
In line with HSG’s commitment to accessibility and cost-effectiveness, proposals from LMICs or the ‘Global South’ are strongly encouraged. The overall viability of hosting the event, particularly concerning cost-effectiveness for participants and ease of visa acquisition, will be a primary consideration. HSG also encourages bids from under-represented sub-regions and regions where a symposium has not yet been hosted.
Dates and deadlines
- Deadline to submit final proposal for HSR 2028 : 8 April 2026, 23:59 BST
- Please send questions/clarifications to: info@healthsystemsglobal.org
- Submission deadline for questions/clarifications: 22 January 2026, 23:59 BST
- Submission formats: Submissions by email to info@healthsystemslglobal.org only using PDF, MsWord and Excel accepted : Other submission types will not be accepted.
- Emails subject line: Proposal to host HSR2028 Symposium: [Country] [City] [Lead Institution Name].
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