The GSF Registers As A Foundation In Switzerland And Appoints Prof. Atun as Board President
Since being launched at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2020, the Global Surgery Foundation (GSF) has continued to grow and expand. In mid-2021, the process of registration as a Swiss Foundation pursuant to articles 80 and seq. of the Swiss Civil Code has been completed. With this important milestone, the GSF is entering into the next phase of its organisational growth.
An international alliance to scale up much needed access to surgical care
The GSF is an international initiative birthed in the United Nations in partnership with Harvard’s Program in Global Surgery and Social Change. Its primary goal is to promote health for all through improving access to surgical care in low- and middle-income countries. The GSF serves as a common platform for all stakeholders to upscale activities to strengthen surgical systems.
After gaining high-level UN support and two rounds of start-up funding, an expansion plan has been initiated. This plan has been carefully designed by leading global health experts, partner agencies, academic institutions, and civil society.
Foundation governance
The GSF is governed by the Swiss Civil Code and its Statutes. The foundation governance has been carefully designed to create a highly effective organization with strong and equitable representation providing a strong guiding voice from clinicians and low- and middle-income countries.
The governing bodies of the foundation include
the Foundation Board;
the High-Level Council (HLC);
the Technical Advisory Council (TAC).
Over the coming months, the GSF will transition into this new governance structure.
Prof. Rifat Atun appointed President of the GSF Foundation Board
The GSF is proud to announce that Prof. Rifat Atun has been appointed President of the its Foundation Board by the GSF Leadership Team.
Dr. Atun is Professor of Global Health Systems at Harvard University and the Faculty Chair of the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program. In 2008-12 he served as a member of the Executive Management Team of the Global Fund as Director of Strategy, Performance and Evaluation where he chaired the panel that oversaw annual investments of ~US$4 billion each year. Learn more about Dr. Atun here.
The previous GSF leadership team have been appointed GSF founding members. The founding members will form the Transition Working Group, which is tasked with developing regional and sectoral constituencies and their representation for the HLC and TAC, including the Terms of Reference for each constituency and how they elect their representative that will serve on the HLC and TAC.
More information on the governance can be found here.