Our Commitment to Equity

Infographic titled "Our Commitment to Equity" divided into two sections. The first section, "Prioritizing Equity in Research and Policy," shows two icons: a magnifying glass examining a person, labelled "Research and Policy," and a group of people in discussion with a speech bubble, labelled "Partnerships." The second section, "An Equitable Team Environment," shows three icons: interlocking hands, labelled "Committing to an equitable hiring process"; a person holding a flag with a group behind them, labelled "Employee rights, safety, and accommodations"; and a group of people beneath a glowing lightbulb, labelled "EDI engagement." Icons are arranged in dashed circles with arrow accents suggesting a cyclical or connected process.

The Global Strategy Lab’s (GSL) mission is to advise governments and public health organizations on how to design laws, policies and institutions that make the world a healthier place for everyone. Our commitment to equity is integral to our mission, and it drives how we approach and conduct our research and policy work. GSL’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee spearheads and champions our EDI strategy, planning and communication.   

Inequity in health and discrimination are inextricably linked to socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, migrant status, gender, age, disability and other bases of social discrimination. Relatedly, the field of global health grapples with the historical and ongoing process of colonialism which shapes deeply inequitable relations of power between people, countries, and institutions. Here is how we contribute to research that recognizes and confronts inequities in health research, policy, and governance:  

A magnifying glass examining three figures.

Research and Policy

We are developing intentional approaches to integrate equity into all our research work. This includes the creation of training and guidelines for incorporating EDI considerations in research questions, study designs, methodologies and data collection, analyses and interpretation, and dissemination. We also incorporate equity considerations and dimensions into our advisory services projects.  

Learn more about our projects:

Three figures seated together at a table with a speech bubble above them, representing collaborative dialogue and partnership.

Partnerships

We aim to build partnerships that are respectful, mutually beneficial and inclusive. In practice, this means co-designing approaches with our partners, promoting country-centred processes, and co-creating tools to train future facilitators so they can be used independently. Partnerships with organizations and individuals in LMICs, and from equity-deserving groups, form a core part of our research and policy engagements. GSL also proactively plans workshops, webinars, events, and conferences to ensure diverse participation across LMICs, genders, and career stages.

We recognize that different experiences and viewpoints are a critical driving force behind innovative, creative, equity-minded research, policy translation, capacity strengthening, and knowledge mobilization. Here is how we contribute to an equitable work environment at GSL:  

Four hands joined together in the centre, with star accents, representing solidarity and collective commitment to equity.

Committing to an Equitable Hiring Process

We strive to foster an environment of equity and diversity across our team, starting with our commitment to an equitable hiring process. Our hiring committee members have EDI-focused training, tools, and resources, and always ensure that accessibility mechanisms are in place and communicated to applicants throughout the hiring process. Our job postings use non-gendered, inclusive, unbiased language, and are widely circulated to facilitate gender-diverse and intersectional hiring.  

A group of three figures, one raising a flag, representing advocacy for employee rights and a safe, supportive workplace.

Employee Rights, Safety and Accommodations

We are committed to ensuring all our employees are aware of their rights and have equitable access to accommodations. We demonstrate this through the implementation of organization-wide guidelines for the broad accessibility of internal and external events, incorporating Equity, Diversity and Inclusion considerations in the language we use and our communications, as well as policies focused on employee rights, safety, and accommodations.  

Three figures seated together beneath a glowing lightbulb, representing team-driven ideas and shared EDI engagement.

EDI Engagement

We want to ensure that each member of our team is heard. To facilitate ongoing input from the team, our EDI committee actively facilitates EDI-focused activities and communicates policies, guidelines, and resources with the Lab, based on feedback received from the team. The EDI committee also distributes a yearly team survey on knowledge, views and experiences at the Lab for prioritising EDI initiatives for the coming year.