Statutes - Norwegian Forum for Global Health Research

Approved by the General Assembly 16 November 2006, revised by the General Assembly 18 October 2007, 30 November 2009, 14 March 2017, 11 April 2018 and 27 May, 2020.

Article I. Name

The name is Norwegian Forum for Global Health Research (in Norwegian: Norsk forum for global helseforskning), hereinafter referred to as the Forum.

Article II. Purpose

The aim of the Forum is to promote high quality research, education and training aiming at improving health and health care for marginalized population groups in low- and middle income countries. The main objectives are to:

  • Improve and enhance the involvement of Norwegian researchers and institutions in global health research, education and capacity building
  • Contribute to increased international collaboration in global health, with particular emphasis on strengthening the capacity of institutional partners in low- and middle income countries
  • Stimulate to increased and targeted funding in prioritized areas for relevant global health research from the Norwegian government and other sources
  • Contribute to national and international collaboration and networking in the field of global health
  • Be the autonomous advisory body to Global Health Norway and other institutions on policy formulation and scientific input

The Forum will represent the Norwegian global health community in associations, federations or forums where the Board finds it appropriate, eg the Federation of European Societies for Tropical Medicine and International Health.

Article III. Membership

The Forum is an interdisciplinary network of academics and others who work with or have an interest in global health. The Forum offers individual membership. As a member, you will be entitled to information about Forum activities, conferences, newsfeed (web page, social media, and newsletter) and funding sources.

Article IV. General Assembly

The General Assembly, which is held annually, is responsible for overseeing the activities of the Forum. The Assembly elects the Board and approves the annual work plan, budget and annual report prepared by the Board.

Members of the Forum can take part in the General Assembly and are eligible for voting. Observers have a right to speak, but are without voting rights.

Decisions regarding amendments of the Statutes and dissolution of the Forum and changes of decisions made by the Board require a two third majority vote among the members attending the General Assembly. Other decisions require a simple majority vote.

Article V. Board

The Board of the Forum is responsible for all activities of the Forum and is accountable to the General Assembly. It consists of nine members and five substitute members, recruited among members of the Forum with a view of securing continuity, spread, geographically as well as according to institutions and scientific fields. It is an ambition to have gender balance in the election of board members. The substitute members are elected as substitute member 1 – 5. The substitute members will be invited to all board meetings. Only substitute members replacing ordinary members have voting rights in the board.

The Board is elected by the General Assembly for a period of 2 years. A board member can be re-elected twice, with a maximum period of 6 consecutive years for serving on the board. Members may be re-elected after 2 years of not serving on the Board. The board constitutes itself with a chair, a vice chair and seven members.

Decisions of the Board are taken with simple majority votes. The Board is accountable to the General Assembly. The Board is responsible for the management of the Forum and the running of daily activities required by the strategies of the Forum. The Board can appoint working groups for specific tasks.

The Board shall prepare an annual work plan, budget and annual report for submission to the General Assembly. The Board shall summon and prepare the General Assembly.

Article VI. Election

The election committee proposes candidates to the Board. The nine members of the Board are elected by the General Assembly. The election committee collects suggestions to board members among the Forum members.

The election committee shall ensure representation of different scientific fields and institutions, as well as geographic spread.

The election committee consists of three members and three substitute members who are elected by the General Assembly for periods of two years. Members of the election committee can serve on the committee for a maximum of 6 years.

Article VII. Activities

The Forum will:

  • Improve knowledge exchange and collaboration in global health activities among Norwegian institutions and researchers and promote interdisciplinary approaches e.g. by
  • Organizing conferences on a regular basis
  • Contributing to establishing and maintaining a web site and keep an inventory of research activities and resources used for global health in Norway in co-operation with Global Health Norway
  • Improve collaboration on global health issues between the research community, the state institutions, the private sector and NGOs.
  • Inform evidence-based policy on international health issues and contribute to national and global processes and initiatives in the field of global health

The Board can appoint standing or ad hoc working groups, task forces or committees for work on specific tasks. Initiatives from members to establish scientific interest groups can also be approved as part of the Forum.

Article VIII. Secretariat

The Forum aim at having a joint secretariat with Global Health Norway to ensure communication between these two organizations. The secretariat will establish and update an inventory of research activities and resources used for global health research in Norway. The head of the secretariat will serve as a secretary of the board.

Article IX. Meetings

The General Assembly shall meet annually. The board will hold regular telephone conferences, and meet at least once per year.

Article X. Funding and finance

The Forum will seek financial support from Global Health Norway and other potential sources of funding. To ensure independence from Global Health Norway, other funding agencies and beneficiaries, there shall be no conditions attached to the funds or other benefits that are made available that might interfere with the objectives and activities of the Forum.

The support received will be accounted for by the secretariat of the Board, based on an approved accounting system at the institution where the secretariat is located.

Article XI. Amendments and Dissolution

The statutes can be amended by the General Assembly if the proposed amendments are supported by a two third majority vote among the members represented in the General Assembly. The decision can be taken by the General Assembly only after a proposal forwarded from the Board that is supported by a two third majority vote among the members of the Board.

The dissolution of the Forum can be decided upon by the General Assembly if supported by a two third majority. The decision can be taken by the General Assembly only after a proposal forwarded from the Board that is supported by a two third majority vote among the members of the Board.

In the case of dissolution and if assets are left, these assets shall be transferred to other non-profit institutions with similar purposes. The decision on the transfer of remaining assets shall be taken by the Assembly based on a proposal forwarded from the Board.