Governance Structure
In late 2010, a governance renewal process was proposed and agreed. Below is an overview of the current structure which was endorsed in January 2016 at the Steering Council Meeting of PHM:
Global Steering Council
The PHM global governance renewal process aims to ensure representation of active PHM structures in the Steering Council; to encourage the development of young leadership while honouring experience; and to include principles of transparency, renewal and participation. Every 3 years, during the governance renewal process of PHM, some SC members step down to allow space for young health activists who have demonstrated commitment and capacity within their region and globally.
The SC is the principal decision making body of PHM. The main task of the SC is to provide strategic guidance to the movement, promote the People’s Charter for Health, develop positions and ensure fluent two way communications between the PHM and the region/network/program they represent. Communication with country circles is an important function of regional representatives.
Decisions between two SC meetings are made using email and Skype and are supported by advice from the CoCo.
The Global Steering Council consists of representatives of:
- The regional structures of the PHM (each region is constituted by one or more country circle),
- PHM global programs,
- PHM affiliated networks, and
- Chairperson of Advisory Council
A principle of rotation is built into PHM’s governance structure, recognising a need for both continuity and change. Each Committee functions for 3 years, and no person would be on the committee for more than two terms. Representation rotates between different active countries in a region and within networks.
Find below the email addresses of the confirmed new SC representatives, as decided by the SC meeting of the PHM in April 2022. We will continue to update this as representation is finalised.
| Regional Representatives* | ||
| Africa South & East | Peninah Khisa; Melanie Alperstein (alternate) | peninahkhisa [at] gmail.com; melani.alp [at] gmail.com |
| Africa West | Erick Kambale; Tonniè Fofana (alternate) | erick.kambale.eds [at] gmail.com; fofanatonnie [at] yahoo.fr |
| South Asia | Manuj Weerasinghe; Sharad Onta (alternate) | manujchri [at] gmail.com ; sharadonta [at] gmail. |
| South East Asia | Paul Laris; Sophea (alternate) | laris.paul [at] gmail.com; chreksophea [at] gmail.com |
| Middle East | Kamel Mohanna | kamelmohanna [at] amel.org |
| Mesoamerica | Hugo Icu Peren; MorenoMurillo | icuperen [at] yahoo.com; morena.murillo [at] gmail.com |
| Andean Region | Ricardo Ramirez | ricardo2ramirez33 [at] yahoo.com |
| Brazil | Matheus Falcão; Clara (alternate) | matheus.falcao [at] usp.br; clara [at] abiaids.org.br |
| South Subregion Latam | Carmen Baez; Mariluz Martin (alternate) | carmenbaez5 [at] gmail.com; martinmariluz [at] gmail.com |
| India | Amulya Nidhi | amulyab |
| Europe | Ana Vračar; Marianna Bettinzoli (alternate) | ana [at] phmovement.org; marybetty [at] hotmail. |
| North America | Jennifer Ware | regionalrep [at] phm-na.org |
| Programme Representatives | ||
| Health for All | Sarojini N | sarojini_n [at] phmovement.org |
| Global Health Governance | Lauren Paremoer | lparemoer [at] gmail.com |
| IPHU | Hani Serag | haserag [at] utmb.edu |
| GHW | Ronald Labonte | rlabonte [at] uottawa.ca |
| Network Representatives | ||
| Alames | Andrés Varela; Roselia Rosales (alternate) | varelamolina [at] gmail.com; roselia.rosales [at] uacm.edu.mx |
| TWN | Yoke Ling | yokeling [at] twnetwork.org |
| Sama | Deepa | deepa.venkatachalam [at] gmail.com |
| Ex officio | ||
| Past Global Coordinator | Sundararaman T. | sundar [at] phmovement.org |
| Current Global Coordinator | Roman Vega | roman [at] phmovement.org |
| Financial Host | Wim De Ceukelaire | wim [at] vivasalud.be |
| Advisory Council | ||
| Advisory Council | Alexis Benos | abenos [at] gmail.com |
*Note: The global PHM structure recognises each region as having one person formally represented on global SC; in addition each region has an alternate who works with the formal representative in the region, and stands in for them as required. However some regions (for example India and Latin America) recognise the two (representative and alternate) as equally representing the region
The Coordinating Commission is the executive body of the SC, that is appointed by the SC and includes the two co-chairs of the SC. CoCo meets over Skype once a month and supports the work of the global secretariat within the framework set by the SC.
Following are part of the Coordinating Commission :
Sulakshana Nandi (co-chair), Hani Serag (co-chair), Roman Vega (Global Co-ordinator – Ex Officio); Wim De Ceukelaire (Financial Host- Ex Officio); Sundararaman T. (Past Global Co-ordinator – Ex Officio), Ana Vracar, Shatha Odeh, Matheus Falcao, Carmen Baez, Peninah Khisa, Yoke Ling
Advisory Council
There are a number of people who have informed PHM’s positions and been central to the development of PHM since inception. To ensure continued utilisation of the wisdom and guidance of some of these long standing members of PHM, an Advisory Council has been constituted, This is a formal and recognised structure, with the chairperson a member of the SC. Please refer to below for further details
The Advisory Council Members are:
- Prem John: premchandranjohn [@] gmail.com
- Ravi Nayaran: chcravi [@] gmail.com
- Alexis Benos: abenos [@] phmovement.org
- Fran Baum: fbaum [@] phmovement.org
- Mira Shiva: mirashiva [at] gmail.com
- Maria Zuniga: : mhamlin [at] phmovement.org
- Sarah Shannon: sarahs [at] hesperian.org
- Jihad Mashal: jihadmashal [at] yahoo.com
- Lanny Smith: landgh [@]gmail.com
- Delen De La Paz: delen27 [at] gmail.com
- Claudio Schuftan: schuftan [at] gmail.com
- Sarojini Nadimpally: sarojinipr [at] gmail.com
- David G Legge: dlegge [at] phmovement.org
CLICK HERE for more information on the role and function of the Advisory Committee – the Bios of advisory council will be made available soon.
Networks
As part of the governance renewal process, PHM has reviewed and expanded affiliated networks. Four of these will serve on the SC on a rotational basis.
PHM Handbook
The PHM Handbook has been developed as part of the mandate derived from the PHM Strategic Plan 2020-2025. We quote below the purpose and description of such a handbook as it appears in the strategic plan.
“Develop a PHM Handbook.
- To improve onboarding guidance for PHM staff and volunteer activists as well as general transparency and consistency, the handbook will collect existing PHM governance and operational policies as well as information on roles, responsibilities, current representatives/coordinators, and resources.
- Additional information will be documented including Secretariat responsibilities and accountability structures; guidelines for succession planning for key staff and volunteer roles; information on the ICT system and various resources and processes; thematic circle operations and links to best practices; guidelines for country circle functions, including establishing new and renewing existing circles, communication expectations and other responsibilities, and links to resources; and a refreshed mandate for the Advisory Council to address their role working as a collective advisory structure, communications with the SC and other PHM groups, and processes for engaging roles in fundraising, mentoring, and bridge building with other movements and networks..
- This comprehensive and living handbook will support PHM’s institutional memory and enhance continuity and coordination of work across groups and time. “Mandate from the Strategic Plan-Pg. 36 section 8, of Strategies and Priority Actions for Strengthening PHM Movement”
For the handbook chapters that have been approved by the Steering Council of PHM till 8 September, 2022, click here: English Spanish
Policy to Address SEXUAL HARASSMENT (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) in PHM
PHM strongly believes that sexual harassment results in violation of the fundamental right of a person to equality, right to life, and to live with dignity. The pervasiveness of sexual harassment indicates the distance that remains to be traversed towards achieving equality, justice, and the creation of safe convening, working, and living environments. As the PHM, our goal of health for all encompasses all of these and we stand united in condemning all sexual harassment and violence.
The Policy to Address Sexual Harassment (prevention, prohibition and redressal) in PHM applies to PHM Secretariat/s; all PHM Spaces and Activities -the Workplace, Secretariat, Regional Chapters, Webinars, Meetings, People’s Health Assembly (PHA), WHO Watch, Workshops and International People’s Health University (IPHU).
Committee Against Sexual Harassment (CASH)
- Fran Baum: [email protected]
- Camila Giugliani: [email protected]
- Peninah Khisa: [email protected]
Ethical Fundraising Policy
As every other organization, PHM needs material resources to carry out its work. This ethical fundraising policy aims to provide guidance and clarity when it comes to fundraising, and to ensure that our financing sources correspond to the values we uphold. This policy was designed to guide the global secretariat’s work, but country and regional circles are expected to be to respect it as well when raising funds in the name of PHM.
Global Secretariat
The Global Secretariat is the executive body of the PHM. Currently PHM secretariat is geographically decentralised. Secretariat members are located in Colombia, Bolivia, Argentina, Peru, Brazil, Italy, Egypt and India.
The current members of Global Secretariat are:
- Roman Vega (Global Coordinator): roman[at]phmovement[dot]org
- Candelaria Aráoz Falcón (Global Coordinator Assistant; Program coordinator – Global Health Governance): candelaria[at]phmovement[dot]org
- Susana Barria (Governance and movement building officer (Honorary)): sbarria[at]phmovement[dot]org
- Leonardo Vidal Mattos (Program coordinator – Health For All Campaign): leo.mattos[at]phmovement[dot]org
- Deepika Joshi (Program coordinator – Health For All Campaign): deepika[at]phmovement[dot]org
- Chiara Bodini (Program coordinator – Global Health Watch): chiara[at]phmovement[dot]org
- Yasser Ali Ebeid (Program coordinator – International People’s Health University): yasser[at]phmovement[dot]org
- Miguel Garcia (Communication officer): miguel[at]phmovement[dot]org
- David Verstockt (Programs manager): david[at]vivasalud[dot]be
It needs to be noted that the employed staff of PHM are small in number, and likewise acknowledged that PHM draws heavily on the use of volunteers. All people on the Steering Council, CoCo and the Advisory Council are volunteers. Many of our programmes such as the International People’s Health University and WHO Watch also draw heavily on volunteers