GA4GH Global Engagement Strategy

The Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) can only achieve its mission by fostering a truly global organisation and working towards the development of standards that can be shared, applied, and adapted around the world.

Founded on the human right to benefit from science, GA4GH has an imperative to produce globally impactful standards. That effort starts with our contributors. We believe that when we have a variety of perspectives,  engaged in our community, we are more likely to develop products that are comprehensive, appropriate, and fit for purpose across a multitude of contexts.

The benefits of broad and comprehensive datasets  are clear, as are the drawbacks of homogeneity. For example, homogenous data slows down life-saving improvements to health care. Striving to share scientific benefits in a range of places produces more flexible standards, which are easier to adopt. 

GA4GH wants to eliminate barriers to entry for people across a wide range of geographic contexts, so they can fully participate in the genomics community. Our global engagement strategy reflects this goal.

Following a framework we call “reflected in our teams, reflected in our standards,” GA4GH strives for global engagement at different points in the product development process. This way, interests of the broader community are more likely to be reflected in the product development process and in the standards, frameworks, and tools themselves.

Global engagement efforts include:

• identifying opportunities to attract global talent to the GA4GH community;
• helping new and existing contributors from all backgrounds feel welcomed and valued by the community; and
• ensuring access to leadership and speaking opportunities within GA4GH.