Understanding the context and political economy of challenges
The contextual factors and political economy understanding of challenges are key to building solutions. We try to dive deep into understanding context, political economy of challenges including stakeholder perspectives.
- Evaborhene NA, Rahman-Shepherd A, Bain LE, Bandara S, Lal A. PABS deferred: the rise of bilateralism and future of pandemic governance. The Lancet Global Health. 2026 Jul 17;0(0). doi:10.1016/j.langlo.2026.104021 PubMed PMID: 42468544.
- Bandara S, Phiri MM, Magati P, Drope J, Adams A, Hunt M, et al. Contextual factors impacting WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control implementation in Africa—a scoping review. Health Promot Int. 2024 Nov 21;39(6):daae155. doi:10.1093/heapro/daae155 PubMed PMID: 39569479; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11579612.
- Bandara S, Bhaumik S, Sriram V, Saha S, Zia N, Hasan MZ, et al. Stronger together: a new pandemic agenda for South Asia. BMJ Glob Health. 2021 Aug;6(8):e006776.
- Neiloy Sircar & Stella Bialous, Assessing the links between human rights and global tobacco control through statements made on global fora, BMC Public Health (2021). DOI:10.1186/s12889-021-10451-2
- Neiloy Sircar, Amit Yadav, & Stella Bialous, Assessing sector representation of non-state actors within the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, Global Public Health Journal (2021). DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2020.1823451
- Lencucha R, Bandara S. Trust, risk, and the challenge of information sharing during a health emergency. Globalization and Health. 2021 Feb 18;17(1):21.
Considering solutions and charting pathways forward
The pathways forward require thought leadership as well as critical analysis of the current way forward. Members of our team have been asking these questions over time both in terms of the region as well as globally.
- Neiloy R. Sircar et al. Human Rights Limitations for the new Global Health Law Reforms, Public Health (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2025.106081
- Bandara S, Meier BM, Shah SK, Hassan F. WHO Pandemic Agreement is only the beginning: strengthening implementation to protect global health. BMJ. 2026 Feb 17;392:e086069. doi:10.1136/bmj-2025-086069 PubMed PMID: 41702631.
- Pai M, Bandara S, Kyobutungi C. Shifting power in global health will require leadership by the Global South and allyship by the Global North. The Lancet. 2024 Nov 2;404(10464):1711–3.
- Bandara S, Zeinali Z, Blandina (Dian) Maria, Ebrahimi OV, Essar MY, Senga J, et al. Imagining a future in global health without visa and passport inequities. PLOS Glob Public Health. 2023 Aug 23;3(8):e0002310.
Relevant ongoing Research Project(s)
Global health treaties to tackle the global polycrisis in an era of nationalism and populism: what factors impact consensus building?
Global health treaties have played a key role in building solutions to global threats such as pandemics, climate crisis and tackling key health risks. Many factors impact consensus building on global health treaties. In a shifting political climate where the global health governance, funding and implementation landscape is changing, it is crucial to understand the factors impact consensus building. This understanding will also help prepare for future challenges and pathways for consensus building. In this study we examine factors affecting consensus building the Pandemic Agreement, The Paris Agreement or the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).
The purpose of this study is to understand the factors that have affected the negotiation processes of the above-mentioned treaties. Compare factors relevant to consensus building across the three global health treaties above and provide recommendations for future negotiations and treaties.