There are a number of regional bodies that coordinate academic institutions with an interest in public health and global health such as ASPH and CUGH in the USA, EAGHA in Europe, ASPHA in the African Region APACPH in the Asia-Pacific, ALASAG in Latin America as well as coordinating bodies for National Societies of Tropical Medicine and International Health such as FESTMiH in Europe and ASTMH in th
e USA. However, there is currently no global representative body in which these institutions could work together to provide evidence to inform policies on global health issues, act as a forum for exchange of views on relevant issues, or to coordinate collaborative activities on issues of relevance to global health. At a recent conference of the Association of Schools of Public Health in the African Region attended by representatives of EAGHA and ASPH it was agreed to launch a World Federation comprising all the regional networks. This, for the first time, gives a global platform for an academic voice to influence policies on health and global governance mechanisms, to promote methodological development, and to share good practice in capacity strengthening and on educational innovations.
