The buzz in the corridor is that global promotion is too fragmented and too Geneva-centric to leverage sufficient leadership by and support for developing countries. Limited donor funds must be invested wisely to catalyze larger public and commercial flows. While respecting the autonomy of each agency, donors must foster coherence rather than fragmentation, build people and institutions rather than projects, and invest as shareholders working in cooperation with all stakeholders. Only time can provide the answers. Bangkok expanded space for voices from diverse participants who communicated with mutual respect.
Democratic processes can help harness powerful global forces towards health equity.
To do so, the promotion mechanisms must amplify the power of participating scientists in developing countries. We must move from elitism and hierarchy towards horizontally constructed democratic alliances, coalitions and networks. We must globalize our common values, thereby strengthening our resolve to advance our shared vision and mission. In other words, health research for development must grow from a program to a social movement. All of us will begin soon our real, not metaphoric, journey home.