ARCHIVED - Formative Evaluation of the Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative

Text Equivalent of CHVI Governance Structure

Lead Minister

The Minister of Health, in consultation with the Minister of Industry and Minister of International Cooperation, will be the lead implementing Minister for the CHVI for the purposes of overall coordination while the Ministers will each be accountable to Parliament for their funding contribution to the CHVI.

Departmental/Agency Roles

Departments and agencies will collaborate to deliver on the goals of the CHVI in line with their respective mandates. Industry Canada will assist with industry-related issues such as the appropriate engagement of potential private sector collaborators. Health Canada will apply its wide range of expertise, including vaccine-related policy, regulations and protocols; facilitating collaborative networks of specialists; and enhancing international collaborations. PHAC will contribute its public health scientific, policy and program expertise, building on past HIV/AIDS and vaccines initiatives and serve as the lead agency for the CHVI. CIHR will provide linkages to the Canadian research community, as well as bring critical expertise in peer review mechanisms and related professional support services to identify and fund eligible HIV vaccines projects. CIDA will provide the effective linkages to international development efforts and ensure consistency with Canada’s international commitments. All departments/agencies will ensure the CHVI’s efforts are coordinated within the global HIV/AIDS research community. Moreover, CIDA will provide strategic guidance to ensure that the goals of the CHVI promote the development and delivery of HIV vaccines that benefit the needs of the highly endemic HIV/AIDS countries in the developing world

CHVI Steering Committee

In support of the Ministers, coordination for the Government of Canada will be provided by an interdepartmental steering committee consisting of Industry Canada, the Canadian International Development Agency, Health Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the Public Health Agency of Canada. The steering committee will be co-chaired by CIDA and PHAC.

Following approval of the MC, the steering committee will be established and terms of reference will be developed to reflect its key responsibilities including:

• reviewing submissions to Cabinet committees;
• developing the Terms of Reference for the steering committee;
• reviewing implementation, governance and delivery structures;
• providing ongoing strategic direction and priority-setting;
• ensuring a coordinated approach to stewardship of resources and due diligence;
• monitoring and reporting on performance and finances;
• reviewing all reports, to minister and for parliamentary reporting purposes as required;
• reviewing evaluation frameworks;
• ensuring alignment of program efforts with broader domestic and international agendas;
• developing an engagement strategy for new collaborators;
• selecting lead departments/agencies for project/programs;
• approving terms of reference for the CHVI Advisory Committee;
• reviewing the development of Minister-Minister MOUs related to funding transfers; and
• providing input on CHVI communications strategies and plans.

A key responsibility of the Steering Committee will be to maintain active communications and linkages with identified collaborators such as the Gates Foundation and other potential new collaborators. While these collaborators will not be formally represented on the Steering Committee, which is comprised solely of participating departments and agencies, the Steering Committee will maintain links to the collaborators. In addition, these collaborators may also play a role in the CHVI Advisory Committee and expert working groups as appropriate.

CHVI Secretariat

A secretariat will be established at the Public Health Agency of Canada, which will work in close collaboration with other involved departments/agencies to provide operational support, including monitoring and evaluation. The secretariat will assist the Steering Committee in achieving its mandate.

Collaborators

As outlined in the MOU, the Gates Foundation is contributing funding towards the construction of a pilot scale clinical trial lot manufacturing facility. The Gates Foundation will share decision-making responsibilities with the Government of Canada (through the Steering Committee) on all aspects of the facility (i.e. development of request for proposals, establishment of review criteria, review and selection process).

The CHVI will also enable wider participation and support from other potential collaborators (e.g. governments, non-governmental and private sector organizations) on HIV vaccine- related initiatives in which they share common goals with the Government of Canada and the Gates Foundation. A formal federal/provincial/territorial engagement strategy will be undertaken to seek provincial and territorial collaborators. Following the announcement of the CHVI, the Minister of Health will write to his provincial and territorial counterparts to explore their interest in participating in the CHVI. Existing F/P/T networks will also be utilized to inform provincial and territorial officials about the CHVI which may also serve as a forum to explore opportunities for collaboration (e.g. discovery research networks, Public Health Network). Specific agreements outlining areas of collaboration and respective roles and responsibilities with provinces and territories will be put into place on a case-by-case basis.

Specific mechanisms will be established to deliver the obligations outlined in specific collaboration agreements. Financial management will be in accordance with existing federal policies and procedures.

CHVI Advisory Committee

Active involvement by governments, the private sector, international stakeholders, people living with HIV/AIDS, researchers and NGOs and relevant stakeholders will be critical to the success of the CHVI and will be realized through the creation of an advisory committee. Linkages to the Global Enterprise Secretariat will also be established for the advisory committee to ensure ongoing alignment with global efforts. Expert working groups will be formed on specific issues, as required, which may include participation by advisory committee members and/or other key stakeholders, both domestic and international.

The steering committee will identify key issues for input from the advisory committee, including:

• advising the steering committee in CHVI program priorities and implementation;
• linking with national and international efforts;
• forming expert working groups, as instructed by the steering committee; and
• communicating and broad information sharing.