In the global advance towards 2030, there is a sense of urgency to evaluate if partnerships in global health at home and abroad are sufficient in their present form to reach the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The complexity of the SDGs and the current state of the planet requires a paradigm shift in the way we work together. Silos, one directional knowledge flow, North-South or top-down approaches are no longer “fit for purpose” in partnerships and need to be reviewed in light of the values of compassion, equity, inclusion and respect.

This call for a shift in partnerships for global health will be explored across three pressing and interrelated issues facing our world in 2021: power and privilege, pandemic resilience, and planetary health.