Statement of objective

ESSENCE members and partners’ main statement of objective is to strengthen research capacity for health within effective, accountable and sustainable health research systems in low- and middle-income countries.

Values and principles

ESSENCE is guided by the principle that good health is an essential foundation for social and economic development and that the attainment of self-reliance in research and development in low- and middle-income countries is key to sustainability.

Low- and middle-income countries should not have to rely on the purchase or import of technologies and skills, rather scientific and development cooperation should aim to empower them to develop their own educational systems and institutional frameworks in order to become self-sufficient in efforts to reduce health inequalities.

Focus

The focus is on low-and middle-income countries, especially those in sub-Saharan Africa.

Goal

The goal of ESSENCE on Health Research is to increase the impact of support provided for research capacity strengthening for health in low-and middle-income countries.

The Essentials of ESSENCE

ESSENCE is guided by the agreed upon principles outlined in The Essentials of ESSENCE document developed and approved by the members, and most recently revised in June 2022.

How does ESSENCE operate?

ESSENCE agencies interact with one another through meetings and workshops, as well as via interagency communications. Since its inception, the secretariat has been hosted at the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) at World Health Organization Geneva.

It operates through a broader group of funding partners who share the same objectives for health research capacity strengthening and who will work towards harmonization of support and alignment with countries’ priorities.

ESSENCE members and partners are advised by a Steering Committee (SC) which provides external technical input into the planning, implementation and review of the biennial workplan and individual activities. ESSENCE currently has seven SC members representing NIH/FIC, Wellcome, WHO/HRP, EDCTP and Sida who sit on the committee together with the Coordinator of the Secretariat.

History

ESSENCE on Heath Research Initiative came into being during a meeting focused on Research Capacity Strengthening organized by Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) in Stockholm in 2008. It embraces the principles of donor harmonization and country alignment expressed in the 2005 Paris Declaration and Accra and Busan Plans of action. In line with the principles of the declaration, donors strive to align and harmonize their activities and procedures with the priorities of the countries in which they work.

Since its inception in 2008, ESSENCE on Health Research initiative has achieved remarkable progress in facilitating dialogue among all partners and piloting a number of innovative approaches to achieve its goals. This progress was acknowledged by a review conducted in 2015, which motivated continuation of this unique initiative. The members have since continued to work together to support stronger research in low-and middle income countries (LMICs).

ESSENCE Steering Committee Members

Manager, Partnerships and Global Engagement; Head of Secretariat of the ESSENCE on Health Research initiative GarryAslanyan

Biography

As Manager of Partnerships and Global Engagement at TDR, Dr Garry Aslanyan steers the programme’s most strategic alliances and global health collaborations, mobilizing resources, building high‑trust partnerships, and leading engagement with TDR’s governing bodies. From July 2025 to March 2026, he also served as Director ad interim, guiding TDR through a pivotal transition period and overseeing its strategic direction and operations until the arrival of the new Director.

Working closely with the Director, Dr Aslanyan plays a central role in sustaining TDR’s unique co‑sponsorship by UNICEF, the World Bank, UNDP and WHO, a complex partnership that demands diplomacy, credibility, and sustained coordination across institutions. He leads TDR’s efforts to translate research evidence into the global health programming of the co‑sponsors, while driving collaboration with all six WHO regional offices, including oversight of the widely recognized TDR Impact Grants, which catalyze locally led solutions to priority public health challenges across regions.

He also heads the Secretariat of ESSENCE on Health Research, supporting its Steering Committee and member funding agencies to strengthen coordination and increase the impact of investments in research capacity. In parallel, he has contributed to global public health standards and stewardship through service on the WHO Guidelines Review Committee and by acting as an external reviewer for global health research programmes.

Dr Aslanyan is the founder, Executive Producer and Host of the TDR’s acclaimed Global Health Matters podcast which is recognized as a platform that brings bold ideas and diverse voices to the forefront of global health dialogue.

A Canadian with training in dentistry, public health, research and innovation management, health policy and systems, and global health diplomacy, Dr Aslanyan is recognized for driving organizational and technical innovation across sectors and geographies, bringing over 25 years of experience to his work. Before joining TDR, he held senior executive roles within Canada’s federal government and served as President of the Ontario Public Health Association. He has also helped shape public health discourse through editorial leadership, including serving as Editor‑in‑Chief of newSpecial magazein and as an Editorial Advisor to the Bulletin of the World Health Organization.

Email: Dr Garry Aslanyan
ORCID ID - 0000-0003-2103-8406
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/garry-aslanyan/
Twitter - Dr Garry Aslanyan (@GarryAslanyan)
TDR Global profile https://profiles.tdr-global.net/Garry.Aslanyan

Learn more about TDR projects and activities where Garry is involved:

Contact

Dr Garry Aslanyan
Manager, Partnerships and Global Engagement at TDR and also Head of Secretariat of the ESSENCE on Health Research initiative
World health Organization/TDR
E-mail: Dr Garry Aslanyan
Twitter: GarryAslanyan

Documents

14 November 2015