Centre for Global Child Health

Global child health is the health and well-being of children everywhere, independent of geographic borders. Established in 2013, the SickKids Centre for Global Child Health (C-GCH) provides a dedicated hub for global child health-focused activities at SickKids and connects researchers and health-care professionals around the world.

The C-GCH is dedicated to improving the lives of women, children and their families in marginalized populations through collaboration in ground-breaking research, sustainable capacity building and informing policy through knowledge synthesis, knowledge translation and advocacy.

We're proud to endorse the United Nations’ Every Woman, Every Child Global Strategy, and to be a part of Canada’s contribution to improving the health and rights of women and children around the world. As one of the world’s top paediatric health-care institutions and Canada’s leading centre dedicated to advancing children’s health, SickKids is in a unique position to make an impact on a global level.

We share SickKids' vision: Healthier Children. A Better World.

Our mission is to directly and indirectly improve the lives of children and their families in marginalized populations through collaboration in ground-breaking research, sustainable capacity building, and informing policy through knowledge synthesis, knowledge translation and advocacy.

Our values align with those of SickKids, strengthening our shared commitment to improving child health worldwide:

• Compassion 
• Integrity 
• Collaboration 
• Inclusion 
• Innovation 
• Excellence 
  
  

Given the C-GCH's unique mission and areas of focus, our work is also guided by principles of equity, openness and sustainability:

• We believe that everyone should have the same opportunity to succeed and thrive, regardless of their starting point. We are committed to promoting equity in all partnerships, collaborations, and activities, both within SickKids and externally.
• We value openness and are committed to sharing our methods, data, results, and outcomes ethically, accurately, and promptly through a variety of communication channels.

• We value sustainability in all aspects of our work. We partner to support locally identified solutions that promote long-term benefits, beyond the completion of projects or programs, and that minimize the environmental consequences of our work.

Strategic directions - 2025 to 2030

1. Contribute to the global child health evidence base
2. Strengthen health systems through health workforce training and targeted investments in learning and clinical environments
3. Advocate for the health of children globally
4. Train the next generation of global child health leaders
   
5. Raise awareness and generate evidence on the impact of climate change on maternal and child health

We are committed to gender equality.

In 2021, the SickKids Centre for Global Child Health launched the ‘Gender Equality Framework’. The Framework was created in line with the Centre’s role as an active member of the Canadian and global health community, and reconfirmed the Centre’s commitment to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion.

The Framework includes a set of commitments, actions and measures that will be used to set targets and monitor progress. Using this Framework as a guide, the Centre will support the advancement of gender equality both within and outside of our organization. Read the full ‘Gender Equality Framework’ (PDF).