Partnership Principles and Conflict of Interest Management

GHSH operates on the principle of full institutional neutrality — it does not represent the commercial interests of any partner or supplier. Transparency in partner relationships is the foundation of the trust placed in us by governments, agencies, and public sector organizations around the world.

NeutralityTransparencyInstitutional accountability

Key principles of partnership collaboration

The principles below apply to all GHSH partners without exception — regardless of the form of cooperation, the scope of financial involvement, or the nature of the substantive contribution. They form the inviolable foundation of every institutional relationship.

Transparency of partnerships

All active partnerships are publicly disclosed. The list of institutional and corporate partners is updated regularly and available upon request.

No product endorsements

GHSH does not recommend, promote, or favor any commercial products or services — regardless of a partner's status or level of funding.

No vendor lock-in

Institutions supported by GHSH retain full technological and decision-making sovereignty. No partner may influence recommendations regarding the selection of vendors.

Transparency of partner roles

Each partner's role — whether expert, financial, or organizational — is clearly defined and documented in the partnership agreement before collaboration begins.

Sponsorship and in-kind contribution principles

Sponsorship and in-kind contributions are accepted only on terms that do not imply any programmatic or substantive obligations from GHSH to the sponsor.

Separation of expert and commercial roles

Experts involved in GHSH advisory or analytical processes may not simultaneously hold sales functions or represent commercial entities within the same projects.

Conflict of interest register

GHSH maintains an internal register of reported and identified conflicts of interest. Entries are reviewed by an independent ethics committee and updated quarterly.

Escalation and recusal process

When a conflict of interest is identified, a standardized escalation process is triggered, which may result in the temporary or permanent recusal of the expert or partner from the project.

Partner due diligence process

Each entity applying for GHSH partner status undergoes a multi-stage verification process. The goal is to ensure alignment of values, clarity of intent, and the absence of conflicts of interest before official cooperation begins.

Each verification stage is documented. If there is any doubt at any stage, the partnerships committee may suspend the process or request additional clarification. The average duration of the full process is 4 to 8 business weeks.

How do you report a potential conflict of interest?

Any person — whether a GHSH employee, external expert, partner representative, or public institution representative — has the right and obligation to report a suspected conflict of interest.

Reports are handled with full confidentiality. The identity of the reporting person is protected at every stage of the verification process. GHSH applies a zero-tolerance policy toward retaliation against whistleblowers.

  • Anonymous form available on the internal website
  • Direct contact with the Ethics Committee

Confidentiality guarantees

Reporter anonymity

The reporting person's data is not disclosed without their explicit consent.

Restricted access

Only the independent ethics committee has access to the report.

Receipt confirmation

The reporter receives confirmation of case receipt within 48 business hours.

Whistleblower protection

GHSH applies a zero-tolerance policy toward retaliation.