The Steering Committee is responsible for the definition and oversight of platform policy, strategy and management. Committee members work to engage Ebola-affected communities to determine platform policies and take an active role in promoting the impact and sustainability of the platform by helping to secure long-term funding and ensuring the participation of relevant stakeholders.
Members include the Liberia Ministry of Health, the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation, the Guinea Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene, the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), the World Health Organization (WHO), Wellcome Trust, International Medical Corps (IMC), University of Oxford, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the West African Taskforce for Emerging and Re-Emerging Infections (WATER).
Steering Committee members have all signed the Ebola Data Platform Charter, and operate according to a Terms of Reference. Members of the committee have developed the platform Ethics Framework and Conflict of Interest Policy.
The Data Access Committee is an independent committee who evaluate all applications for access to data from the Ebola Data Platform in accordance with the Data Access Guidelines.
Following an open call for nominations, the Data Access Committee was appointed by the Steering Committee. The Data Access Committee is overseen and chaired by TDR, the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, hosted at WHO. Members are based at institutions in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Cameroon, the United States and the United Kingdom.
The Data Access Committee operate according to a Terms of Reference. They abide by the Ethics Framework and Conflict of Interest Policy.
Secretariat
The Secretariat deliver the technical and administrative duties to achieve the mission of the Ebola Data Platform as set out in the Charter. The Secretariat is coordinated by the Infectious Diseases Data Observatory (IDDO), and includes data managers, researchers and representatives from the countries where Platform data originate.
The Secretariat will apply the Ethics Framework and Conflict of Interest Policy that govern the use of the Platform, in line with the mission and strategic direction set by the Steering Committee. The Secretariat operate according to a Terms of Reference to ensure the highest standards of security and privacy are maintained whilst facilitating the ethical, equitable and rapid access to data.
Collaborators
This platform is made possible by a collaboration of governments, public health agencies, researchers, funders and NGOs who share values and common objectives with the Platform.
The Steering Committee define a Stakeholder Engagement Plan designed to stimulate the platform by engaging input, advice and recommendations on the research agenda, community engagement, ethics and any other relevant matters from across the Ebola and public health communities. The Training & Engagement page offers examples stakeholder and collaborator activities.
The Ebola data platform is funded by Médecins Sans Frontières and the Wellcome Trust.