Transforming Information Pathways for Health, Well-Being, and Equity

Access to timely, trusted, and actionable health information is a cornerstone of advancing health equity. However, communities historically marginalized by systemic inequities face barriers in obtaining and using this information. The systems designed to disseminate health knowledge often fail to prioritize the needs of these communities, instead reinforcing existing power imbalances. Furthermore, these communities face the dual challenge of navigating information systems that are often inaccessible, fragmented, and disconnected from their lived realities. Mis- and disinformation further exacerbate the challenges they encounter.

To create a future where all people have the information they need to improve their health and well-being, we must reimagine current information pathways and explore innovative and creative approaches. This transformation requires a fundamental shift towards making health information more inclusive, credible, and accessible for those who need it most. Historically, communities that face health disparities have been excluded from both the creation and the use of health data. These communities must not only have access to reliable information, but also have the tools to contribute, understand, and act on it. Building on this need, this session aims to exchange strategies around the world for making health information more discoverable, culturally relevant, contextually appropriate, and reflective of the lived experiences of diverse communities.

The session will bring together stakeholders from across sectors including health, policy, social innovation organizations, academia, community organizations, and media. Together, they will co-create strategies for ensuring that health and well-being information is meaningful and accessible. By focusing on practical solutions and collaborative partnerships, this session will drive the development of strategies that promote equitable knowledge sharing and ultimately contribute to greater health equity. To support global learning and movement building, the session will be supported by a communication partner and collaboration funds. Other strategic partnerships recommended by Fellows will also be considered.

Support for this program was provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.

Date

Nov 03 - Nov 08, 2025

Session no.

S897-01

Contact

Mary Helen Pombo

Director, Health

Julia Escriva Moreno

Program Associate, Health

Content overview

Session Information Application Co-Curators Participants Partner

Session Information

Session Format

This session will engage 50 participants from around the world in a hybrid, collaborative format. It will include virtual meetings and culminate in a five-day residential session at Schloss Leopoldskron, the home of Salzburg Global.

The session will allow participants to develop collaborations to make health information more discoverable and understandable, especially for marginalized communities. Virtual and inperson sessions will involve dynamic discussions and group collaborations, with a focus on tangible, actionable outcomes.

The session will build on Salzburg Global’s principles of participatory engagement, allowing participants to shape the agenda by identifying key areas for cross-border learning and action and play an active role in delivering the session. They will also be encouraged to bring forward their expertise and real-world challenges to generate solutions that are relevant and impactful in their settings and beyond.

The agenda for the on-site session will be developed following one-on-one co-development calls and group discussions at the first online meeting and evolve before and during the sessions.

Target Audience

The session is designed for innovators, advocates, policymakers, researchers, public health practitioners, social innovators, science journalists, media leaders, and community leaders committed to health equity, science, and knowledge translation, citizen science, and/or health promotion. This includes leaders in digital communities, digital health, data privacy and accessibility, innovations in the workplace and entertainment, and those who have influence and power in social networks.

We are particularly focused on engaging participants who seek to make change for historically marginalized communities, as well as those in positions to influence or support equitable health information systems. We aim to bring together a diverse group of individuals from over 10 countries around the world.

Key Questions

Participants will explore the following questions during the session:

How can the future of information pathways be reimagined to ensure that all people, especially those in marginalized communities, have the health information they need to make informed decisions about their well-being?
What strategies are effective for ensuring that health information is not only accessible but also meaningful and actionable for public health systems and communities that have been historically marginalized?
How might we design ways of engaging with young people so that public health programs better reflect the health information challenges in young people’s experience of the modern digital information environment?
How can institutions and regions make health information more timely, tailored, and useful for communities that have historically been excluded from knowledge production and exchange?
How can cross-sector partnerships, international standards, social innovation and enterprise, and collaboration improve the accessibility of quality, credible, and accurate health information and create more inclusive pathways for knowledge sharing?

Session Goals

Build a global network of advocates, social innovators, public health practitioners, researchers, and policymakers committed to making health information more accessible and useful for marginalized communities.
Identify and promote strategies that make health information more diverse, relevant, and discover ablefocusing on solutions that are culturally relevant and context specific.
Foster cross-sector collaboration to support the development of policies and systems that ensure accessibility and trust in health information.
Shift mindsets and stimulate new thinking on how health knowledge can be more effectively generated, shared, and utilized for the benefit of all communities, particularly those historically disadvantaged.
Co-create actionable plans that participants can implement in their communities, organizations, or countries to promote equitable health information sharing and ultimately contribute to better health outcomes.

Application

Who should apply?

You should apply if you...

are an advocate, innovator, decision-maker and other stakeholder from communities, research and academia, journals, arts and culture, grant making, technology, government, private sectors, and communications or emerging young leaders.

bring experience of working on cases of impactful or promising (or conducting research on) interventions that fosters equitable and inclusive health information pathways for the above-mentioned communities.

are interested and open to exploring new and innovative approaches for transforming how health information is produced, shared, and used by diverse communities, ensuring it is accessible, timely, and culturally relevant.

are strongly committed to engaging actively with a community of peers and experts, sharing insights, learning from others, and co-developing solutions.

are committed to building equitable, inclusive, citizen-centered and community-owned health information pathways.

available from November 3-8, 2025, and committed to attending the in-person, immersive four-and-a-half-day program in Salzburg.

How to apply?

Fill out our brief application online (a five-minute activity) by clicking here by April 30, 2025 (17:00 CET).

To help you prepare, here's what to expect from Salzburg Global's application portal. Note our recommended guidance for applying to this session. Responses should be short (1,000 characters max.)

Describe how you would leverage this session and its network of 50 global practitioners to transform health information pathways for advancing equity, improved well-being, and creating tangible impact in your community or region?
Describe an innovative experience, strategy, or practice you are involved that is transforming health information pathways to be more accessible, contextually appropriate, and culturally relevant for diverse or marginalized communities.
In your response, please share how this initiative meaningfully engages communities most affected by health and information inequities. What makes this initiative an important example for other contexts (e.g., adaptability, results, and sustainability)? If possible, please include any relevant links or attachments about your work.
How do you envision applying the session’s learnings and network to further support transforming health information pathways in your work or community?
Share a bio, CV/resume, or video describing your professional experience.

Selection process

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We will select applications based on the most exceptional case presented and the diversity of context represented. Our team may get in touch for further information on your application and will inform applicants of the status of their application by June 2025.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact Taofeekat Adigun, Impact Fellow, Health, Salzburg Global