Fiocruz has historically maintained a strong international presence through cooperation and exchange with health and science and technology institutions in various countries and it is recognized today as a strategic Brazilian national institution and an important protagonist in global health.
International technical assistance has provided important support to the Fiocruz development over the years. First, through a North-South relationship, relying on prospecting by specific researchers, and later, with greater institutionalization and participation by organizations from partner countries and multilateral agencies.
The Foundation also maintains close relations with the international areas of the Brazilian government, especially the Ministry of Health, through its International Health Advisory Division (AISA), and the Ministry of Foreign Relations, through its various technical divisions and the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC).
When Brazil recently achieved emerging economy status, the country adopted a diplomatic stance in favor of horizontal international cooperation. Aligned with this trend, Fiocruz has supported the health area in developing countries, in a South-South relationship.
These South-South partnerships mainly include institutions from African countries whose official language is Portuguese (Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, and São Tomé and Principe) and Latin American countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guiana, Haiti, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela.)
Networks of structuring institutions have been established with their secretariats located at Fiocruz: Network of National Health Institutes (Rins), Network of National Schools of Public Health (Resp), International Network for Health Technicians Education (Rets), and the Pan-Amazonian Network for Science and Technology. In addition to the above, the Brazilian Network of Human Milk Banks (rBLH) has been replicated in other South American countries.
Fiocruz also enjoys recognition by the Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization. Importantly, six Collaborating Centers have been designated at Foundation in the PAHO/WHO international network, thereby confirming the Foundation’s excellence in global health.
Organizations and institutions
Fiocruz maintains relations with the world’s leading institutions in science, technology, and development; regional and sub-regional multilateral institutions; public and private organizations from various countries, and numerous universities. The following are some of these organizations and institutions:
Multilateral agencies
World Bank
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
United Nations (UN)
World Health Organization (WHO)
United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
Regional and sub-regional organizations
Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP)
Southern Common Market (Mercosur)
Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO)
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
Public and private institutions
German Federal Enterprise for International Cooperation (GIZ)
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance)
National Alliance for Life Sciences and Health (Aviesan) - France
Association of Portuguese-Speaking Universities (AULP)
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) - USA
International Development Research Centre (IDRC) - Canada
Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDI) - multilateral
National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA
Institute Pasteur International Network (RIIP) – France
International graduate programme
The Fiocruz internationalization programme (PrInt Fiocruz-CAPES) aims to expand Fiocruz's international insertion in education, science and technology. By creating inclusive networking environments that are capable of attracting students and researchers to study, along with a multidisciplinary view of major global issues, the programme implementation will strengthen Fiocruz's role as an articulating institution for North-South cooperation in the field.