How to apply

The Cochrane Governing Board has adopted Strategy for Change for the next two years (2021-2023) to reform the organization and reset to be fit for the future. During the first period of implementing this Strategy for Change (until January 2023), Cochrane will not accommodate requests for establishing new Groups or requests to upgrade Groups from Affiliate status to Associate or full Centre status. For any questions, please contact Tiffany Duque (tduque@cochrane.org).

How to apply for establishing a new Cochrane Geographic Group
Step 0: Expression of Interest
Step 1: Application
Step 2: Assessment
Step 3: Approval/Rejection
Step 4: Set-up and Launch

How to apply for establishing a new Cochrane Geographic Group

Establishing a Cochrane presence in a country or region is a major undertaking, whether this concerns a small Affiliate or a larger Centre. It is important, therefore, that there is a clear process for assessing applications, so Cochrane can be assured that new Groups have the necessary resources, skills and credibility to be successful, and new Groups understand the support they can expect to receive from Cochrane.

All applications for a new Affiliate, Associate Centre, Centre or Geographic Network will be reviewed by the Geographic Groups' Executive, and need approval from Cochrane’s CEO. Cochrane Centres will, in addition, need formal approval from the Cochrane Governing Board. The Head of External Affairs and Geographic Groups’ Support has line responsibility for all of the activities of the Geographic Groups, however, in most cases the direct oversight, management and support of Affiliates and Associate Centres will be provided by a Cochrane Centre. The Head of External Affairs and Geographic Groups’ Support will work with the Geographic Groups' Executive on assessing the applications for new Groups.

Step 0: Expression of Interest

If you are interested in establishing a Cochrane presence in your country, please contact Tiffany Duque (tduque@cochrane.org), Head of External Affairs and Geographic Groups' Support  to start an informal discussion on possible opportunities. This initial phase is important, as it will help develop linkages to existing Cochrane Geographic Groups from the beginning and may also help explore other collaborative opportunities instead of (or in addition to) new Group registration.

Step 1: Application

Once a decision has been taken to go for a formal new Group registration process, the first step is to:

In most cases applications for new Affiliates and Associates Centres will be drawn up with the help and support of the Cochrane Centre which is going to take on the responsibility of managing the Group if its registration is approved.

Completed application forms and strategic plans need to be sent to Tiffany Duque (tduque@cochrane.org) at the CEO’s office.

Step 2: Assessment

The CEO’s Office will review the application, check its completeness, provide feedback and work with the submitting Group to complete the application as appropriate.

Following review by the CEO’s office, all applications will also be reviewed by the Geographic Groups' Executive and comments and feedback will be shared through the CEO’s Office with the applicant.

Step 3: Approval/Rejection

Applications to register an Associate Centre or an Affiliate require Cochrane’s CEO approval only.

Applications to register a Cochrane Centre require, in addition, the approval of the Cochrane Governing Board. Following the assessment phase, the CEO’s Office will submit a recommendation to the Board for their review and voting. In case of rejection, feedback will be provided.

Following formal approval, a Collaboration Agreement will be signed. For Cochrane Centres and Networks this Agreement will be established with Cochrane centrally. For Cochrane Associates and Cochrane Affiliates a similar agreement will either be signed with their reference Centre or Network, or with Cochrane centrally depending on preferences of the Groups involved.

Step 4: Set-up and Launch

Following application approval, the applicant will be contacted by Veronica Bonfigli (vbonfigli@cochrane.org), Governance Officer, at the CEO’s Office to start the formal registration process. During this phase, all the behind-the-scenes work needs to be done to make the new Group, or a change in existing Group status, official.

The process follows 3 steps:

  1. Establishing the Group in Archie
  2. Website/Branding/PR
    • You will be put in contact with Cochrane's website support staff to help you setting up your website. Note: if there is already a Cochrane presence in-country, a website will most likely already exist and the discussion will be around how the new Group can be represented on the existing website.
    • You will receive brand guidelines and put in contact with Sabrina Khamissa (skhamissa@cochrane.org) and receive the Cochrane logo for your Group. Note: if there is already a Cochrane presence in-country, the existing Geographic Group logo and templates will be shared with the newly established Group.
  3. Launch
    • For the official launch, a news item may be published on the cochrane.org or Cochrane Community website. Additional communication opportunities may be explored in the geographic setting of the new Group.

If you have any questions on Group Registration, please contact Veronica Bonfigli (vbonfigli@cochrane.org) at the CEO’s Office.

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