Our members and other experts voiced the need for evidence-based policies that strengthen the underlying health systems that provide essential health services; a policy agenda and resource allocation that more accurately reflects the increasingly diverse and complex burden of disease among the poor; and policies that address the inequitable access to essential health services faced especially by women and girls, as well as other marginalized and vulnerable populations. The Council’s role will be to create more opportunities for shared learning, to help build bridges between researchers and implementers, and to accelerate the diffusion of innovation. The Council will be even more effective and active in supporting advocacy by our global membership to their governments and multilateral organizations, as well as facilitating learned and improved practices across a global platform. We will seek out more diverse, reliable and growing sources of revenue, as well as state of the art management of finances, information and human resources.