This is the first of two articles in which we explore global public–private partnerships. In part I we review the concept of partnership and delineate what we mean by global public–private partnerships (GPPPs) for health development. We then turn to the context from which these partnerships are emerging, focusing particularly on changes confronting the United Nations and the corporate community during the 1990s. Part II, which is scheduled to appear in the next issue of the Bulletin, discusses a conceptual framework for understanding the different forms of global public–private partnership in the health sector, and explores the implications of GPPPs for the 21st century, looking at issues of governance and equity.