Collaborative Engagement
The World Health Organization (WHO) has taken a momentous step by forming the WHO Civil Society Commission and holding its first Steering Committee meeting in Geneva. This landmark signifies a fresh approach to including feedback and guidance from civil society in the WHO’s discussions on health priorities and related issues. Recognising the vital role that civil society organisations (CSOs) have historically played in driving positive changes in public health, this commission elevates collaboration to a new level.
The first meeting, under the auspices of WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, featured the participation of the Steering Committee, which comprises 22 diverse civil society organisations. These organisations will be formally introduced as full members of the Committee in the coming days.
Fostering Dialogue and Collaborative Action
The committee’s main objective is to enhance dialogue and promote cooperation between WHO and civil society organizations. Additionally, the committee will provide suggestions to strengthen WHO’s involvement at the global, regional, and national levels in pursuit of universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals. Responding to the call from civil society for more effective collaboration with WHO, the formation of this committee is a resolute answer to those demands.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, affirmed the significance of considering varied perspectives, stating: “From our experience in numerous regions, attentively listening and responding to the viewpoints of the communities we serve is crucial for adequately tackling the health burdens they encounter.” Organising civil society committees that unite civil society from diverse backgrounds to provide advice and collaborate with us, enabling us to learn from your insights and be guided accordingly.
Empowering the Steering Committee
which will establish the strategic direction for the Council and lead the development of significant deliverables. It will also serve as a channel for conveying civil society opinions and suggestions, while maintaining regular communication with the Director-General and senior WHO officials.
At the meeting, Dr Tedros urged the Steering Committee to conduct extensive consultations with all members of the committee, thereby guiding their priorities based on shared perspectives. He also requested advice regarding WHO’s civil society engagement strategy and its key organizational goals, such as the Fourteenth General Program of Work for 2025-2028, which will be approved by Member States in May 2024.
Engagement and participation
The application process for participation in the Committee received an overwhelming response, with more than 350 organisations expressing interest. WHO has begun notifying the 120 organisations that have been initially accepted. The remaining applicants will be notified in the coming weeks. The updated list of participants will be regularly updated and made available on the WHO web site.
The application process remains open, encouraging organisations committed to improving global health to join this historic endeavour. Co-chairs of the Civil Society Steering Committee, Lisa Hilmi (CORE Panel) and Ravi Ram (Medwise Solutions), expressed their enthusiasm: “This is a historic opportunity for WHO to work closely with civil society organisations around the world, and we are delighted that so many organisations will be playing an active role. We welcome all thought leaders committed to improving global health to join the WHO CSO Committee and look forward to their participation and thought leadership in addressing critical health issues”.
