Inaugural WHO Partners Forum

Background

Significant global health gains have been achieved in recent years. Nevertheless, despite this progress, people everywhere continue to face a complex mix of interconnected threats to their health and well-being − from poverty and inequality to conflict and climate change. Recognizing the potential of WHO to dramatically improve global health, on 25 May 2018 the Seventy-first World Health Assembly (WHA) approved the organization’s Thirteenth General Programme of Work (GPW13).

GPW13 provides a vision, rooted in Article 1 of WHO’s Constitution and based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), of “a world in which all people attain the highest possible standard of health and well-being”. Through GPW13, which spans a 5-year period from 2019 to 2023, WHO has embarked on an ambitious journey to transform global health and, ultimately, the health of more than 7 billion people. As reflected in the international community’s ongoing efforts to develop a global action plan for SGD3, i.e. the "Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Well-being for All", WHO is a critical partner in the global health architecture.

Following the approval of GPW13 by the WHA, WHO published its first investment case setting out the transformative impacts on global health and sustainable development that a fully-financed GPW13 could deliver over the next 5 years. The investment case also outlines how achieving these results will require approximately US$ 14.1 billion over the 5-year programme period, representing a yearly increase of approximately US$ 470 million against the current baseline. To this end, the WHO resource mobilization strategy aims to ensure that the organization is sufficiently resourced to deliver GPW13 and, in so doing, to achieve the Organization’s ‘Triple Billion’ target. The resource mobilization strategy defines how the organization will achieve its resource targets through tailored approaches, both traditional and innovative in nature, and through a greater variety of partnerships. The strategy also reflects on opportunities to increase philanthropic support and to leverage resource potential at the country-level.

Despite the overall financing situation being positive, funds are not evenly distributed between major offices, categories and programme areas because of earmarking of voluntary contributions and internal mechanisms for distribution of funds. Additionally, financing with flexible funds continues to be available for only about one third of the Programme budget. As stressed in the GPW13, “the quality of funds is almost as important as their quantity”[1] – not least given the need for WHO to work in an integrated manner to deliver programme results. In addition to the US$ 14.1 billion needed to ensure successful implementation of GPW13, appropriate levels of flexible, aligned and predictable funding will be critical.

Outcome

The Inaugural WHO Partners Forum is a discussion between WHO and its partners; it is not a pledge event. The meeting will deliver the following expected outcomes: 

• An energized and diverse community of partners to support WHO over the coming 5 years to secure the resources necessary to deliver GPW13;
• Shared understanding of how to strengthen partnerships and improve the effective financing of WHO, with an emphasis on predictability and flexibility; and
• Enhanced trust and confidence in a transformed, impactful and value for money WHO.

Objectives

To achieve its intended outcomes, the Forum aims to:

• Encourage support from individual partners to assist the Organization in a longer-term collaborative endeavor to address both the quality and quantity of resources required to implement GPW13 and, in so doing, to lead implementation of health-related SDG targets;
• Explore opportunities for strengthening partnerships and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of WHO financing, with an emphasis on predictability and flexibility, through innovations and lessons learned from both WHO and partner experience; and 
• Demonstrate WHO’s role, measurable impact and ‘value for money’ across GPW13’s 3 strategic priorities.

Deliverables

The event will result in the following outputs:

• Specific ideas from individual WHO Champions to assist the Organization in a multi-year collaborative endeavor and
• An official outcome report, which will:
  • Reaffirm the relevance and impact of WHO;
  • Celebrate the support of WHO partners;
  • Underline the need for both strengthened partnerships and efficient and effective financing of WHO; and
  • Highlight recommendations for WHO and its partners on partnerships and efficient and effective financing, with an emphasis on predictable and flexible financing.

Format

The Forum will be co-hosted by WHO and the Government of Sweden and will take place from Tuesday 9 April (late afternoon) to Wednesday 10 April (full day) 2019 in Stockholm, Sweden.

The Forum will commence with a dynamic reception on day 1, including remarks from high-level officials, such as the: Director-General, WHO; Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Sweden; and the Minister of International Development Cooperation, Sweden. Day 2 will take the format of an engaging discussion in ‘market place’ style, with inspirational speakers and group discussions.

Participation

The Forum will bring together up to 150 participants, including representatives of Member States, intergovernmental organizations and relevant non-State actors (academic institutions, civil society organizations, philanthropic foundations and private sector entities), upon invitation. Participants are encouraged to nominate senior decision- and policy-makers, in the areas of international development, international cooperation and/or health.