The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the WHO Civil Society Commission, marking a significant step towards enhanced collaboration with civil society. The inaugural meeting of the Steering Committee for this Commission also took place. This Commission introduces a novel approach, allowing civil society to provide structured and systematic advice and recommendations to WHO regarding health priorities and related matters. While civil society organizations (CSOs) have long played a crucial role in shaping public health initiatives, the establishment of this Commission signifies an elevated level of partnership with WHO.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General, inaugurated the meeting and convened the Steering Committee, comprised of 22 diverse civil society organizations from the Commission, active in health and other sectors. The complete membership of the Commission will be disclosed shortly.
Central to the Commission’s mission is to foster dialogue and collaboration between WHO and civil society, as well as among civil society groups themselves. Additionally, it will furnish recommendations to support WHO in its engagements at the global, regional, and national levels, working towards achieving universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals. This Commission’s inception is a response to the appeals from civil society to establish more effective ways of interaction with WHO beyond the existing avenues.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated, “We recognize the indispensable value of heeding and addressing the voices of the communities we serve in tackling their health challenges.” He emphasized that the WHO Civil Society Commission is designed to facilitate the amalgamation of diverse civil society perspectives, providing advice and collaborative input to guide WHO’s endeavors.
The Steering Committee, meanwhile, assumes the responsibility of offering strategic direction to the Commission as a whole and driving the development of its key outputs. This committee will also facilitate the communication of civil society advice and recommendations to the Director-General and senior WHO leadership through regular engagements.
During the meeting, the Director-General urged the Steering Committee to consult with all Commission members and set priorities based on their insights. Furthermore, he sought their guidance in shaping a strategy for WHO’s engagement with civil society, along with identifying critical organizational priorities, including the forthcoming 14th General Programme of Work.
More than 350 organizations have expressed interest in joining the Commission, and WHO has begun notifying the initial 120 accepted organizations. The remaining applicants will receive notifications in the following weeks. The application process remains open, inviting interested organizations to participate.
The co-chairs of the Steering Committee, Lisa Hilmi (CORE group) and Ravi Ram (Medwise Solutions), remarked, “This presents a historic opportunity for extensive collaboration between global CSOs and WHO. We enthusiastically welcome the engagement of numerous organizations dedicated to enhancing global health, urging them to join the WHO CSO Commission and contribute their valuable insights to address critical health concerns.” Regular updates on participants can be found on the WHO website.
