Breaking down silos begins with bringing down communication barriers, and the Translation, Interpretation and Publishing Unit (TIP/GMC) is uniquely positioned to bring together people from different linguistic backgrounds and facilitate the seamless flow and exchange of ideas. In the age of infodemics and misinformation, TIP plays a key gatekeeper role in upholding the WHO/AFRO brand by ensuring that all documents produced within the purview of the regional programme meet the highest editorial standards in terms of language, style, design and general presentation. 

TIP stands ready to support you with its in-house team, supplemented by a vast pool of external editors, translators, interpreters, writers and designers. We also regularly find time to explain our processes through briefings and induction sessions with other GMC units. Our frequently-asked-questions chat box is specifically designed to address every possible aspect of our work and the various ways and means by which we can enhance and fine-tune our support to the technical units.

Our vision is to support clusters in overcoming language barriers and to uphold the Organization’s brand by giving our documents, meetings, publications, and information products a correct, consistent and professional appearance; this increases WHO’s credibility and enhances its logo as a mark of quality.

The mission of the Translation, Interpretation and Publishing (TIP) Unit is to facilitate communication and the flow of ideas among Member States of the WHO African Region in order to inform decision-making.

The objective of the Unit is to process and organize scientific, technical, medical, biomedical, and health-related information and disseminate them to Member States, United Nations agencies, international organizations, researchers, staff members etc. in all three languages of the African Region.

• Edit, translate, revise, proofread, lay out/design, publish and distribute WHO/AFRO information products in English, French and Portuguese.

• Provide interpretation services during internal and other meetings of the Secretariat and regional programme in order to facilitate exchange of information.

• Provide guidance and support for publishing; assign ISBN numbers.

• Offer layout and creative graphic design work for publications, brochures, posters, etc.

• Offer printing services.