Malabo – WHO Country Office in Equatorial Guinea organized a staff retreat between the 11 – 13 November 2024, in Bata city of the Continental Region to strengthen teamwork and drive progress. The retreat provided staff members an opportunity to discuss progress, address challenges in their work, strengthen partnerships, and explore strategies for career growth and fulfillment.

In his opening remarks, Dr George Ameh, WHO Representative urged staff to leverage the retreat to resolve work challenges and renew their commitment to WHO's mandate. “I encourage staff to utilize the retreat to clarify any issues impacting their work and reaffirm their commitment to WHO's values and mission”, he said.

The retreat was organized in response to significant changes within the office, including the recent increase in staff following a functional review and the ongoing Country Presence and Capacity Programme (CPCP) exercise. It also allowed staff to review implementation challenges and progress within the framework of the Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) 2022–2026.

Sessions were led by colleagues from the WHO Regional Office for Africa, including Mr. Kizito Nsarhaza, Change Management Officer; Dr Egide Rwamatwara, Regional HR Manager; Mr. Benito Koubemba, President of the AFRO Staff Association; and Mr. Mouyele Ulricht, Stress Counselor. The sessions covered key topics such as WHO’s core values, staff motivation, human resources issues, the rational use of resources, and team building. Interactive techniques, including presentations, role-play exercises, group discussions, and social events, were used to enhance team cohesion.

“Both professionally and personally, this retreat was an extraordinary experience”, said Micael Mba Nfuru, Programme Assistant at the Country office. “The knowledge shared by our AFRO colleagues have motivated me in my quest for professional and personal development”.

The retreat concluded with positive feedback from staff, who expressed satisfaction with the sessions and the outcomes. Key recommendations included the need for regular staff retreats to follow up on action points and periodic team meetings to improve collaboration and results. 

Staff also requested in-country visits from the AFRO Stress Counselor and the Staff Health Insurance Teams to address specific concerns. Additionally, participants emphasized the importance of regular sessions to explain WHO processes to government counterparts, promoting greater alignment and understanding.