Publications

The Transformation Agenda (TA) in the WHO African Region, which aims to ensure a WHO capable of meeting stakeholder expectations, set the stage for the review of WHO’s functions in countries. Prior to 2015, there were numerous challenges in the health sector, with Ministries of Health off-track and WHO struggling to effectively support countries to address their challenges. This presented the need for a review of WCOs, which involved visits to 47 countries, with over 300 stakeholder consultations, workshops in-country offices and surveys including up to 900 respondents. The principal objective of the Functional Reviews (FRs) was to ensure better alignment of WHO’s workforce and operations with host countries’ health situations, needs and priorities.

The results highlighted health sector priorities and key stakeholder expectations, fostering recommendations which made it necessary for country offices to change their focus and double their technical expertise. The number of both national and international experts increased by 41% and 68% respectively. The implementation saw the WHO reinforce capacities in country offices with new expertise, including Health Policy and Planning Officers (35), Programme Management Officers (38) and External Relations and Partnerships Officers (36), among others. The improved capacities, in combination with other actions, resulted in strengthened coordination and leadership, reinforced partnerships and external relations, improved technical leadership and support, enhanced planning, monitoring and evaluation and better management practices to drive performance among others.