SEA/RC67/3 - Framework of engagement with non-State actors

Abstract

As part of WHO reform, the Governing Bodies requested the Director-General to develop an overarching framework for engagement with non-State actors as well as separate policies on WHO’s engagement with different groups of non-State actors. Based on the inputs received from debates at the meetings of governing bodies and consultations, the Secretariat submitted to the Sixty-seventh World Health Assembly a draft framework for engagement with non-State actors. The draft overaching framework applies to all WHO’s engagement with non-State actors and provides the rationale, principles and boundaries of such enagement. The Sixty-seventh World Health Assembly decided that the regional committees should discuss the draft framework of engagement with non-State actors as well as consider the comprehensive report of the comments made by Member States and the follow-up comments and questions raised, including clarification and response thereon from the Secretariat. It requested the regional committees to submit a report on their deliberations to the Sixty-eighth World Health Assembly, through the Executive Board. The High-Level Preparatory (‎HLP)‎ Meeting held in the Regional Office in New Delhi from 14 to 17 July 2014 reviewed the attached working paper and made the following recommendations: Action by Member States (‎1)‎ Information on concerns about the proposed draft Framework for non-State Actors should be shared among Member States. (‎2)‎ Member States should share their inputs on the draft Framework for non-State Actors before the intersessional meeting to be organized by the Regional Office in August 2014. Action by the WHO Regional Office (‎1)‎ A three-day meeting of all Member States in the Region should be convened – preferably in August 2014 – to prepare for the discussions to take place at the Sixty-seventh Session of the Regional Committee for a decision on follow-up action. The meeting should provide a set of recommendations to the Regional Committee for consideration and subsequent submission to WHO headquarters, reflecting the changes recommended by the Member States of the Region in the proposed Framework and associated policies/operational procedures. (‎2)‎ The Secretariat should facilitate the discussion at the August meeting by preparing a consolidated paper on comments, questions and clarifications raised by all Member States of WHO (‎including from other Regions)‎ that is incorporated into the draft Framework, and share the same with Member States in advance. The working paper and HLP recommendations are submitted to the Sixty-seventh Session of the Regional Committee for its consideration.