Speaker Series 13 Emergency Preparedness & Response Capabilities for National Public Health Agencies

Why It Matters

A unified, evidence‑based framework equips national health agencies with the authority, resources, and accountability needed to transform pandemic lessons into actionable preparedness, strengthening global health security.

Key Takeaways

• WHO launches new capabilities framework for national health agencies
• Framework emphasizes regulations, authority, staffing, and financing foundations
• Over 120 countries consulted to shape the emergency preparedness standards
• Inter‑pandemic period identified as optimal time for capacity building
• Strong national agencies deemed essential for global health security accountability

Summary

The WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence hosted its 13th Speaker Series in Berlin to unveil a new WHO‑developed capabilities framework designed to strengthen emergency preparedness and response capacities of national public health agencies. The event, co‑hosted with the Charité’s Center for Global Health, brought together ambassadors, government partners, academia, civil society and private sector representatives from more than 50 countries, underscoring the global demand for a concrete playbook after COVID‑19 exposed critical gaps.

The framework, drafted in collaboration with the International Association of National Public Health Institutes and vetted by over 120 member states and organizations, focuses on four foundational pillars: regulatory authority, staffing, financing and technical capacity. Speakers highlighted how the pandemic revealed that robust data and analytics alone do not guarantee timely decisions; instead, clear institutional mandates and sustainable resources are essential. Dr. Chiku Ihuazu recounted his experience leading Nigeria’s NCDC, noting the absence of any reference material during the crisis and the subsequent surge in new national agencies worldwide.

Key examples included the rapid establishment of Africa CDC, the creation of the WHO Pandemic Fund, and ongoing negotiations on the pathogen‑access annex of the pandemic treaty. Dr. Ihuazu emphasized that national agencies are the linchpin for translating evidence into policy, and that the new framework will serve as a “playbook” for countries building or reforming their public‑health institutions.

The rollout promises to give ministries concrete guidance on required functions, accountability mechanisms and resource allocation, accelerating the transition from lessons learned to operational readiness. By standardizing capabilities across sovereign states, the framework aims to close preparedness gaps, bolster global health security, and ensure more coordinated responses to future health emergencies.

Original Description

The COVID-19 pandemic and other recent health emergencies revealed significant gaps in countries’ ability to prevent, prepare for, and respond to health threats. These crises showed that systems built on trust, data, and science are essential for effective action. National Public Health Agencies (NPHAs) play a critical role in strengthening emergency preparedness and response by translating insights and intelligence into effective, equitable action, while safeguarding population health, societal resilience, and economic stability.

To strengthen collective preparedness for future emergencies, WHO, in collaboration with the International Association of National Public Health Institutes (IANPHI) and other partners, led a global consultative process with over 120 countries and organizations. The process aimed to define the essential capabilities NPHAs require to lead, coordinate, and sustain health emergency functions. The resulting Framework for Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Capabilities for NPHAs reflects the collective expertise of public health leaders worldwide and provides practical guidance to strengthen NPHAs and their role for emergency preparedness and response.

Alongside the WHO guidance, this session will also showcase the IANPHI Framework for the Creation and Development of National Public Health Institutes (V2), which serves as the strategic roadmap for the structural and institutional design of these agencies. These two frameworks are intrinsically complementary. The IANPHI Framework establishes the institutional foundation by categorising the 12 Essential Public Health Functions into core, desirable, and optional national public health institute functions. The WHO Framework contributes the technical granularity necessary for effective health emergency management. Together, they align institutional development with specific emergency preparedness and response capabilities, offering a coherent and unified approach for strengthening NPHAs worldwide.

This session will highlight both frameworks, featuring insights from NPHA leaders, global partners, and technical experts. Speakers will discuss how the frameworks can be adapted across diverse national and regional contexts and translated into coordinated, actionable, system-wide, and sustainable interventions to strengthen emergency preparedness and response at national, regional and global levels.

The Speaker Series is co-hosted by the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence and the Charité Center for Global Health. More info: https://pandemichub.who.int/news-room/speaker-series