French Government & World Health Organization strengthens partnership

High-level representatives from the French government and WHO gathered virtually for their annual strategic dialogue, which took stock of collaboration in 2020 and discussed key joint priorities for collaboration for 2021.  

The objective was to agree on specific ways to enhance cooperation and a road map around key areas: the WHO Academy, health emergencies preparedness and response, including COVID-19 response, investing in resilient health systems, particularly through primary health care and multilateralism in health with a strengthened WHO as the leader in global health. 

“Today France and WHO are joining forces on top health priorities that deepens, even more, their already existing partnership,” said Jane Ellison, WHO Executive Director for External Relations and Governance.  

“We are honoured to count France among our top contributors and strong supporters in all circumstances,” Ellison said.  

The meeting also held strong on the next steps for the WHO Academy, a WHO Director-General’s special priority initiative, supported by France.  

The WHO Academy, described as the world’s largest and most innovative lifelong learning platform in global health, will offer high-tech learning environments at a “hub” in Lyon.  

The academy aims to reach 10 million learners around the world by 2023 and is posed to be a game-changer for lifelong learning in health and will help reach WHO’s “triple billion” goal. 

Other health topics such as the role of the International Health Regulations (IHR), the future of the WHO Lyon Office, the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator’s progress- a global collaboration initiated by WHO, France and other partners and primary health care-centred universal health coverage were discussed. 

The meeting was also an opportunity for France to stress the importance of reinforced multilateralism and its support for the essential role WHO plays in providing a coordinated response to global health challenges. 

The annual strategic dialogue comes at a time when French Government has reaffirmed its strong commitment and leadership in global health with three key announcements this year: 1) the launch of the ACT-Accelerator initiative by President Emmanuel Macron, WHO and partners to support the development and equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments and vaccines ;2) an additional contribution of 50 million euros to steer the ACT-Accelerator initiative through WHO to intensify the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic for 2020-2021 and; 3) the launch of a High-level Council of experts moving forward with the One Health approach to strengthen prevention and preparedness for emerging zoonotic diseases.