WHO Collaborating Centres (WHOCC)
Article 2(n) of the WHO Constitution assigns to WHO the function to "promote and conduct research in the field of health". It is widely recognized that the optimal way of promoting research and related activities should be through collaboration with national institutions within Member States.
A large network of "WHO Collaborating Centres" has thus evolved over the years and is being constantly updated according to the needs of the Organization's Programme, particularly in respect of its aim of providing access to health for all. It is perhaps the most formalised form of collaborating with WHO.
Within WHO, the Department of Knowledge Management and Sharing has been entrusted with the task of administering the process of formalizing the relationship between WHO and its WHO Collaborating Centres.
