WHO Simulation Exercise Manual
A practical guide and tool for planning, conducting and evaluating simulation exercises for outbreaks and public health emergency preparedness and response.
Vue d’ensemble
Simulation exercises have been identified as a key component in the validation of core capacities under the IHR monitoring and evaluation framework (2016)1, which was noted by the Sixty-ninth World Health Assembly2. Simulation exercises, along with After Action Reviews (AAR), represent the functional assessment of capacities and complement the self-assessments (Annual Reporting), independent reviews, and external evaluations (Joint External Evaluation (JEE)). They play a key role in identifying the strengths and gaps in the development and implementation of preparedness and response measures.
A simulation exercise is a form of practice, training, monitoring or evaluation of capabilities involving the description or simulation of an emergency, to which a described or simulated response is made.
Simulation exercises enable people to practice their roles and functions and can help to develop, assess and test functional capabilities of emergency systems, procedures and mechanisms to respond to outbreak and public health emergencies. They are used to identify gaps and enhance preparedness capacity for response before an actual emergency occurs.
This manual provides an overview of the different simulation exercise tools and guidelines developed and used by WHO.
