Multi-country collaborative action

SIMASHE contribute to the implementation of the 2021 World Health Assembly resolution 74.16, which calls on WHO to foster and facilitate knowledge exchange among Member States and relevant stakeholders on best practices for intersectoral action on the social, economic, and environmental determinants of health. The first four years of SIMASHE, Phase 1, laid the foundations of knowledge and partnerships, and a model of collaborative action for health equity. This SIMASHE collaboration has been instrumental in production of the WHO World Report on the Social Determinants of Health Equity and involved a coalition of countries and regions in advocacy and action (“Country Pathfinders”). Phase 1 also witnessed strengthened partnerships between core partners, WHO regions, the Pan-American Health Organization and national ministries of health and of social development and local government. Alliances with other UN agencies increased, including with the International Development Law Organization, the International Labour Organization and the UN Research Institute for Social Development.

What kind of collaborative actions have advanced health equity in SIMASHE?

The overall approach of SIMASHE focuses on having a joint action-learning approach across countries and regions, functioning as an engine for collective work. While most of the collective work takes place virtually, a first intercountry meeting for was held in March 2024.

SIMASHE’s “action-learning” approach enables its work across countries to be discussed routinely through joint virtual meetings, webinars, and reporting. Documentation for joint conferences, peer-review journals and other ad hoc events (e.g. WHO representative meetings; the launch of the world report) provides opportunities for reflection, evaluation and improvement. This learning cycle helps produce evidence of what works, and how actors and collaborators within and beyond the health sector are evolving their practices in the interests of health equity. Joint work aims also to foster support to health equity champions. In this way, action-learning serves as the foundation for both country-specific and regional efforts, as well as for collaborative work between regions; between headquarters, regions and core partners, and to bring in other initiatives and alliances. Practical implications of this joint work are the global achievements shown below.