WHO Learning Strategy

The purpose of the WHO Learning Strategy is to create a culture that establishes the norm of lifelong learning in public health, removing barriers to learning and promoting excellence to improve people’s health using the most effective education standards and adult learning know-how. It will propose a framework and approach by WHO on learning and training for its own workforce, as well as how it will support learning externally, across diverse sectors, for the achievement of global, national and individual health goals, to ensure people achieve the best levels of health possible.

The Strategy is a reference for any institution or Member State which aspires to support lifelong learning in the health workforce and others who contribute to the achievement of health goals. It is expected to, amongst other things, contribute to the work of the WHO Academy when it becomes operational and shape how WHO approaches learning, education and training.

The current approaches to learning, education and training of the health workforce, personnel from other sectors who contribute to health and health volunteers are outdated, do not use the best learning science, and often do not take onto account that all personnel need lifelong learning in health. Continued professional education and development is limited to a few high-status professions and are not equitably available where they are most needed in low- and middle-income countries. This means that global and national ambitions to meet goals for health, such as the Sustainable Development Goal 3, are unlikely to be met. In the current situation, 95% of countries are on target NOT to meet SDG3. The fourth industrial revolution that we are currently experiencing not only provide unprecedented and fast evolution in digital technology and biotechnology, but also requires millions of personnel to continuously learn new knowledge and skills and to upskill themselves even if they remain in the same jobs, especially in health. Training and education in health require lifelong learning but using approaches that everyone can benefit from it.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted that despite the massive investment and training in the health sector, competencies and capacities have not been adequately transferred to health workforce and others. A global strategy, based on evidence and science, tapping into the massive digital and social innovation that are hallmark of the current era, and framing the contribution of learning to the future of public health, is both needed and relevant.

Within the World Health Organization, the proposed WHO Academy will be facilitating and monitoring the implementation of the Strategy. 

Member States and any institution or organization that wants to modernize its learning, education and training activities so that health objectives are met can use this Strategy as a guide or reference to build its own action plans.

The WHO Learning Strategy is currently being drafted and it will be subject to internal reviews within WHO and external, expert consultations, before being published, in quarter 2 2021.

The WHO Learning Strategy will guide WHO’s approach to learning in health to accelerate the achievement of global, national and individual health goals ensuring rights, equity and quality; harnessing the potential of digital technologies; and using adult learning and behavioural change know-how. The Learning Strategy will not replace academic and other formal training of public health professionals but will supplement it instead. It will outline a unified approach that is both modern and futuristic for the lifelong learning of the health workforce, public health personnel, health emergency workforce and volunteers and the public who want to strengthen their own health literacy and agency for health. Institutions.

The WHO Learning Strategy is being developed by a dedicated team, within the WHO Academy. WHO is covering the limited costs, but many experts, institutions, UN agencies and volunteers are helping for free the development of the Strategy.

An online consultation on the draft strategy is planned in March and April 2021. Please, visit our webpage to get the latest news and updates about the development process (https://www.who.int/about/who-academy/learning-strategy://www.who.int/about/who-academy/learning-strategy).