France and WHO set the course for their global health partnership

6 November 2019
Departmental update
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High level representatives from WHO and France met today to shape their cooperation in global health for the next six-year period (2020-2025). Leading the delegations were Deputy Director-General for WHO, Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab and HE. M. François Rivasseau, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations Office at Geneva. The conversation builds on France’s strong commitment to global health, as evident through the Declaration of Intent for the WHO Academy1, their commitment to Sahel countries during their G7 presidency and the hosting of the Global Fund Replenishment in 2019.  

The new framework agreement is expected to include programming that will strengthen Primary Health Care to achieve Universal Health Coverage, protect populations from emergencies and from risk factors related to noncommunicable diseases like alcohol, tobacco, air pollution and others. These joint strategic priorities are aligned with WHO’s 13th General Programme of Work, agreed by all Member States earlier this year. The agreement will also recognize the cooperation between WHO and France towards the development of the WHO Academy.

French delegates added value and insight in their areas of expertise from the Ministries of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Solidarities and Health, and Higher Education, Research and Innovation. While representatives from the WHO regional offices of Africa and Europe also joined the discussion to present current projects and results. The six-year framework agreement is built on the principles of enhanced accountability and predictability from both sides that will ultimately strengthen WHO as the leader in global health.
1Earlier this year, WHO and France signed a Declaration of Intent to reach millions of people with innovative learning via a digital learning platform, with a hub in Lyon and embedded in all six WHO regions.