Overview

The Nepal–WHO Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) 2023–2027 sets out how the World Health Organization will work with the country over the next five years. It is informed by the aspirations of the Nepal Health Sector – Strategic Plan 2023–2030, the Fifteenth Five-Year Plan (2019/2020–2023/2024) of the Government of Nepal, WHO global Strategic Priorities, as articulated in the Thirteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 13) with the SDG-based Triple Billion targets, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Nepal 2023–2027.

The development of the CCS 2023–2027 was led by the WHO Country Office and included consultations with senior officials from the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) of Nepal, various line ministries, provincial health authorities, health professionals, United Nations (UN) agencies and other development partners. The normative role of WHO received special attention, following the review of the recently published global and regional technical guidelines and strategies.

The evaluation and mid-term review of the CCS 2018-2022 recommended sharper focus on high-quality technical assistance to the government for advancing the universal health coverage (UHC) agenda and on support for implementation of national health policies, Strategic Priorities and technical guidance at all levels. Furthermore, it recommended strengthening the capacity of provincial and local governments to develop and use evidence-based planning and implementation to improve effectiveness and efficiency of the health system in federal context. In addition, it called for enlarging the scope of multisector engagement and partnerships to effectively address the wider determinants of health as a response to the changing disease burden in Nepal.

The four Strategic Priorities of the CCS 2023–2027 are:

1. Strengthening the federal health system with a focus on primary health care and institutional capacity-building to achieve universal health coverage, identify implementation bottlenecks and reach vulnerable and underserved populations;
2. Enhancing the national capacity for managing health security threats, using an all-hazard approach, and building resilient health systems at federal and subnational levels;
3. Harnessing the use of data, research and digital technologies for guiding health planning, innovation and monitoring of service delivery at federal, provincial and local government levels; and
4. Addressing determinants for better health outcomes through multisectoral platforms and effective partnerships.

Successful implementation of the CCS will focus on providing tailored and quality technical assistance in the context of Nepal. This will require a review of the human resource (HR) needs of the WHO Country Office to adjust to the new Strategic Priorities and thematic areas of the CCS.

WHO will continue to provide policy advice in line with its normative role, based on global standards, best practices, and analyses of health situations at national and subnational levels. The presence of WHO at the subnational level will be strengthen and primary health care remains the core component of an effective, equitable, sustainable and resilient health system and of achieving universal health coverage.

The need to address the wider determinants of health will be at the core of the policy dialogue. Proactive coordination and engagement with a range of relevant government ministries, civil society, development partners, academia, WHO collaborating centres (CCs) and private sector players, wherever required, are essential for delivering the outcomes of the CCS 2023–2027.

Considering the need to enhance the capacity of the government to manage health emergencies, disease outbreaks and natural disasters, WHO will continue its leadership and convening role of providing strategic and technical assistance to the country through institutionalizing and sustaining the functions of health emergency operation centres (HEOCs), provincial health emergency operation centres (PHEOCs) and health desks at Nepal’s entry points, and implementation of health emergency policies, guidelines, surveillance systems and information management tools.

WHO will use strategic communications to reaffirm its role as the leading and directing authority on global health, enhance public understanding of the organization’s mandate and build trust and support for its work at the country level. It will prioritize addressing the determinants of health and mainstreaming gender-, equity- and human rights-based approaches across all areas of technical support. The CCS is a commitment from the whole of WHO to focus its existing resources on national priorities and to work closely with donors, development partners and multisectoral engagement to identify and mobilize additional resources, supporting those priorities.