WHO Country Cooperation Strategy 2020-2024

Overview

The Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) will provide broad strategic directives for WHO to work in and with the country in the priority health sector, where WHO has an advantage. This CCS will cover the period 2020–24. The main focus for this CCS are:

1. Achieve UHC through integrated people-centred quality health care services
2. Improve reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH) and healthy aging
3. Build health system resilience to address communicable diseases and effects of health emergencies and climate change
4. Address NCDs and their determinants
5. Strengthen data, research, innovation, and knowledge brokerage, providing enabling support to the other four strategies

The strategic document was developed in close consultation with stakeholders, particularly with the departments and programmes of the Ministry of Health (MoH). The CCS development process also reviewed key country and WHO documents, including the new guidelines.

This CCS is at a critical juncture of Bhutan’s development process as it prepares to graduate from LDC status by 2023. The implementation of the CCS strategic priority areas is therefore envisaged to prepare Bhutan to make tactical shifts in health policies and directions. This is required as donors and strategic development partners may reduce their support and presence in Bhutan.

Within this CCS, WHO will mainly focus on providing high-quality technical assistance and capacity building. Through its implementation, Bhutan is expected to contribute to the WHO global ‘triple billion goals’ and achieve regional targets/flagship priority areas, the General Programme of Work 13, and the SDGs.