NGO Research Guide

World Health Organization (WHO) and NGOs

Civil Society Initiative (CSI): The World Health Organization (WHO) has a long and rich history of working with nongovernmental organizations. The objectives of WHO's relations with NGOs are to promote the policies, strategies and activities of WHO and, where appropriate, to collaborate with NGOs in jointly agreed activities to implement them. WHO may also seek to harmonize intersectoral interests among various sectoral bodies concerned in a country, regional or global setting.

NGO's and Health: Evolving concepts about health and the articulation of its links to poverty, equity and development have recently widened the range of WHO’s partners. No longer the domain of medical specialists, health work now involves politicians, economists, lawyers, communicators, social scientists and ordinary people everywhere. The involvement of civil society has profoundly affected not only the concepts underpinning public health but the formulation and implentation of public health programmes and policies as well. Nongovernmental organizations and other civil society actors have engaged with WHO to implement health programmes at country level, made outreach to remote areas and populations possible, advocated public health issues to a broad audience, addressed sensitive issues and worked in alliance with WHO to raise funds more effectively.

Last modified October 25, 2007 9:31:07 AM EDT