WHO partners with a variety of governmental and non-governmental actors to respond to challenges across the Region. Developing strong partnerships allows us to leverage the strengths of a range of global health players to bring better health to the people of the Region. 

WHO’s partners have diverse backgrounds. They include Member States, United Nations agencies, international organizations, non-state actors, and individuals.

Non-state actors play an increasingly important role in global health. They include non-governmental organizations, private sector entities, philanthropic foundations, and academic institutions. WHO continually seeks to strengthen its engagement with non-state actors, while protecting its work from potential risks such as conflict of interest, reputational risks, and undue influence. Additionally, WHO may grant “official relations” status to those non-state actors that have had and continue to have a sustained and systematic engagement in the interest of the Organization.

WHO’s engagement with this group is governed by the Framework of Engagement with non-State Actors (FENSA), endorsed during the 69th session of the World Health Assembly.