About WHO

Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee for the WHO Health Emergencies Programme

The Director-General has established an Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee for the WHO Health Emergencies Programme (IOAC), to provide oversight and monitoring of the development and performance of the Programme and to guide the Programme’s activities.

The Committee will advise the Director-General on issues within its mandate, and will report its findings through the WHO Executive Board to the World Health Assembly.

Terms of reference

The main functions of IOAC:

  • Assess the performance of the key functions in health emergencies.
  • Determine the appropriateness and adequacy of financing and resourcing.
  • Provide advice to the Director-General.
  • Review reports on WHO’s actions in health emergencies.
  • Review reports on the state of health security developed by the Director-General for submission to the World Health Assembly through the Executive Board and to the United Nations General Assembly.
  • Prepare an annual report on its activities, conclusions, recommendations.

Meetings & field visits

Twenty second meeting of the Committee

7-8 November 2019

Field visits in Turkey

2-6 November 2019

Twenty first meeting of the Committee

18 September 2019

IOAC thematic report commissioned by the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board

2018 – 2019

Field visits in the Democratic of the Republic of Congo

24 April – 2 May 2019

Membership

The Committee consists of 7 members drawn from national governments, NGOs, the UN system, with extensive experience in broad range of disciplines. Members serve in their personal capacity and will exercise their responsibilities with full regard for the paramount importance of independence.

Current members: