WHO’s Executive Board approves 2025 Evaluation Policy to Strengthen Accountability and Evidence-Based Health Governance
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Institutions: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
At its 157th session, the WHO Executive Board approved a revised Organization-wide Evaluation Policy (2025), replacing the 2018 version. The updated policy strengthens accountability, transparency, organizational learning, and evidence-based decision-making across all levels. Grounded in a 2024 independent comparative review and guidance from expert oversight committees, it enhances evaluation independence, credibility, and stakeholder engagement.
The policy aligns with WHO’s Fourteenth General Programme of Work (2025–2028) and establishes, for the first time, minimum evaluation coverage norms, a biennial evaluation workplan, and earmarked resourcing - up to 1 percent of the programme budget - to fund evaluations. It also embeds ethical standards, disability inclusion, and human rights considerations.
Follow-up actions include regional evaluation frameworks, integration with budget and operational planning, and development of the 2026–2027 Organisation-wide evaluation workplan.
Relevant question for policy stakeholders: How can India’s health governance ecosystem incorporate similar evaluation policies - ensuring independent, well-resourced reviews - to enhance transparency, learning, and effectiveness in national health programmes?
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