A special session of the WHO Executive Board has been confirmed for 22–23 November 2017. The EBSS4 will, as only proper agenda item, discuss the draft Thirteenth Program of Work (GPW13) of the World Health Organization
WHO EBSS4: Website and documentation
WHO EBSS4 provisional agenda: EBSS/4/1 (PDF)
WHO EBSS4 invitation for NSA in official relations with WHO: EBSS NSAs English (PDF)
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Background: Consultation on the thirteenth General Programme of Work (GPW13)
“The Draft concept note towards WHO’s 13th General Programme of Work 2019–2023 posted on this page is open for comment from Monday 28 August to Friday 13 October. Comments may be made using the comment box at the foot of this page. Comments received will be posted on the WHO website and publicly available.
Article 28(g) of the WHO Constitution provides that the Executive Board will “submit to the Health Assembly for consideration and approval a general programme of work (GPW) covering a specific period.”
At the meeting with the Director-General and the Officers of the Executive Board on 31 July–1 August 2017, the Officers of the Board supported the Director-General’s recommendation that the preparation of the next GPW (GPW 13) be fast-tracked to promote resource mobilization, preparation of the Proposed Programme Budget 2020-2021 and rapid implementation of the new Director-General’s mandate from Member States. The Officers of the Board envisioned a timeline such that the Board might submit in January 2018 GPW13 for consideration and approval by the Health Assembly in May 2018.
The Officers of the Board further supported the Director-General’s recommendation that GPW13 focus on high-level policy directions, centred around the Sustainable Development Goals and in line with the Director-General’s vision and priorities, as well as other global commitments. They proposed a schedule for its development that might be feasible to attain this target, including consultation on a concept note towards the 13th GPW with Member States, regional committees, and stakeholders. A Mission Briefing in WHO headquarters outlining the timeline and schedule was also anticipated.
The draft concept note will be discussed by the six regional committees taking place between 28 August and 13 October 2017. Following the completion of regional committee meetings and the web-based consultation, the Secretariat, based on feedback received, proposes to dispatch a draft 13th General Programme of Work (GPW13) to Member States on 1 November 2017.
This draft would then be considered at a special session of the Executive Board on 22–23 November, should such a session be requested, as has been anticipated by the Officers of the Board at their meeting on 31 July–1 August.
Following the consideration of this matter at an anticipated special session of the Executive Board on 22–23 November, the Secretariat would, based on that consideration, prepare a draft 13th GPW for the 142nd session of the Executive Board in January 2018, with a view to its further consideration and submittal by the Board to the Health Assembly in May 2018 for final consideration and approval.”
Source: WHO, August 2017