The WHO Benchmarks for International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) Capacities was first published in 2019 and serves as a capacity-building tool and reference document to guide development/updating of country health security plans, including the national action plan for health security (NAPHS). It is now updated to a second edition which incorporates lessons learned from recent health emergencies, as well as alignment with updated IHRMEF tools, the HEPR framework, the WHO Director-General’s ten proposals to build a safer world together, and to build back better through multi-hazard and whole-of-society approaches to support better preparedness for future emergencies. Over 250 relevant technical leads contributed to this edition, by providing inputs from WHO regional offices, countries, partners and participation in global consultation meetings. The second edition is titled “WHO Benchmarks for Strengthening Health Emergency Capacities: Support for the Implementation of International Health Regulations (IHR) and Health Emergency Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Resilience (HEPR) Capacities”. WHO benchmarks are further digitalized for easy and quick use, along with a reference library, which is currently being updated. The audience for this document includes WHO Member States, health ministries and other relevant ministries, healthstakeholders, partners, nongovernmental organizations and academia to support building capacities at the country level.

This guidance document aims to support leaders, policy-makers and decision makers in both national and local authorities, who work on strengthening health emergency preparedness in cities and urban settings. Building on the key aspects that authorities should consider it proposes possible actions and approaches, that when adapted to different local contexts, will contribute to enhanced prevention, preparedness, and readiness for health emergencies in cities and urban settings for a robust response and eventual recovery. It supplements other existing WHO guidance and tools on urban preparedness, in particular the WHO Framework for Strengthening health emergency preparedness in cities and urban settings.

The World Health Organization (WHO) held its second global technical consultation on public health and social measures (PHSM) during health emergencies from 21 to 23 November 2023 to accelerate the use of PHSM as essential countermeasures for epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention. The meeting brought together 87 experts from various sectors in more than 30 countries, representing Member States and academia, as well as civil society and international organizations. During the consultation, experts identified critical initial actions to be taken by decision-makers, researchers and communities to facilitate a timely, equitable and context-specific PHSM response to outbreaks of infectious diseases with epidemic and pandemic potential. The resulting compendium encompasses critical initial actions on PHSM for viruses carried by the Aedes mosquito, zoonotic spillover, and novel respiratory viruses with pandemic potential. Experts noted the urgency to advance the more systematic integration of PHSM into existing emergency preparedness and response frameworks. The strategic positioning of PHSM as critical countermeasures alongside vaccines, therapeutics and other medical countermeasures will increase the recognition of their complementary roles in the fight against epidemics and pandemics. The conclusions of the consultation underscore the need for maintaining political and strategic focus on PHSM to maximize their full potential in saving lives and protecting the livelihoods of affected communities during future health emergencies.

The risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) competency framework is a resource that details the essential behaviours and activities necessary for effective communication and engagement with communities before, during and after public health emergencies. The purpose of this framework is to establish and promote a common understanding of behavioural competencies and how they should be applied for high-performing and community-centred health emergency programmes. It is intended to support the development of standardized training programmes, professional development and talent acquisition and to enhance the capabilities of public health professionals involved in RCCE. Its goal is to inform the establishment of a skilled, well-trained RCCE workforce that consistently understands and executes the necessary behaviours and activities required to conduct RCCE activities with competence and professionalism.

The guidance is to support countries in achieving alignment of disease/hazard plans and emergency preparedness and response plans with broader health security planning such as National Action Plans for Health Security (NAPHS). The target audience is WHO Member States, technical teams and partners that require support to effectively align disease and hazard-specific planning with broader health security planning in order to address current health emergency risks while building longer-term health emergency preparedness capacities.

Modernizing Global Health Security to Prevent, Detect, and Respond explores—through thoughtful, thorough, and diverse scientific review and analyses—factors that have led to recent public health emergencies and offers a vision for a better protected global environment. The authors consider the history of global health security, governance, and legal structures with an eye toward novel approaches for the present and future. The book presents a vision for a more protected and safer global public health future (with the actions needed to achieve it) to prevent, detect, and respond to (re)emerging threats. Its aim is to chart a way forward with the understanding that future pandemics must and can be prevented. Major topics examined from a public health perspective include global health security; the growing concept of One Health; epidemic and pandemic prevention, detection, and response; reviews of past (e.g., Ebola, MERS-CoV, Zika, and COVID-19) public health emergencies of international concern; roles of information and communication technology; humanmade public health threats; and legal and ethical issues (e.g., viral sovereignty, trust, and transparency). Modernizing Global Health Security to Prevent, Detect, and Respond provides the academic substance and quality for researchers and practitioners to deeply understand the why of health emergencies, and most importantly—what we can and should do now to prepare. - Highlights (re)emerging past and future threats to public health (e.g., climate change, antibiotic resistance, failures of societal sectors to work together) - Discusses new visions for global health security in each chapter - Considers how to leverage technological innovations to advance public health - Includes practical examples through case studies from around the world