93.099: Collaboration With the World Health Organization and its Regional Offices for Global Health Security and the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005)

93.099

Active

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [HHS]

Sept. 6, 2022

Sept. 6, 2022

On September 19, 2011, the Government of the United States of America and the World Health Organization (WHO) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to help WHO Member States strengthen their capabilities to support the International Health Regulations (IHR), an international agreement that requires Member States to prevent and respond to acute public health risks that have the potential to cross borders. The MOU includes specific statements that authorize WHO and its regional offices to pursue activities that improve the ability of all nations to detect, report, and respond to infectious diseases quickly and accurately. The purpose is to assist WHO in implementing the MOU regarding the International Health Regulations, including the development and implementation of coordinated plans and networks that enable national governments and regional authorities globally to better address infectious diseases, particularly emerging infections. Specific activities will focus on improving infectious disease surveillance and response; enhancing knowledge generation, innovation, and tools for improved management that build public health infrastructure and strengthen regional health leadership and collaboration; sharing knowledge, tools and other resources in support of applied epidemiology; and developing improved infectious disease surveillance, prevention and control strategies.

B - Cooperative Agreements

Only the World Health Organization and its regional offices are eligible to apply. For purposes of this document, the term “WHO” includes its regional offices (e.g., PAHO, EMRO, AFRO, SEARO, etc). WHO is the only international and intergovernmental agency qualified to conduct activities under this cooperative agreement because: • WHO is an international public health agency that works to improve health and living standards globally. WHO is part of the United Nations system. As such, WHO has a unique position among the world’s health agencies as the lead technical agency for health globally. For additional information, please see http://www.who.org • WHO and its Regional Offices are at the apex of global public health organizations and thus have an exclusive status as the United States government’s key partners for global public health. • On September 19, 2011, the Government of the United States of America and the World Health Organization signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to help developing nations strengthen their capabilities to support the International Health Regulations (IHR). The IHR (2005) is an international agreement that requires WHO Member States to prevent and respond to acute public health risks that have the potential to cross borders and threaten people worldwide. The U.S. Government and WHO share a commitment to strengthen cooperation in the area of global health security to ensure that the international community effectively manages public health risks. Improving the ability of all nations to detect, report, and respond to infectious diseases quickly and accurately lies at the heart of the global community’s ability to address all infectious disease threats, as reflected in the IHR. The MOU establishes a framework for collaboration in line with the provisions set forth in the IHR, which provides a construct for coordinating the management of actions in the event of a public health emergency of international concern. The MOU was signed by Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Department of Health and Human Services, and Director-General Margaret Chan, World Health Organization, and subsequently by Ambassador Betty E. King, United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva. The full text of the MOU can be accessed at: http://www.globalhealth.gov/global-health-topics/health-diplomacy/agreements-and-regulations/20110922-mem.html. • The MOU includes the following specific statements that support sole-source consideration of WHO and its regional offices (including PAHO) for funding activities that fall under the scope of the MOU: Section 8.a.: “The United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) continues to serve as the primary substantive interface with WHO on global health and health security. DHHS plans to ensure coordination with other U.S. Government departments, agencies, and entities that collaborate on health matters within the scope of this Memorandum to enhance the effectiveness of such activities. The U.S. Government agencies intend to develop programs and provide funds through mechanisms that may be determined jointly by the U.S. Government agency and WHO.” Section 8.b.: “Specific funding mechanisms are intended to be developed and U.S. Government agencies intend to collaborate with WHO to define specific work to be undertaken by the Participants and the division of responsibilities.”

The World Health Organization and its regional offices work will benefit individuals worldwide, including in the U.S., through collaboration with National Ministries of Health and other organizations/institutions. The purpose is to support WHO to reduce the global disease burden through improved international capacity to detect, respond to, prevent and control infectious diseases and other threats.

93.283 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Investigations and Technical Assistance

93.818 - Support to the World Health Organization (WHO) for Response to the Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in Western Africa

https://sam.gov/fal/e0cd30d627d64d9b91624ccc9eed3ccc/view