1 Introduction

1.1 Background

In order to achieve the highest attainable standard of health and well-being for all, we are reliant on sound, responsible, transparent and coordinated international cooperation. We cannot tackle global challenges alone .

The World Health Organization (WHO) is the UN’s specialised agency for health. It is the world’s leading global health organisation and relevant for all Member States. WHO is the arena at which political solutions to shared health challenges are developed. It issues norms and standards, leads and coordinates the world’s response to health crises, and provides technical support to national authorities. WHO plays an important role as a normative, globally cooperative, development-oriented, and humanitarian actor.

In 2015, the world’s heads of state adopted the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs). WHO’s primary task is to work towards SDG 3: good health and well-being for all. The 17 SDGs, which are relevant to every country in the world, provide a framework for development and cooperation on global challenges. The goals are integrated, linking the environment, the economy and social development. Health, quality of life and reducing inequalities are central to the SDGs.

Norway has a seat on the WHO Executive Board (EB) from May 2024 to May 2027. The Norwegian Board Member is the Secretary General of the Ministry of Health and Care Services. Some of WHO’s areas of work are also relevant to Norwegian foreign and development policy. Norway’s effort in WHO must therefore be coordinated with other Norwegian UN policies and policies for other multilateral organisations, global arenas, and at the regional and country level. The Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with appropriate agencies, prepared this strategy for Norway’s term on WHO Executive Board.

1.2 Purpose

The purpose of this strategy is to define overall objectives, messages and priorities for Norway’s WHO work during the term of the Executive Board. The strategy forms the basis for a clear and consistent Norwegian policy that will underpin Norway’s engagement with the WHO, towards other UN organisations and in other global arenas, as well as in dialogue with other countries.

1.3 Objectives

Common objectives in all UN organisations

Norway has general objectives which are common to its work on the boards of any UN organisations.

Most relevant to Norway’s membership of the WHO Executive Board are:

• Support the multilateral system, the recognition and further realisation of UN standards and norms. Norway’s role as a bridge-builder is central to this.
• Contribute to the efficient use of resources and facilitate cooperation between the various organisations in the multilateral system.
• Ensure that the organisations deliver and document the results of their activities.
• Ensure that the cross-cutting elements underpinning use of development funds are taken into account, namely human rights, climate and environment, women’s rights, gender equality, and anti-corruption.
• Ensure that the organisations have oversight systems that meet international standards (financial controls, auditing, warning systems, independent evaluation, transparency, etc.).
• Ensure that the organisations have the expertise and capacity they need to fulfil their mandates, and management to support this.

Overarching goal for Norway’s engagement with WHO

Norway’s overarching goal during the term on the Board is to support WHO’s work on the SDG for health.

Norway’s efforts will be based on principles including the importance of the multilateral system, respect for international law, promotion of human rights, gender equality and combating inequality and poverty. The right to health and wellbeing, gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as the right to assistance for vulnerable populations – including in humanitarian crises – are especially important.