Evaluation of Global Health Days 2019–2023: Executive summary

Overview

WHO's mandate includes raising awareness about global health issues and mobilizing support for action globally, regionally and nationally. One strategy in this effort is the observance of Global Health Days and Weeks, which serve as campaigns to highlight priority health concerns. WHO leads and supports these campaigns, some of which are mandated by the World Health Assembly or United Nations bodies, while others are initiated by non-State actors.

This evaluation served both accountability and learning purposes by assessing WHO’s planning and management of Global Health Days, their contribution to visible changes between 2019 and 2024, and opportunities for improvement. It found that while the campaigns remain relevant and have strengthened visibility, partnerships and advocacy, their impact is constrained by challenges in prioritization, coordination, resource allocation and outcome measurement. The evaluation recommends strengthening strategic prioritization, coordination, monitoring and evaluation, partnerships, and sustainable resourcing to enhance the effectiveness and long-term impact of Global Health Days.