WHO strategic Framework for effective communications

World Health Organization

28 Oct 2017

WHO strategic Framework for effective communications

Effective, integrated and coordinated communications are integral to achieve WHO’s goal of building a healthier future and deliver on WHO’s mission to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable. This Framework describes a strategic approach for effectively communicating WHO information, advice and guidance across a broad range of health issues: from chronic diseases to emerging and novel risks.

WHO has made a significant investment to meet the growing need for information, advice and guidance for its key audiences. A strategic approach is presented here as a framework of principles for effective practice that apply to the full range of communications functions. It reflects inputs from WHO communicators across WHO’s country, regional and headquarters offices. Tactics and planning questions are proposed, to help design communications plans and develop communications products.

The Framework is intended propose principles and tactics that be applied by communicators developing specific regional, disease-focused, or events-based strategies, so that their communications are actionable, accessible, relevant, timely, understandable, and credible. It is a resource and reference, designed for continuous update as advised by WHO leadership and as needed in view of changing audiences’ needs and challenges.