The WHO Fourteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 14): Six Strategic Objectives
The Fourteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 14) serves as the high-level roadmap for the World Health Organization and its 194 Member States from 2025 to 2028. Grounded in the mission to Promote, Provide, and Protect health, this strategy aims to save 40 million lives by refocusing global efforts on the most pressing challenges of our time.
The 6 Strategic Objectives of GPW 14
These objectives represent the core priorities for the four-year period. They are designed to move beyond traditional disease silos and address health through a holistic, system-wide approach.
| Pillar | Strategic Objective (SO) | Focus Area |
| PROMOTE | SO 1: Respond to Climate Change | Addressing the escalating health threat of the 21st century by building climate-resilient and low-carbon health systems. |
| PROMOTE | SO 2: Address Health Determinants | Tackling the root causes of ill health (social, economic, environmental) through health-in-all-policies across sectors. |
| PROVIDE | SO 3: Advance Primary Health Care | Strengthening the PHC approach as the foundation for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and health security. |
| PROVIDE | SO 4: Improve Service Coverage | Expanding access to quality services and ensuring financial protection to reduce gender and health inequalities. |
| PROTECT | SO 5: Prevent and Prepare for Risks | Proactively mitigating and preparing for health risks from all hazards, including pandemics and environmental shifts. |
| PROTECT | SO 6: Rapidly Detect and Respond | Ensuring an effective and sustained response to all health emergencies to protect lives and livelihoods. |
The Goal: Achieving the Triple Billion Targets
GPW 14 is the final push toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By achieving these six objectives, the WHO aims to ensure that by the end of 2028:
6 Billion people enjoy better health and well-being.
5 Billion people benefit from universal health coverage.
7 Billion people are better protected from health emergencies.
From Strategy to Impact
This objective-led framework is supported by "Powering" and "Performing" enablers. Powering refers to the use of science, data, and innovation (such as the 100 Core Indicators), while Performing focuses on an optimized, efficiently managed, and sustainably financed WHO Secretariat.
The WHO Fourteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 14): Strategic Flagships
The World Health Organization (WHO) has structured its current strategic period under the Fourteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 14), covering 2025–2028. This framework is designed to accelerate progress toward the Triple Billion targets—aiming for 6 billion people to enjoy better health, 5 billion to benefit from universal coverage, and 7 billion to be better protected from emergencies.
Under GPW 14, the WHO utilizes Strategic Flagship Initiatives as high-impact vehicles for change, governed by a standardized data architecture.
What is GPW 14?
The Fourteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 14) is the World Health Organization’s global health strategy for 2025–2028. Adopted at the 77th World Health Assembly, its mission is to Promote, Provide, and Protect health by saving 40 million lives through six strategic objectives, including a historic focus on climate change, health equity, and resilient primary healthcare systems.
Global Benchmark: The 100 Core Health Indicators Flagship
The Global Reference List of 100 Core Health Indicators is the standard diagnostic tool used to monitor national health trends. It ensures accountability for all strategic programs by categorizing metrics into four primary domains.
| Indicator Domain | Core Focus Area | No. of Core Indicators | Primary Monitoring Purpose |
| Health Status | Mortality & Morbidity | 22 Indicators | Tracking life expectancy and total disease burden. |
| Risk Factors | Behaviors & Environment | 24 Indicators | Monitoring tobacco use, nutrition, and air quality. |
| Service Coverage | Access to Care | 38 Indicators | Evaluating immunization reach and treatment success. |
| Health Systems | Infrastructure & Finance | 16 Indicators | Measuring workforce density and financial protection. |
The Threefold Mission of GPW 14
The GPW 14 provides the roadmap to save 40 million lives by 2028 through its core mission:
Promote Health: Addressing the root causes of disease, focusing on the health-climate nexus and commercial determinants.
Provide Health: Strengthening health systems through the Primary Health Care (PHC) approach to reach universal coverage.
Protect Health: Rapidly detecting and responding to health emergencies, ensuring no one is left behind during crises.
Strategic Mapping: GPW 14 Flagships and Operational Metrics
Each Flagship Initiative is officially mapped to the "Core 100" to provide high-level visibility, while thousands of Supporting Metrics (Metadata) allow for granular tracking.
| Flagship Initiative Name | Core Strategic Focus | Core Metrics (The 100) | Supporting Metrics (The Thousands) |
| UHC Partnership Flagship | Primary Health Care (PHC) | 38 (Service Coverage) | 800+ (Facility-level metadata) |
| Health Emergencies Flagship | Preparedness & IHR | 16 (Health Systems) | 500+ (State Party Assessments) |
| Science & Innovation Flagship | mRNA & AI Ethics | 12 (Health Systems) | 150+ (Tech Transfer logs) |
| Climate & Health Flagship | Env. Resilience | 24 (Risk Factors) | 300+ (Climate vulnerability data) |
| Youth & Equity Flagship | Social Determinants | 22 (Health Status) | 200+ (Disaggregated equity data) |
The Path Forward: Data-Driven Equity
In 2026, the WHO is prioritizing Subnational Inequality Monitoring. By aligning the 100 Core Health Indicators with these GPW 14 Flagship initiatives at the local level, the organization ensures that resources are invested precisely where they will yield the highest impact.
The Global Reference List: 100 Core Health Indicators
The World Health Organization (WHO) utilizes the Global Reference List of 100 Core Health Indicators as the definitive standard for health monitoring. This list was developed to streamline global reporting, reducing the burden on Member States by prioritizing a consolidated set of metrics that provide a clear picture of national and global health trends.
Architecture of the 100 Core Indicators
The indicators are structured into four distinct analytical domains. This hierarchy allows for a comprehensive assessment of everything from individual well-being to the financial stability of national health sectors.
| Indicator Domain | Primary Focus Area | No. of Core Indicators | Strategic Purpose |
| Health Status | Mortality & Morbidity | 22 Indicators | Tracks life expectancy and the burden of diseases. |
| Risk Factors | Behaviors & Environment | 24 Indicators | Monitors tobacco, nutrition, and environmental risks. |
| Service Coverage | Access to Care | 38 Indicators | Evaluates the reach of vaccines and essential services. |
| Health Systems | Infrastructure & Finance | 16 Indicators | Tracks workforce density and financial protection. |
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Technical Layers
While the 100 Core Health Indicators represent the primary "Flagship" of WHO's data strategy, the organization manages data across two distinct layers to ensure both high-level accountability (KPIs) and technical precision:
The Core Layer (Global KPIs): These are the globally recognized "Headline Indicators." They act as the primary KPIs for the WHO's Triple Billion targets, providing a concise summary of national health trends for international comparison.
The Technical Layer (Supporting Metrics): Beneath the core 100 lies an architecture of thousands of Output and Outcome Metadata Indicators. These provide the granular data points—such as specific hospital facility metrics or regional disease surveillance—that allow technical teams to implement changes on the ground.
Examples of Core KPIs by Domain
| Domain | Example Core KPI | Measurement Goal |
| Health Status | Maternal Mortality Ratio | Reduce deaths per 100,000 live births (SDG 3.1.1). |
| Risk Factors | Prevalence of Stunting | Measure malnutrition in children under 5 (SDG 2.2.1). |
| Service Coverage | UHC Service Coverage Index | Average coverage of essential tracer interventions (SDG 3.8.1). |
| Health Systems | Health Worker Density | Number of physicians/nurses per 10,000 population. |
| Domain | Indicator Name | What it Measures |
| Health Status | 1. Maternal Mortality Ratio | Deaths per 100,000 live births. |
| (Outcomes) | 2. Under-five Mortality Rate | Deaths per 1,000 live births. |
| 3. Life Expectancy at Birth | Average number of years a newborn is expected to live. | |
| 4. TB Incidence Rate | Number of new TB cases per 100,000 people per year. | |
| 5. NCD Mortality | Probability of dying between ages 30–70 from cancer/diabetes/CVD. | |
| Risk Factors | 6. Stunting Prevalence | Percentage of children under 5 with low height-for-age. |
| (Behaviors) | 7. Tobacco Use Prevalence | Percentage of population (15+) currently using tobacco. |
| 8. Obesity Prevalence | Percentage of adults with a Body Mass Index (BMI) $\ge 30$. | |
| 9. Air Pollution | Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in cities. | |
| 10. Safely Managed Water | % of population using safely managed drinking water services. | |
| Service Coverage | 11. Antenatal Care Coverage | % of women attended at least 4 times by a provider during pregnancy. |
| (Interventions) | 12. Immunization (DTP3) | % of one-year-olds who received three doses of DTP vaccine. |
| 13. TB Treatment Success | % of new TB cases successfully treated. | |
| 14. HIV Viral Suppression | % of people on ART who have suppressed viral loads. | |
| 15. Hypertension Control | % of people with hypertension whose blood pressure is managed. | |
| Health Systems | 16. Health Worker Density | Number of medical doctors and nurses per 10,000 people. |
| (Infrastructure) | 17. Health Facility Density | Number of health facilities per 100,000 population. |
| 18. Out-of-Pocket (OOP) | Share of total health spending paid directly by households. | |
| 19. Birth Registration | % of children under 5 whose births are legally registered. | |
| 20. Surgical Volume | Number of surgical procedures performed per 100,000 people. |
Data Standardization and the "Triple Billion"
The 100 Core Indicators serve as the technical backbone for the WHO's Triple Billion targets. This framework aims to measure global progress toward:
1 Billion more people enjoying better health and well-being.
1 Billion more people benefiting from universal health coverage.
1 Billion more people better protected from health emergencies.
By standardizing these metrics, the WHO enables Subnational Inequality Monitoring. This allows countries to look beyond national averages and identify exactly which districts or populations are being left behind, ensuring that health interventions are equitable and reach those in greatest need.
The UHC Partnership Flagship: Strategic Delivery of Health for All
The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Partnership is the World Health Organization's primary operational vehicle for strengthening health systems globally. As a central "Flagship" initiative, it translates high-level global commitments into tangible national results, currently providing technical assistance and catalytic funding to over 125 Member States. Its core mandate is to ensure that all individuals can access the quality health services they need without suffering financial hardship.
The Foundation: Primary Health Care (PHC)
The UHC Partnership operates on the principle that Primary Health Care is the most effective and equitable pathway to universal coverage. By prioritizing community-based services, the flagship aims to deliver up to 90% of essential health interventions—ranging from maternal care to chronic disease management—through a single, integrated system.
The UHC Metric Architecture: Indicators and KPIs
To ensure accountability and measure impact, the UHC Partnership utilizes a rigorous hierarchy of metrics. While it is fully aligned with the 100 Core Health Indicators, it prioritizes specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to track the "Service Coverage" and "Financial Protection" of populations.
| Measurement Level | Metric Focus | No. of Indicators | Role in the Flagship |
| Global KPI | SDG 3.8.1: Service Coverage Index | 1 Index (14 Tracers) | The "Headline" score for national progress. |
| Financial KPI | SDG 3.8.2: Financial Protection | 1 Indicator | Tracks catastrophic health spending by households. |
| Core Domain | Service Coverage Indicators | 38 Core Indicators | Standardized metrics for RMNCH, TB, and HIV. |
| Technical Metadata | Output & Facility Metrics | 800+ Indicators | Granular data used for facility-level planning. |
| Category | Indicator Name | UHC Strategic Importance |
| Service Coverage | 1. UHC Service Coverage Index | The "Headline" KPI tracking 14 essential health tracers. |
| (The 14 Tracers) | 2. Family Planning Needs Met | Measures access to reproductive health services (SDG 3.7.1). |
| 3. Antenatal Care (4+ visits) | Tracks the reach of maternal health interventions. | |
| 4. DTP3 Immunization | A proxy for the strength of the routine primary care system. | |
| 5. Care-seeking for Pneumonia | Measures child health access at the community level. | |
| 6. TB Treatment Success Rate | Evaluates the quality and continuity of chronic care. | |
| 7. ART Coverage (HIV) | Tracks access to life-saving infectious disease medicine. | |
| 8. Hypertension Treatment | Measures the system's ability to manage non-communicable diseases. | |
| 9. Cervical Cancer Screening | A key indicator for specialized preventive service reach. | |
| 10. Hospital Bed Density | Tracks the physical capacity of the secondary care system. | |
| Financial Protection | 11. Catastrophic Health Spending | % of households spending $>10\%$ or $>25\%$ of income on health. |
| 12. Impoverishing Health Spending | Tracking if health costs push families below the poverty line. | |
| Health Systems | 13. Health Worker Density | Doctors, nurses, and midwives per 10,000 population. |
| 14. Essential Medicine Availability | % of facilities with a "basket" of basic life-saving drugs. | |
| 15. Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | Measures the government's financial commitment to health. | |
| Health Status | 16. Maternal Mortality Ratio | The ultimate "fail" metric for a health system's quality. |
| 17. Neonatal Mortality Rate | Tracks the quality of care provided during and after birth. | |
| 18. Premature NCD Mortality | Measures the impact of long-term health system management. | |
| Risk Factors | 19. Access to Clean Water/Sanitation | Foundations for preventing disease before it enters the clinic. |
| 20. Stunting Prevalence | Long-term marker of a health system's nutritional support. |
Core Pillars of Implementation
The UHC Partnership leverages its data architecture to drive action across four strategic pillars:
Health Financing and Governance: Utilizing "Financial Protection" data to help governments design sustainable insurance schemes and public funding models that eliminate "out-of-pocket" barriers to care.
Health Workforce Strengthening: Tracking the density, distribution, and skill-mix of health workers. This ensures that underserved and rural areas have the necessary human resources to provide care.
Access to Essential Medicines: Monitoring the availability and affordability of life-saving drugs and vaccines within national health systems.
Resilient Health Systems: Integrating emergency preparedness into the fabric of everyday health services, ensuring that the system can withstand shocks such as pandemics or climate-related disasters.
2026 Strategy: Subnational Inequality Monitoring
In the current 2026 cycle, the UHC Partnership has moved beyond national averages. Using Subnational Inequality Monitoring, the flagship utilizes its 800+ supporting metrics to identify "health deserts"—districts or specific demographic groups that are lagging behind. This allows the WHO to direct technical experts and resources with surgical precision, ensuring that the push for "Health for All" is truly equitable.
By standardizing these KPIs across 125+ countries, the UHC Partnership ensures that every dollar invested in a health system contributes directly to the Triple Billion targets, specifically moving closer to the goal of 1 billion more people benefiting from universal health coverage.
The Health Emergencies Flagship: Safeguarding Global Health Security
The Health Emergencies Flagship is the World Health Organization’s high-impact operational arm dedicated to protecting populations from all-hazard threats. Under the current GPW 14 (2025–2028) strategy, this flagship has been reimagined to move the world from reactive crisis management to proactive, resilient health security. In 2026, it coordinates the response to dozens of concurrent graded emergencies while building the "future-proof" systems needed to prevent the next pandemic.
What is the Health Emergencies Flagship?
This flagship is a results-driven framework that integrates the Health Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Resilience (HEPR) architecture. It focuses on the "5Cs": Collaborative Surveillance, Community Protection, Safe and Scalable Care, Access to Countermeasures, and Emergency Coordination. Its primary mission is to ensure that by 2028, 7 billion people are better protected from health emergencies.
The Metric Architecture: KPIs for a Safer World
To ensure every second counts during a crisis, the Health Emergencies Flagship utilizes a rigorous hierarchy of data. While it tracks progress via the 100 Core Health Indicators, it uses specialized International Health Regulations (IHR) metrics to measure a nation's "Readiness Score."
| Measurement Level | Metric Focus | No. of Indicators | Role in the Flagship |
| Global KPI | Prepare Billion Index | 1 Composite Index | Measures the overall protection of 7 billion people. |
| IHR Compliance | SPAR / JEE Scores | 15 Technical Areas | Annual self-assessment of 13 core state capacities. |
| Core Domain | Health Systems Metrics | 16 Core Indicators | Tracks workforce readiness and facility stability. |
| Technical Metadata | Field-Level Data | 500+ Metadata Points | Granular data on lab capacity, oxygen supply, and PPE. |
| Category | Indicator Name | Emergency Strategic Importance |
| Preparedness | 1. IHR Core Capacity Index | Measures compliance with International Health Regulations. |
| (The "5Cs") | 2. Health Emergency Readiness | Scores national ability to activate emergency operations. |
| 3. Disaster Risk Management | Integration of health into national disaster planning. | |
| 4. Lab Testing Capacity | Ability to detect priority pathogens within 24–48 hours. | |
| 5. Workforce Readiness | Trained epidemiologists and emergency responders per capita. | |
| Surveillance | 6. Time-to-Detect (7-1-7) | KPI for how fast a new threat is spotted by the system. |
| (Detection) | 7. Integrated Disease Surveillance | % of facilities reporting weekly surveillance data on time. |
| 8. Zoonotic Disease Monitoring | Tracking viruses jumping from animals to humans (One Health). | |
| 9. Vaccination Coverage (EPI) | High baseline immunity prevents secondary outbreaks. | |
| 10. Community Alert Rates | Number of potential threats reported by community members. | |
| System Stability | 11. Health Facility Resiliency | % of clinics with backup power, water, and oxygen. |
| (Response) | 12. Oxygen Access | Availability of medical oxygen in critical care units. |
| 13. PPE Stockpile Levels | National reserves of masks, gloves, and protective gear. | |
| 14. Essential Service Continuity | Ability to keep regular clinics open during a crisis. | |
| 15. Mobile Clinic Density | Surge capacity to reach isolated or disaster-hit areas. | |
| Health Status | 16. Case Fatality Rate (CFR) | Measures the deadliness of an ongoing outbreak. |
| (Impact) | 17. Excess Mortality | Tracking deaths above the "normal" rate during a crisis. |
| 18. Healthcare Worker Infections | A key metric for safety and system sustainability. | |
| Risk Factors | 19. Population Density | Measures the risk of rapid infectious disease spread. |
| 20. Access to Handwashing | The first line of defense in community-led prevention. |
Core Pillars of the 2026 Strategy
The Health Emergencies Flagship drives action across three strategic domains to "Safeguard Against Threats":
Collaborative Surveillance & Intelligence: Utilizing the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, this pillar triages over 1.2 million pieces of information annually. It uses 16 core health indicators to track how quickly a country can detect and verify a new threat (the "Time-to-Detect" KPI).
Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs) & Logistics: This pillar ensures the rapid deployment of surge capacity. In 2026, the WHO maintains a network of 1,500+ partners to deliver life-saving consultations and trauma care in conflict zones and disaster areas.
National Action Plans for Health Security (NAPHS): The flagship provides the "Supporting Metrics" needed for countries to build their own defense systems. This includes training the Global Health Emergency Corps (GHEC)—a standardized workforce ready for cross-border deployment.
2026 Innovation: Climate-Driven Emergency Response
In the 2026 cycle, the flagship has officially integrated Climate-Resilient Health Infrastructure into its "Supporting Metrics." Because climate change acts as a "threat multiplier" for infectious diseases like cholera and malaria, the flagship now tracks environmental risk factors (from the 100 Core list) to predict where the next climate-driven health emergency will strike.
By utilizing Subnational Inequality Monitoring, the flagship ensures that emergency resources—such as the Contingency Fund for Emergencies (CFE)—are released within 24 hours to the specific districts most at risk, rather than waiting for a national-level crisis to unfold.
The Science & Innovation Flagship: Powering the Future of Health
The Science & Innovation Flagship is the strategic engine that ensures the World Health Organization and its Member States remain "ahead of the curve." In the current GPW 14 (2025–2028) cycle, this flagship focuses on harnessing rapid advancements in technology, genomics, and artificial intelligence to solve the world's most persistent health inequities. It is the bridge between laboratory breakthroughs and community-level impact.
What is the Science & Innovation Flagship?
This flagship is a results-oriented program designed to accelerate the development, ethical regulation, and equitable scale-up of health innovations. It is led by the WHO Science Division and advised by the Science Council. Its primary mission is to ensure that the "fruits of science"—from mRNA vaccines to AI-driven diagnostics—are not reserved for wealthy nations but are accessible to the most vulnerable populations.
The Metric Architecture: Science-Driven KPIs
To track the transition from "idea" to "impact," this flagship utilizes a specific subset of the 100 Core Health Indicators while incorporating specialized "Innovation Maturity" metrics.
| Measurement Level | Metric Focus | No. of Indicators | Role in the Flagship |
| Global KPI | Innovation Uptake Rate | 1 Composite Index | Measures how fast new WHO-approved tech reaches low-income countries. |
| Normative KPI | Real-Time Guidance | Time-to-Update | Tracks the speed of updating health standards based on new evidence. |
| Core Domain | Health Systems Metrics | 12 Core Indicators | Tracks R&D investment and laboratory capacity (Core 100). |
| Technical Metadata | Tech Transfer Logs | 150+ Data Points | Tracks mRNA hubs, AI safety audits, and patent-sharing agreements. |
| Category | Indicator Name | Innovation Strategic Importance |
| Digital Health | 1. Digital Health Maturity | Measures the use of electronic records and tele-health. |
| (Data & Tech) | 2. Civil Registration (Births) | Foundation for digital ID and lifetime health tracking. |
| 3. Death Registration Accuracy | Uses data science to improve "Cause of Death" reporting. | |
| 4. Real-time Surveillance | % of clinics using digital tools for instant disease reporting. | |
| 5. Mobile Health (mHealth) | Availability of health info/services via mobile devices. | |
| Research & Dev | 6. Health R&D Investment | % of GDP spent on national health research. |
| (Translation) | 7. Clinical Trial Density | Number of registered active trials per million people. |
| 8. Local Vaccine Production | Capacity to manufacture vaccines/biotech regionally. | |
| 9. Patent-Sharing Rate | Measures participation in global "open science" agreements. | |
| 10. Evidence-Based Policy | % of national guidelines updated using new WHO science. | |
| Technology | 11. Genomic Sequencing Cap. | Ability to track virus variants (like COVID-19 or Flu). |
| (Advanced Care) | 12. Essential Medical Tech | Availability of CT scanners, radiotherapy, and labs. |
| 13. AI Diagnostic Accuracy | Use of AI for screening (e.g., TB in X-rays or skin cancer). | |
| 14. Novel Antibiotic Access | Tracking the use of new drugs to fight resistant bacteria. | |
| 15. Cold Chain Innovation | Use of solar/smart tech to keep vaccines safe without power. | |
| Health Systems | 16. Health Research Workforce | Number of full-time researchers per million population. |
| (Modernization) | 17. Lab Quality Accreditation | % of labs meeting international (ISO) standards. |
| 18. Internet Access (Clinics) | Infrastructure needed for cloud-based health data. | |
| Risk Factors | 19. Antimicrobial Resistance | Tracking "Superbugs" to guide new drug development. |
| 20. Environmental Monitoring | Use of sensors/satellites to track air and water quality. |
| Category | Indicator Name | Climate Strategic Importance |
| Environmental | 1. Ambient Air Quality | Annual mean levels of PM2.5 (linked to 7M deaths/year). |
| Risk Factors | 2. Household Air Pollution | Use of "dirty" fuels for cooking/heating in homes. |
| 3. Safely Managed Water | Resilience of water sources to drought and flooding. | |
| 4. Basic Sanitation Access | Prevention of water-borne diseases during extreme rain. | |
| 5. Chemical/Waste Management | Safe disposal of medical and industrial waste. | |
| Health Status | 6. Malaria Incidence | Tracking shifts in mosquito ranges due to warming. |
| (Outcomes) | 7. Dengue/Zika Incidence | Monitoring climate-sensitive vector-borne diseases. |
| 8. Heat-Related Mortality | Deaths directly linked to extreme heatwaves. | |
| 9. Cholera/Waterborne Cases | Outbreaks triggered by flooding or contaminated water. | |
| 10. Nutrition (Stunting) | Impact of climate-driven crop failure on child health. | |
| Resilient | 11. Facility Green Energy | % of clinics powered by sustainable/renewable energy. |
| Health Systems | 12. Climate-Ready Workforce | % of staff trained in climate-related disease patterns. |
| 13. Infrastructure Integrity | Capacity of hospitals to withstand floods/storms. | |
| 14. Early Warning Systems | Use of weather data to predict health surges. | |
| 15. Supply Chain Resilience | Ability to deliver meds during climate disasters. | |
| Policy & | 16. Health-in-NAP | Integration of health into National Adaptation Plans. |
| Governance | 17. Carbon Footprint (Health) | Measuring emissions generated by the health sector. |
| 18. Urban Green Space | % of city area dedicated to cooling "green zones." | |
| 19. Disaster Risk Reduction | National compliance with Sendai Framework health goals. | |
| 20. Climate-Health Financing | Funds allocated specifically for climate-health projects. |
Core Pillars of the 2026 Strategy
The Science & Innovation Flagship drives the global agenda through three strategic "Acceleration Pillars":
Harnessing Emerging Technologies: This pillar focuses on the responsible use of Genomics and Artificial Intelligence. In 2026, it leads the "Global AI Health Governance" initiative, ensuring AI diagnostics are unbiased and validated across diverse populations.
Equitable Research & Development (R&D): Moving away from a "top-down" approach, this flagship supports regional manufacturing hubs (e.g., the mRNA hub in South Africa). It tracks the 12 core health indicators related to research capacity to ensure countries can produce their own medical countermeasures.
Digital Health Transformation: Following the Global Strategy on Digital Health, this pillar works to achieve Universal Access to Digital IDs and integrated health data systems. This allows for the "Subnational Inequality Monitoring" that characterizes the 2026 WHO strategy.
2026 Innovation: The Science Council & Foresight
In 2026, the WHO Science Council—a body of the world’s leading scientists—utilizes "Horizon Scanning" to identify health threats 5–10 years before they occur. By integrating Foresight Metrics into the "Supporting Metadata," the flagship helps Member States prepare for shifts in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the health impacts of synthetic biology.
Through Technical Support and Norm-Setting, the flagship ensures that when a new innovation emerges, it is accompanied by "Evidence-Based Guidance" within weeks, not years. This synergy ensures that science is not just an academic exercise, but a life-saving tool for the Triple Billion targets.
The Climate & Health Flagship: Responding to the Paramount Health Threat
The Climate & Health Flagship is one of the six strategic pillars of the World Health Organization's Fourteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 14).
What is the Climate & Health Flagship?
This initiative is a high-impact operational program designed to scale up evidence-based interventions that protect health in a changing climate.
It focuses on the One Health approach—recognizing the link between human, animal, and environmental health—to prevent and mitigate the health impacts of climate change. By 2028, the flagship aims to significantly increase the number of countries with climate-resilient health systems and national adaptation plans.
The Metric Architecture: Climate-Health KPIs
To move from political commitment to measurable action, this flagship utilizes specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) drawn from the 100 Core Health Indicators and the GPW 14 Output Framework. These metrics track how well countries are integrating climate data into public health.
| Measurement Level | Metric Focus | Target for 2026 | Role in the Flagship |
| Global KPI | Climate-Resilient Countries | 71 Countries | Number of countries with completed vulnerability assessments and adaptation plans. |
| Early Warning KPI | Meteorological Integration | 56 Countries | Countries using weather data for surveillance (e.g., heatwave or malaria alerts). |
| Sustainability KPI | Low-Carbon Healthcare | 10 Countries | Countries implementing plans for sustainable, low-carbon health systems. |
| Core Domain | Risk Factors (Environmental) | 24 Indicators | Tracking air quality (SDG 3.9.1), water safety, and sanitation. |
| Category | Indicator Name | Climate Strategic Importance |
| Environmental | 1. Ambient Air Quality | Annual mean levels of $PM_{2.5}$ (linked to 7M deaths/year). |
| Risk Factors | 2. Household Air Pollution | Use of "dirty" fuels for cooking/heating in homes. |
| 3. Safely Managed Water | Resilience of water sources to drought and flooding. | |
| 4. Basic Sanitation Access | Prevention of water-borne diseases during extreme rain. | |
| 5. Chemical/Waste Management | Safe disposal of medical and industrial waste. | |
| Health Status | 6. Malaria Incidence | Tracking shifts in mosquito ranges due to warming. |
| (Outcomes) | 7. Dengue/Zika Incidence | Monitoring climate-sensitive vector-borne diseases. |
| 8. Heat-Related Mortality | Deaths directly linked to extreme heatwaves. | |
| 9. Cholera/Waterborne Cases | Outbreaks triggered by flooding or contaminated water. | |
| 10. Nutrition (Stunting) | Impact of climate-driven crop failure on child health. | |
| Resilient | 11. Facility Green Energy | % of clinics powered by sustainable/renewable energy. |
| Health Systems | 12. Climate-Ready Workforce | % of staff trained in climate-related disease patterns. |
| 13. Infrastructure Integrity | Capacity of hospitals to withstand floods/storms. | |
| 14. Early Warning Systems | Use of weather data to predict health surges. | |
| 15. Supply Chain Resilience | Ability to deliver meds during climate disasters. | |
| Policy & | 16. Health-in-NAP | Integration of health into National Adaptation Plans. |
| Governance | 17. Carbon Footprint (Health) | Measuring emissions generated by the health sector. |
| 18. Urban Green Space | % of city area dedicated to cooling "green zones." | |
| 19. Disaster Risk Reduction | National compliance with Sendai Framework health goals. | |
| 20. Climate-Health Financing | Funds allocated specifically for climate-health projects. |
Core Pillars of the Climate & Health Strategy
The flagship drives the global health-climate agenda through three primary "Action Pillars":
Building Climate-Resilient Health Systems: This pillar supports countries in "future-proofing" their facilities.
This includes ensuring hospitals can remain operational during floods or heatwaves and training the health workforce to recognize and treat climate-related illnesses. Championing Low-Carbon Health Societies: Healthcare itself is a major emitter of greenhouse gases.
The flagship guides countries in adopting renewable energy for medical equipment and reducing waste in health supply chains to ensure that "providing health" does not further "damage the climate." Cross-Sectoral Mitigation and Adaptation: WHO promotes "Health in All Policies" (HiAP), working with energy, transport, and food sectors to reduce air pollution—which currently causes 13 million deaths annually—and promote healthy, sustainable diets.
2026 Strategic Focus: Data-Driven Adaptation
In the current 2026 cycle, the WHO is prioritizing Collaborative Surveillance. By integrating meteorological information directly into national health surveillance systems, the flagship allows for "predictive health action." For example, if data shows an upcoming period of extreme heat, health systems can pre-deploy resources to vulnerable elderly populations before the heatwave begins.
Through the Alliance for Action on Climate Change and Health (ATACH), this flagship also facilitates the sharing of technical guidance and "Supporting Metrics" among Member States, ensuring that successful adaptation strategies in one region can be rapidly scaled to others.
The Youth & Equity Flagship: Advancing Health for Future Generations
The Youth & Equity Flagship is a cornerstone of the World Health Organization's (WHO) commitment to "leave no one behind." Under the Fourteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 14), this initiative has been elevated to address the specific vulnerabilities of young people while dismantling the structural barriers that create health disparities across all age groups. It operates on the principle that health is a fundamental human right that should not be determined by age, gender, geography, or socioeconomic status.
What is the Youth & Equity Flagship?
This flagship is a strategic framework designed to institutionalize youth engagement and integrate equity into every facet of global health. It moves beyond treating young people as passive beneficiaries, instead positioning them as co-leaders and changemakers. Its primary mission is to ensure that health systems are responsive to the unique needs of the 1.8 billion young people worldwide and that equity is the "default setting" for all health interventions.
The Architecture of Equity: Indicators and KPIs
To ensure that "equity" is more than a buzzword, this flagship utilizes a data-driven approach. It relies on a subset of the 100 Core Health Indicators while introducing specialized "Equity-Focus" metrics to track progress among marginalized populations.
| Measurement Level | Metric Focus | No. of Indicators | Role in the Flagship |
| Global KPI | Health Inequality Monitor | 1 Data Platform | Measures the gap between the most and least advantaged groups. |
| Youth KPI | Adolescent Well-being | 5 Core Domains | Tracks health, education, and agency (GAMA Framework). |
| Core Domain | Health Status & Risks | 22 Core Indicators | Tracks youth-specific data like mental health and nutrition. |
| Technical Metadata | Disaggregated Data | 200+ Data Points | Provides the "fine print" on who is being left behind at local levels. |
| Category | Indicator Name | Equity & Youth Strategic Importance |
| Youth-Specific | 1. Adolescent Birth Rate | Births per 1,000 women aged 15–19 (SDG 3.7.2). |
| Health Status | 2. Mental Health Prevalence | Tracking anxiety and depression among adolescents. |
| 3. Youth Suicide Rate | A critical indicator of adolescent well-being and support. | |
| 4. HPV Vaccine Coverage | Measure of preventive care for future cancer prevention. | |
| 5. HIV Incidence (Young) | New infections specifically among those aged 15–24. | |
| Equity & | 6. Stunting Inequality | The gap in child stunting between the richest and poorest. |
| Social Drivers | 7. Literacy Rate | Key social determinant impacting health literacy and agency. |
| 8. Gender-Based Violence | Prevalence of physical/sexual violence against women/girls. | |
| 9. Birth Registration | The "legal identity" barrier to accessing health services. | |
| 10. Secondary Schooling | % of youth in school (highly correlated with health outcomes). | |
| Service Access | 11. Youth-Friendly Services | Availability of clinics designed for adolescent privacy/needs. |
| (Inequality) | 12. Unmet Need for Planning | The gap in contraceptive access for young women. |
| 13. Financial Hardship | % of low-income families pushed into poverty by health costs. | |
| 14. Essential Meds Access | Availability of basic medicines in marginalized areas. | |
| 15. Internet Access | Connectivity for digital health and youth education. | |
| Risk Factors | 16. Youth Tobacco Use | Current tobacco/e-cigarette use among 13–15 year olds. |
| 17. Adolescent Obesity | Rising prevalence of BMI $\ge 30$ in younger populations. | |
| 18. Alcohol Use (Heavy) | Harmful drinking patterns among youth and young adults. | |
| 19. Physical Activity | % of adolescents meeting WHO activity guidelines. | |
| 20. Road Traffic Injuries | The leading cause of death for children and young adults. |
Core Pillars of the Youth & Equity Strategy
The flagship drives impact through three "Equity-First" action pillars:
Meaningful Youth Engagement: This pillar empowers the WHO Youth Council to advise the Director-General directly. It ensures that young people have a seat at the table in the World Health Assembly, allowing them to shape the policies that will govern their future.
Dismantling Structural Barriers: This pillar focuses on "Social Determinants of Health." It uses the 22 Health Status indicators to identify how factors like poverty, lack of education, and gender-based violence create long-term health inequities, and works with governments to pass laws that protect marginalized groups.
Adolescent-Responsive Health Systems: Many health systems are designed for adults or young children, leaving adolescents (ages 10–19) in a "service gap." This flagship helps countries redesign clinics to be youth-friendly, focusing on mental health, sexual and reproductive health, and substance use prevention.
2026 Strategic Focus: The Global Action for Measurement
In the current 2026 cycle, the flagship is leading the Global Action for Measurement of Adolescent health (GAMA). By standardizing how countries collect data on youth, the WHO can finally compare "apples to apples" globally. This data is the engine behind Subnational Inequality Monitoring, which allows the WHO to spot a "health desert" in a specific neighborhood and deploy resources to fix it before it becomes a generational crisis.
Through these efforts, the Youth & Equity Flagship ensures that the next generation isn't just surviving, but thriving in a world where the "zip code" you are born in no longer dictates your "life expectancy."
Stakeholders and Partners: The Global Health Architecture
The implementation of the Fourteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 14) and its associated flagships is not a solo effort by the World Health Organization. It is a collaborative enterprise involving a vast ecosystem of "Member States, partners, and the Secretariat."
In 2026, this network functions as a unified "Global Health Architecture," where each organization plays a specific role in achieving the Triple Billion targets.
1. The Decision Makers: Member States
At the core are the 194 Member States of the WHO. They are the primary owners of GPW 14.
Role: They adopt the strategy at the World Health Assembly (WHA), integrate the 100 Core Indicators into their national health data systems, and provide the political leadership needed for domestic health reforms.
Key Actors: Ministries of Health, National Public Health Institutes (e.g., Africa CDC, US CDC), and subnational regional governments.
2. The United Nations System
WHO works within the "One UN" framework to ensure health is integrated into broader development goals.
UNICEF: Partners on maternal/child health and immunization coverage.
UNFPA: Collaborates on sexual and reproductive health within the Youth & Equity flagship.
UNDP: Focuses on the social and economic determinants of health.
WFP: Essential partner for nutrition indicators and emergency logistics.
3. Funding and Technical Partners
Large-scale global health initiatives provide the "fuel" for the GPW 14 flagships through financing and specialized technical support.
The Global Fund & Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance: Strategic partners in SO 4 (Service Coverage) to combat HIV, TB, Malaria, and to scale up global vaccination.
The World Bank & IMF: Crucial for SO 3 (UHC) by advising on health financing models and fiscal space for health.
Philanthropic Foundations: Organizations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Bloomberg Philanthropies provide catalytic funding and innovation research.
4. Specialized Flagship Networks
Each flagship initiative is supported by dedicated coalitions that bring together hundreds of diverse organizations.
| Flagship Initiative | Primary Coordinating Partners |
| UHC Partnership | UHC2030, European Union, Japan, Germany, and Luxembourg (Key Donors). |
| Health Emergencies | GOARN (Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network), Red Cross/Red Crescent, and 1,500+ Health Cluster partners. |
| Science & Innovation | Science Council, regional mRNA hubs, and the WHO Foundation (engaging the private sector). |
| Climate & Health | ATACH (Alliance for Action on Climate Change and Health) and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). |
5. Non-State Actors: Civil Society & Private Sector
To reach the most marginalized, the WHO engages "Non-State Actors" under the FENSA (Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors) policy.
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs): Local NGOs and youth-led groups (like the WHO Youth Council) ensure that the "Youth & Equity" flagship is grounded in community reality.
Private Sector: Through the Health Emergencies Alliance, companies contribute expertise in AI, logistics, and supply chain management to improve emergency response times.
Summary: The Theory of Change
The "Theory of Change" for GPW 14 relies on this Multi-stakeholder Engagement. The WHO Secretariat provides the Normative Guidance (the "How-To"), while this network of partners provides the Implementation Power and Sustainable Financing needed to save 40 million lives.
Frequently Asked Questions: GPW 14 and Global Health Indicators
As the Fourteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 14) moves into full implementation in 2026, several common questions have emerged regarding its structure, data requirements, and real-world impact. Below are the key answers to help navigate this global health strategy.
1. General Strategy (GPW 14)
Q: How is GPW 14 different from previous WHO strategies? A: Unlike its predecessors, GPW 14 (2025–2028) is the first to place Climate Change as its primary strategic objective. It also transitions from the "Triple Billion" targets toward a "40 Million Lives Saved" goal, emphasizing a more direct, country-level impact through its six strategic objectives.
Q: What are the "Triple Billion" targets for 2028? A: The targets remain the guiding North Star:
6 Billion people enjoying better health and well-being.
5 Billion people benefiting from universal health coverage.
7 Billion people better protected from health emergencies.
2. The 100 Core Health Indicators
Q: Do countries have to report on all 100 indicators every year? A: No. While the 100 Core Health Indicators represent the global standard, reporting frequency varies. Some indicators (like birth rates) are reported annually, while others (like stunting or specific mortality rates) are updated every 3–5 years via national surveys.
Q: Why was this specific list of 100 indicators chosen? A: To reduce the "reporting burden." Previously, countries faced fragmented requests from different health agencies. The "Core 100" consolidates these into a single "Master List" that covers 90% of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
3. UHC Partnership & Health Emergencies
Q: How does the UHC Partnership define "financial hardship"? A: It is measured through SDG Indicator 3.8.2: the proportion of a population with large household expenditures on health as a share of total household expenditure or income. If a family spends more than 10% or 25% of its budget on health, it is considered a catastrophic cost.
Q: What is the "7-1-7" target in the Health Emergencies Flagship? A: It is a performance KPI for outbreak response:
7 days to detect an outbreak.
1 day to notify public health authorities.
7 days to initiate a formal response.
4. Implementation & Equity
Q: What is "Subnational Inequality Monitoring"? A: This is the practice of looking past national averages. For example, a country may have 80% national vaccine coverage, but subnational monitoring reveals that one specific district has only 20%. The Youth & Equity Flagship uses this data to target resources to that specific "health desert."
Q: Can the private sector participate in GPW 14? A: Yes, through the Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors (FENSA). The private sector is particularly involved in the Science & Innovation Flagship, contributing to digital health tools, AI diagnostics, and regional manufacturing hubs.
Summary Table: Key GPW 14 Facts at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
| Timeline | 2025 – 2028 |
| Mission | Promote, Provide, and Protect Health |
| Primary Goal | Save 40 Million Lives |
| Core Measurement | 100 Core Health Indicators |
| Enabler | Science, Data, and Innovation |
WHO Strategic Flagship Initiatives: Operational Glossary
This glossary defines the core terminology for the WHO Flagship Initiatives under the GPW 14 (2025–2028) strategy. These programs are designed to accelerate global health impact through targeted, results-driven action.
Core Flagship Terminology
| Term | Simplified Definition | Key Flagship |
| Flagship Initiative | A high-priority program used to fast-track global health goals. | All GPW 14 Programs |
| PHC Approach | Focuses on community-based care as the first point of contact. | UHC Partnership |
| HEPR | The blueprint for preparing for and responding to pandemics. | Health Emergencies |
| The 5Cs | Five core functions: Surveillance, Protection, Care, Tools, and Coordination. | Health Emergencies |
| ATACH | A global network sharing tech to fight climate-related health issues. | Climate & Health |
| One Health | Connecting the health of people, animals, and the environment. | Climate & Health |
Performance & Data Metrics (KPIs)
| Metric | What it Measures | Target / Flagship |
| Service Coverage (SCI) | The percentage of people receiving essential health services. | UHC Partnership |
| 7-1-7 Target | 7 days to detect, 1 day to notify, and 7 days to respond to threats. | Health Emergencies |
| Innovation Maturity | How ready a new technology is to be used safely worldwide. | Science & Innovation |
| Climate Vulnerability | How much a health system is at risk from environmental changes. | Climate & Health |
| GAMA Framework | A standardized way to track the health and well-being of youth. | Youth & Equity |
Implementation Terms
| Term | Simplified Definition |
| Subnational Monitoring | Checking health data at a local/town level instead of just national averages. |
| Tech Transfer Hubs | Regional centers that help countries make their own vaccines and medicines. |
| Collaborative Surveillance | Sharing data across different sectors to spot disease outbreaks faster. |
Disclaimer: This document is for informational purposes only. For official policy and the latest technical updates, please visit the World Health Organization (WHO) website.