Multilateral Aid Review summary - World Health Organisation (WHO)

The WHO a UN specialised agency with authority for directing and coordinating work on international health. WHO experts produce health guidelines and standards and help countries to address public health issues.

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Contribution to UK development objectives	Satisfactory
	+	WHO provides global leadership and convening power on development and humanitarian health matters.  It is critical to the delivery of the MDGs, especially MDGs 4, 5 and 6.
	+	WHO has a significant role to play in meeting HMG objectives on global health, development and human security.
	+	Objectives are challenging and it demonstrates global level delivery.
	_	WHO does not always play a critical role at country level.
	_	Delivery is variable at country level and WHO is slow to respond where health humanitarian coordinators are weak.
	_	There is insufficient WHO policy and guidance for working in fragile contexts.
	_	WHO is taking steps to improve its work on gender equality but progress has been slow.
Organisational strengths	Weak
	+	WHO has systems in place to review organisation effectiveness.  There is evidence that procurement is driven by value-for-money.
	_	Targets for savings on administration costs are not stretching, staff costs growing, little attention to cost saving at country level.
	+	WHO works well with partner governments.
	_	Its use of participatory approaches and harmonisation with the UN system are less strong.
	_	There is no clear results chain. Confuses processes with outputs. Does not have a formal system to follow up on evaluation recommendations.
	_	There are problems implementing its HR strategy.
	_	There is no clear and transparent system to allocate aid.
	_	It is weak in releasing funding according to planned budgets.
	_	Little evidence that WHO curtails poorly performing projects.
	+	Partners are well represented in governance mechanisms and policy and guidance are accessible on its website.
	_	WHO has no formal disclosure policy and does not publish enough specific programme or project details.
Capacity for positive change	Uncertain
	_	Top management demonstrates the will to reform but progress is slow and needs to be fully supported by WHO’s governing bodies and its semi-autonomous regional offices to be successful.