WHO Enhances Evaluation Policy to Boost Accountability and Transparency
Geneva, Wednesday, 20 August 2025.
In August 2025, WHO’s executive board updated its evaluation policy, emphasizing evidence-based decisions and stakeholder engagement to address complex global health challenges, like pandemic readiness.
Strategic Improvements in Evaluation Policy
The 2025 revision of WHO’s evaluation policy is strategically aligned with its Fourteenth General Programme of Work (2025–2028). This alignment ensures that evaluations bolster WHO’s strategic goals in health systems strengthening, emergency response, and equity-focused health initiatives. Central themes in the revised policy include reinforcing evaluation independence, enabling a comprehensive stakeholder engagement approach, and securing dedicated funding for evaluation purposes, capped at 1% of the programme budget [1][2].
Commitment to Transparency and Accountability
The updated evaluation policy underlines WHO’s dedication to transparency and accountability by setting robust norms for impartiality and credibility. This is critical in assuring both member states and international donors of WHO’s commitment to value for money and impactful health interventions. These efforts reflect a broader trend within the UN system, promoting rigorous, timely, and independent evaluations [1][2][3].
Long-term Impact and Transformation of Healthcare Systems
In the long term, WHO aims for the policy revisions to result in enhanced health program effectiveness and improved global health strategies. By systematically incorporating evaluation findings into policy-making, WHO envisages creating healthcare systems that are agile and responsive to emerging global health needs. The policy update also signals WHO’s enhanced prioritization of ethical standards, disability inclusion, and human rights—a crucial step towards more inclusive health policies globally [3][4][5].
Research and Stakeholder Engagement in Policy Design
The 2025 policy update benefitted from comprehensive input from an independent comparative review commissioned in 2024, alongside recommendations from the Independent Expert Oversight Advisory Committee and the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee. This multilateral feedback mechanism ensures that WHO’s evaluation policy remains relevant and effective in addressing current and future health challenges. It also reflects a commitment to embedding a culture of learning and continuous improvement in WHO’s operational fabric [1][4].