Writing & Editing support with core PMNCH publications

About WHO

WHO Mission Statement

The World Health Organization was established in 1948 as a specialized agency of the United Nations. The objective of WHO (www.who.int) is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. “Health”, as defined in the WHO Constitution, is a state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. WHO’s main function is to act as the directing and coordinating authority on international health work.

Structure of WHO

The World Health Assembly (WHA) is the main governing body of WHO. It generally meets in Geneva in May of each year and is composed of delegations representing all 194 Member States. Its main function is to determine the policies of the Organization. In addition to its public health functions, the Health Assembly appoints the Director-General, supervises the financial policies of the Organization, and reviews and approves the proposed programme budget. It also considers reports of the WHO Executive Board, which it instructs with regard to matters upon which further action, study, investigation or report may be required.

The Executive Board is composed of 34 members elected for three-year terms. The main functions of the Board are to give effect to the decisions and policies of the WHA, to advise it and generally to facilitate its work. The Board normally meets twice a year; one meeting is usually in January, and the second is in May, following the World Health Assembly.

The WHO Secretariat consists of some 7,900 staff at the Organization’s headquarters in Geneva, in the six regional offices and in countries. The Secretariat is headed by the Director-General, who is appointed by the WHA on the nomination of the Executive Board. The head of each regional office is a Regional Director. Regional directors are appointed by the Executive Board in agreement with the relevant regional committee.

Description of Cluster/Service/Unit

The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (The Partnership, PMNCH) is hosted by the World Health Organization within its Family, Women, Children and Adolescents cluster. PMNCH brings together more than 1000 member organizations, from 192 countries, across multiple constituencies working to advance reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH) at global, regional and country levels. PMNCH’s core mission is to strengthen alignment, mutual accountability and joint advocacy across its constituencies to support the successful implementation of the Every Woman Every Child (EWEC) 2015- 2030 Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (Global Strategy. The Partnership provides a platform for organizations to align objectives, strategies and resources, and agree on interventions to improve maternal, new born, child and adolescent health.