WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ
WELTGESUNDHEITSORGANISATION
ВСЕМИРНАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ ЗДРАВООХРАНЕНИЯ Date: 30 July 2024
REGIONAL OFFICE FOR EUROPE
BUREAU RÉGIONAL DE L’EUROPE Ms Riina Sikkut
REGIONALBÜRO FÜR EUROPA Minister of Health
ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЕ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЕ БЮРО
Ministry of Social Affairs
Head office: Suur-Ameerika 1
UN City, Marmorvej 51,
DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
10129 Tallinn
Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00; Fax: +45 45 33 70 01 Estonia
Email:
[email protected]
Website: https://www.who.int/europe
Our reference: Your reference:
Notre référence: Votre référence:
Unser Zeichen: Ihr Zeichen:
См. наш номер: На Ваш номер:
Dear Madam,
WHO Leadership Dialogue on Global Health Diplomacy
7–11 October 2024, Brussels, Belgium
I am writing to invite you to nominate a senior official from your government to participate in the
WHO Leadership Dialogue on Global Health Diplomacy, scheduled to take place, in person, on 7–11 October
2024 in Brussels, Belgium. This initiative is particularly important to me, as I strongly believe that health
diplomacy, if well conducted, can bring multiple benefits to the health sector, as well as to a country’s image in
the international arena.
The Dialogue is open to one senior official from each country, preferably dealing with international relations
(Ministry of Foreign Affairs) or global health (Ministry of Health) at the level of Deputy Minister or Secretary
of State. WHO representatives from invited countries will also attend. The meeting will be held in English.
A high-level reception will take place on the evening of 7 October, followed by an intensive four-day Dialogue.
The concept of the Dialogue has been developed by the WHO Representation Office to the European Union, in
collaboration with a distinguished group of academics and experts in the field.
I would be grateful if you could send the name and title of your nominee by 25 August 2024 to Dr Oxana
Domenti, WHO Representative to the European Union, at
[email protected]. The WHO Regional Office for Europe
will cover travel and accommodation costs. The country office will liaise with you to arrange travel and
accommodation.
I would like to reiterate my deep appreciation for your support for our work. I hope that together we will create
a high-profile flagship Leadership Dialogue on Global Health Diplomacy and build the necessary regional
capacities to keep health high on the political agenda.
Yours very truly,
Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge
Regional Director
UN City, Marmorvej 51 Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00 Email:
[email protected]
DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø Fax: +45 45 33 70 01 Website: https://www.who.int/europe
Denmark
Encls:
Concept Note of the WHO Leadership Dialogue on Global Health Diplomacy
Copy for information to:
Ms Helen Sõber, Adviser, European Union Affairs and International Co-operation Department, Ministry of Social Affairs,
Suur-Ameerika 1, 10122 Tallinn, Estonia
Ms Triin Uusberg, Head, European Union Affairs and International Co-operation Department, Ministry of Social Affairs,
Suur-Ameerika 1, 10129 Tallinn, Estonia
H.E. Ms Riia Salsa-Audiffren, Ambassador Representative of the Republic of Estonia, Permanent Mission of the Republic
of Estonia to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Chemin du Petit-Saconnex 28A,
CH-1209 Genève, Switzerland
H.E. Mr William Mart Laanemäe, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Embassy of the Republic of Estonia,
Frederiksgade 19, 4th floor, 1265 Copenhagen K, Denmark
Ms Kristina Köhler, Liaison Officer, WHO Country Office, Estonia, Paldiski Road 81, 10617 Tallinn, Estonia
–2–
WHO AHEAD
Action Network for Health Engagement Advocacy and Diplomacy
Concept Note and Agenda on Leadership Dialogue on Global Health Diplomacy
7-11 October 2024, Brussels
This note describes WHO’s initiative on Global Health Diplomacy, inspired by Dr Kluge as WHO Regional
Director for Europe and led by WHO Office to the EU (WEU).
Leadership Dialogue on Global Health Diplomacy (LDGHD)
In the current era, our world is confronted by a myriad of challenges and threats to health. These range
from an accelerated pace of climate change and environmental degradation, which bring more frequent
severe weather events and climate sensitive epidemic diseases, to the silent pandemics of
noncommunicable diseases and antimicrobial resistance; modern societies patterns of unsustainable
consumption; till rising inequality, polarization, and conflicts around the world. At the same time, each of
these challenges transcends borders, sectors, languages, ethnicities, and political divides. No single
country, sector or organization can deal with them in isolation. Thus, multilateralism, international and
multisectoral and multi-stakeholders’ cooperation are more relevant than ever and, consequently, it
gives to health diplomacy a new impetus and relevance.
Global health diplomacy is pivotal to health governance on global, regional, and national scales. It
constitutes a fundamental part of the health and foreign policy agenda of numerous countries and
geopolitical entities. Health diplomacy, if well conducted, can yield enhanced health outcomes at every
level, foster greater equity and social cohesion, and improve relations and trust among parties, even
amidst conflicts. It also bolsters stakeholders’ commitment to unite and work together for health
advancement. Moreover, it can significantly reinforce the country’s leadership position on foreign
affairs, boosts external visibility, and build strategic international alliances.
As the main goal of global health diplomacy is to bring about evidence-informed, credible, and politically
achievable agreements in the interest of public health, successful health diplomacy requires specific global
health and political knowledge and evidence as well as diplomatic experience, practice, and competence.
The LDGHD organized by WEU, is scheduled to take place in Brussels between 7 -11 October 2024. This
programme will showcase prominent academics, experts, and practitioners in the field of health
diplomacy. The dialogue is supported by a faculty group, with members selected by the WHO.
This initiative seeks to establish a shared framework for Global Health Diplomacy and enhance health
diplomacy capacity within the WHO European Region and beyond. The programme aims to deliver a
unique learning experience that is hands-on, practical, inclusive, personalized, and customized to meet
the audience’s specific needs.
1
It is an advanced training opportunity for professionals interested in deepening their understanding of
global health diplomacy (WHO Representatives and Heads of WHO Country Offices as well as Member
States’ representatives, i.e., Ministries of Health, Ministries of Foreign Affairs, health attaches, Presidents
and Prime Ministers Cabinets.)
Aligned with the WHO’s Enhanced Competency Framework, the educational objective of this initiative
aims also to enhance the Core Leadership Competency of Promoting the Organization’s position in health
leadership.
Participants in this initiative will benefit from the opportunity:
• To acquire relevant knowledge and competencies in health diplomacy, enhancing their ability to
navigate an ever-complex geopolitical landscape.
• To engage in interactive knowledge sharing and practical experiences related to the topic.
• To establish a network with stakeholders involved in global health from participant countries and
EU institutions.
More specifically, the leadership dialogue will:
• Offer an overview on political and global and regional geopolitical situation and trends and
present the mandate and political objectives of the main entities (blocks, alliances, organizations,
and institutions) relevant for advancing health and wellbeing.
• Explore various approaches used in global health diplomacy which will contribute to shape a
common approach to Global Health Diplomacy.
• Describe essential tools of multilateral, bilateral and multi-stakeholder diplomacy relevant for
global health as well as the elements of successful global health diplomacy in various context,
including in humanitarian settings.
• Explore the most recent development in global health architectures, key global health venues
and actors, global health instruments.
• Explore the key ingredients of successful engagement for health at national level, involving
various stakeholders (e.g., Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Ministries of Finance and Economy,
parliamentarians, civil society).
• Present the EU role as a multilateral and global player as well as the EU role on global health.
• Offer examples of successful global health diplomacy practices.
The leadership dialogue will help acquire practical skills and provide useful indications for successful
negotiations and advocacy for health. The focus will be put on building capacity to communicate and
engage with stakeholders, in various sectors, across different parties and countries, including in complex
and humanitarian settings.
The 2024 cohort will include WHO representatives, Heads of WHO Country Offices and high-level officials
from the Ministries of Health from: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, and
Uzbekistan.
The dialogue will be delivered in English.
2
Leadership Dialogue on Global Health Diplomacy – Content outline
MODULES AND LECTURES
This programme will be built over four days, around several sessions, including lectures, workshops, and
panel discussions. All lectures will be followed by the Q&As and all workshops will follow the instructional
design strategies with focus on participants activities.
Please find the preliminary programme and the outlines of the sessions’ content below.
A high-level event on Mental health and polycrises is scheduled on Monday 7 October 2024 in the
afternoon.
3
SUGGESTED
SESSION TITLE FORMAT TIMING CONTENT OUTLINE
SPEAKERS
DAY 0 – 7 October
A high-level event on Mental health and polycrises, co-hosted by the Hungarian Presidency to the European Council and WHO Europe
Welcome Evening Reception hosted by Dr Hans Kluge and Dr Oxana Domenti
DAY 1 – 8 October
Registration and 08:30-
1
morning tea & coffee 09:00
Welcome Keynote
Speech by Dr Hans 09:00–
2 Dr Hans Kluge
Kluge, WHO Regional 09.07
Director for Europe
Welcome by Dr
Oxana Domenti, 09:07–
3 Dr Oxana Domenti
WHO Representative 09:15
to the EU
An introduction to
Diplomacy
The Organization of
09:15- Johan Verbeke, Guest Professor in Modern Diplomacy
4 Diplomacy Module
11:00
A Diplomat's
Conceptual Toolbox
11:00-
5 Wellbeing break
11:15
Multilateralism in
Diplomacy 11:15-
6 The Normative Module 13:00 Johan Verbeke, Guest Professor in Modern Diplomacy
Framework of
Diplomacy
4
13:00 –
7 Lunch
14:00
Introduction to
14:00-
8 Global Health Module
16:00 Dr Adnan Hyder, Professor of Global Health
Diplomacy
16:00-
9 Networking break
16:15
Global health
Architecture and
Governance. Key 16.15- Dr Adnan Hyder, Professor of Global Health, and representatives of
10 Workshop
actors/stakeholders 18.00 participants
and interests in
global health
11 Closure of the day 18.00
DAY 2 – 9 October
09:00-
12 Welcome to Day 2 Prof. Janusz Janczukowicz (Wrap-up)
09:05
Health and Foreign
09:05-
policy: the current Mr Rory Keane, Head of Office at the United Nations Liaison Office for
13 Module 11:00
geopolitical Peace, and Security UNLOPS
landscape
11:00-
14 Wellbeing break
11:15
The global
geopolitical
Guest Lecture 11:15- Dr Christian Haggenmiller, EU Military Service (EMS), EU External Action
15 landscape. EU and
12:30 Service (EEAS)
Global Health
Security and a new
5
geostrategic
paradigm
12:30-
16 Lunch break
13:30
Health Diplomacy in Dr Rudi Coninx, Senior adviser at WHO, Former Head of the
13:30-
17 Humanitarian Module Humanitarian Policy & Guidance unit in the Emergency Operations
15:30
settings Department at the WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE)
15:30-
18 Wellbeing break
16:00
Leadership and
management of
humanitarian, peace 16:00-
19 Guest Lecture Thomas White, Former Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza
and development 17:00
programs in complex
environment
EU Health Diplomacy
Joanna Darmanin, Head of the Humanitarian Aid Thematic Policies Unit,
in Humanitarian 17:00-
20 Guest Lecture DG ECHO, European Commission
settings 18:00
21 Closure 18:00 Closure
DAY 3 – 10 October
09:00- Prof Janusz Janczukowicz
22 Welcome to Day 3
09:05
Roy Wadia, Regional Communications Chief, WHO Regional Office for
Diplomacy and Europe
09:05-
23 communication Module Joanna Roberts, Health Editor, POLITICO
11.00
Matthias Lüfkens, Founder of DigiTips, former Associate Director-Media
and former Head of Social Networks at the World Economic Forum
6
Networking and 11:00-
24
Wellbeing break 11:15
Health
11:15- Oxana Domenti, WHO Representative to the EU and guest speakers
Diplomacy/the
25 Module 13:00
engagement with
the Parliament
13:00-
26 Lunch
14:00
Health Advocacy
Health diplomacy at national level - the role of CSO
The role of civil 14.00-
27 Module
society 15.00
15:00-
28 Networking break
15:15
Global Partnerships Martin Seychell, Deputy-Director General, DG INTPA, European
15:15–
29 for Health Guest Lecture Commission
16:45
16:45
30 Closure
DAY 4 – 11 October 2024
Welcome to Day 4 10.00–
31 Dr Oxana Domenti
10:05
10:05-
32 Welcome remarks Sandra Gallina, Director General, DG SANTE, European Commission
10:15
10.15-10.30: DG SANTE, European Commission
Perspective from the 10.30-10.45: DG Research and Innovation, European Commission
10:15– 10.45-11.00: European Centre for Disease Control
33 European Union: EU
10:40 11.00-11.15: European Medicine Agency
Institutions
11.15-11.30: DG Health Emergency and Response Authority
11.30-11.45: European External Action Service
7
11.45-12.15: Interactive debate with participants
12.15- Exchange with EU officials from DG SANTE, DG NEAR, DG RTD, DG HERA,
34 Networking Lunch
13.30 DG ECHO, EEAS, EMA and ECDC
Exchange of views
13:30–
35 with global health Global health leaders
15:00
leaders
Closing remarks 15:00– Closing Remarks
36
15:15 Dr Oxana Domenti
37 End of the Dialogue 15:15 End of the Dialogue
8
Saatja: "WHO Office at the European Union" <
[email protected]>
Saaja: "Riina Sikkut", "Triin Uusberg", "Elen Ohov"
Teema: Invitation to nominate a high-level official for the WHO Leadership Dialogue on Global Health Diplomacy 7-11 October 2024, Brussels, Belgium
Kuupäev: 2024-07-30 10:01
Dear Madam,
Dear Sir,
With assurances of the highest consideration of this office, please find
attached a letter from Dr Hans Kluge, the WHO Regional Director for
Europe, addressed to Ms Riina Sikkut.
Yours sincerely,
World Health Organization - Office at the European Union
Phone nr : +32 (0) 506.46.60
Email:
[email protected] <mailto:
[email protected]>
Visitors -Eurostation 5E, Place Victor Horta 40/10, 1060 Brussels, Belgium
Post -Eurostation 5E, Rue de l’Instruction 154, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
Web: <http://www.who.int/> www.who.int;
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