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    Global Governing Bodies

    Global Governing Bodies

    The World Health Assembly (WHA) is the supreme decision-making body for WHO.  (See Articles 10-23 of WHO Constitution).  It meets in Geneva, in May, and all 194 WHO Member States participate.  The WHA appoints the Director-General, approves the biennial programme budget, considers reports and approves resolutions, put forward by the Executive Board.

    The Executive Board (EB) is composed of 34 Members (7 members from the African region), technically qualified in the field of health, who are elected by the WHA, and serve for a three-year term.  (See Articles 24-29 of the WHO Constitution).  The EB meets twice a year.  In January, the EB approves the provisional agenda for the WHA, reviews reports and approves draft resolutions to be considered by the WHA.

    The Programme, Budget and Administration Committee (PBAC) is composed of twelve EB members (two from each region), along with the Chair of the EB, and one Vice-Chair.  The term of membership is two years. The PBAC meets just before the January EB meeting, and immediately prior to the WHA.

    For more information on the global governing bodies, kindly visit the following link.

    Programme Subcommittee

    Programme Subcommittee

    The Programme Subcommittee (PSC) is a subsidiary body of the Regional Committee. It assists the Regional Committee by reviewing the budget, strategies, reports and proposed resolutions and advising on policy and governance matters.

    The Programme Subcommittee consists of 18 representatives of Member States. In line with the Terms of Reference of the PSC, three Executive Board members from the African Region and the Geneva-based Coordinator of the Africa Group also attend the subcommittee meetings as observers.

    Download the terms of reference of the PSC of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa [pdf]

    Programme Subcommittee Members

    Subregion 1

    1. The Gambia (2019–2022) 

    2. Guinea (2019–2022)

    3. Liberia (2020–2023)

    4. Mali (2020–2023)
    5. Mauritania (2021–2024)
    6. Niger (2021–2024)
    Subregion 2
    1. Congo (2019–2022)
    2. DR Congo (2019–2022)
    3. Central African Republic (2020– 2023)
    4. Eritrea (2020–2023)
    5. South Sudan (2021–2024)
    6. Uganda (2021–2024)
    Subregion 3
    1. Malawi (2019–2022)
    2. Mauritius (2019–2022)
    3. Mozambique (2020– 2023)
    4. Namibia (2020–2023)
    5. Seychelles (2021–2024)
    6. South Africa (2021– 2024)

    Regional Committee for Africa

    Regional Committee for Africa

    The WHO Regional Committee for Africa is the Organization's decision-making body on health policy in the African Region. It comprises of Ministers of Health or their representatives from each of the 47 Member States in the Region. The main functions of the Regional Committee include formulating regional policies and supervising the regional office as set out in Article 50 of the WHO Constitution. The Committee also nominates the Regional Director for Africa every five years and transmits its decision to the WHO Executive Board for endorsement. The Regional Committee usually meets each year in August and the Regional Director acts as its Secretary.

    The Regional Committee is guided in its work by its Rules of Procedure and the WHO Constitution.

    Useful documents

    71st WHO Regional Committee for Africa

    The Seventy-first session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa is expected to be held in a virtual format from 24 to 26 August 2021. The virtual session will be held under Special procedures for the conduct of the virtual session of the Regional Committee for Africa. The provisional agenda of the meeting was shared with all participants with the invitation letters.

    More about the 71st WHO Regional Committee for Africa
    Past Regional Committee sessions