In 2023, WHO Member States endorsed a proposal from the WHO Director General for a strengthened Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience (HEPR) global architecture. Community Protection is a core part of this framework. Delivering community protection means putting people and communities that are affected by an emergency at the centre of decisions and actions aimed at protecting their health and well-being. It covers three integrated areas of work:

1. Technical approaches that involve and engage with those affected, including community engagement, risk communication and infodemic management to guide priority actions and strengthen community resilience.

2. Population and environmental public health interventions to control outbreaks and mitigate their effects on the health of those affected.

3. Multisectoral action to account for and mitigate social and economic impacts of emergencies and their responses.

 

A key outcome is to define progress, gaps, and priorities for action in delivering strengthened community protection outcomes.