As the world continues grappling with the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new Strategic Joint Evaluation of the international development and humanitarian response to the crisis has offered a critical moment for reflection—and a renewed call to action, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced. The launch event brought together global partners to confront a simple truth: the next pandemic is not a question of if, but when. What the world chooses to do now will determine how prepared we are when that moment comes.
WHO emphasized the importance of translating the hard-earned lessons of COVID-19 into stronger systems, smarter cooperation, and faster, more equitable response mechanisms. With 194 Member States currently negotiating the final annex of the WHO Pandemic Agreement—focused on pathogen access and benefit sharing—WHO urged governments to seize upcoming discussions as a pivotal opportunity to move this crucial piece forward. Global unity, the organization stressed, remains the backbone of effective preparedness.
The evaluation aligns closely with WHO’s commitment to continuous learning, building on earlier assessments such as the Inter-Agency Humanitarian Evaluation of COVID-19 and global health cluster reviews. Together, these bodies of evidence highlight the need for more resilient systems, better coordination, and stronger application of scientific and operational lessons on the ground. COVID-19 exposed deep vulnerabilities within health systems, supply chains, governance structures, and public trust. The evaluation reinforces four essential principles for the future: solidarity, equity, science, and sustained preparedness.
Strong primary health care, early detection, transparent reporting, and equitable access to vaccines and diagnostics are not optional—they are the foundations of global health security. WHO is already acting on these lessons, including through expanded medical countermeasure platforms and the Pandemic Fund, which has mobilized over US$ 885 million for low-income countries. The launch of this evaluation serves as a powerful reminder and a collective call to learn, collaborate, and ensure the world is better prepared for the next pandemic.
