Qatar
Partner in global health
The strategic partnership with the State of Qatar
The World Health Organization is proud of its partnership with the State of Qatar, an unwavering partner in advocating for universal health coverage (UHC) and in addressing global health challenges.
WHO thanks Qatar for its commitment to global health, backed by its flexible funding contributions. WHO appreciates in particular the core voluntary contribution agreement (CVCA) signed in 2021, which provides much-needed flexible funding to WHO for vital programmes, health emergencies, and critical health support in vulnerable communities around the world.
Flexible funding has helped WHO advance gender, equity and human rights in health and develop innovative tools and methods countries can use to identify those being left behind. Flexible funds also sparked progress in the fight against non- communicable diseases; supported healthy ageing initiatives, WHO’s information and evidence-gathering work; and WHO’s crosscutting work related to national health systems and focused on integrated people-centred services.
“Flexible funds are critical for WHO's life-saving work. With thanks to long-standing partners like the Qatar Fund for Development, WHo can use these funds to swiftly respond to global health needs as they arise. I am grateful to the State of Qatar for their support and for allowing us the flexibility we need to carry out our mission and mandate”.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, WHO PR
Dr Tedros Adhanim Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General with Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, Qatar’s Minister of Public Health.
Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari with Dr Mohamed bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Qatar Director of Public Health.
Jane Ellison, former WHO Executive Director for External Relations and Governance with Qatar Ambassador Ali bin Khalfan Al Mansouri, HE Qatar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva and other International Organizations in Switzerland.
Emergencies
COVID-19 Response – crisis in Sudan
WHO and the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), are collaborating with the Health Emergencies and Epidemic Control Directorate of the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), the State Ministry of Health (SMOH) in White Nile States, Sudan, to support preparedness for health emergencies. The project aims to strengthen preparedness on three fronts: local governance structures; building capacities to assess risks, prevent, detect and control health emergencies; and ensuring sufficient human, logistics and financial resources.
The project covers the nine localities of White Nile State, with its population of more than 2.3 million, along with nearly 280 00 refugees.
Humanitarian response in Afghanistan
In 2023, the State of Qatar and WHO continued to work jointly to provide crucial support to the most vulnerable communities in Afghanistan forging a partnership to support health facilities in underserved areas across the country. The collaboration encompasses provisions of essential medicine and medical supplies for eleven provinces in addition to provisions of training health facility staff.
In September 2021, the State of Qatar provided crucial support to humanitarian operations in Afghanistan, delivering two shipments of essential medicines such as insulin, medical consumables, trauma and surgery kits, and COVID-19 testing kits. These supplies served 1.45 million people and were used in 5400 surgeries. They were distributed to 280 health facilities and 31 public COVID-19 laboratories across Afghanistan.
We thank #Qatar 🇶🇦 for its generous support to the people of #Afghanistan through medical and aid supply flights, including @WHO's, and hosting evacuees. Impressive whole of government and whole of society approach to helping the Afghan people.
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) September 19, 2021
Neglected tropical diseases
In 2018, WHO signed a multi-year, US$ 3 million agreement for the Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases in Africa. (ESPEN). The project has helped African countries reduce the burden of five most prevalent neglected tropical diseases in Africa. These include lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, soil transmitted helminthiasis, schistosomiasis and trachoma.
This funding provided a significant boost to a five-year project launched by the WHO Regional Office for Africa in 2016.
Sports and health
WHO and the State of Qatar worked with FIFA on the Healthy 2022 World Cup project. The project aimed to make the tournament healthy and safe and a model for other such events.
WHO Collaborating Centres in Qatar
Over the years the enhanced partnership between WHO and Qatar has evolved to include joint technical collaborations with a wide network of locally based institutions. WHO collaborating centres in Qatar work towards achieving joint training and educational programmes, providing and distributing scientific data and information in addition to supporting and conducting research initiatives.
Currently there are two active collaborating centres in Qatar.
For more information visit the WHO Collaborating Centres portal