Global Strategy
Global Strategy to Accelerate Tobacco Control:
Advancing Sustainable Development through the Implementation of the WHO FCTC
At its seventh session, the Conference of the Parties (COP) agreed on the need for a longer-term plan to accelerate action on WHO FCTC implementation. Through decision [FCTC/COP7(13)] the COP established a working group to develop a “medium-term strategic framework” to guide the implementation of the Convention by its Parties, as well as the development of biennial workplans and budgets of the Convention Secretariat and of any implementation support activities.
In October 2018 the Conference of the Parties adopted the Global Strategy to Accelerate Tobacco Control: Advancing Sustainable Development through the Implementation of the WHO FCTC 2019–2030 (this name has replaced the initial “medium-term strategic framework”), hereinafter referred to as Global Strategy 2025.
The Global Strategy 2025 is intended to guide the implementation of the WHO FCTC for the next seven years, including the activities of the Parties, the Convention Secretariat and other stakeholders that are in a position to support the Parties in their implementation work. The Global Strategy 2025 will also serve as basis for planning and budgeting for the 2020–2021 and two subsequent biennia, thus informing the agenda and the work of the COP.
Publication
TDR annual report 2025
The TDR annual report 2025 presents an overview of the activities, achievements and strategic directions of the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), focusing on its role in supporting research and capacity strengthening to address infectious diseases of poverty. The report outlines how TDR contributes to improving health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries by promoting implementation research, fostering innovation and facilitating the translation of evidence into practical interventions. It situates this work within the broader global health context, emphasizing persistent challenges such as disease burden, inequities in access to care and evolving environmental and epidemiological threats.
Structured around key thematic areas aligned with the TDR Strategy 2024–2029, the report highlights research efforts addressing disease control and elimination, climate change impacts on health, epidemics and outbreaks, and resistance to treatment and control agents. It also describes initiatives to strengthen research capacity, leadership and global collaboration through training programmes, networks and partnerships. The report underscores TDR’s emphasis on locally led, context-specific research and a One Health approach, while illustrating how evidence generation supports policy development, health system resilience and equitable access to effective interventions.
View the interactive version
Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research: annual report 2025
This annual report presents the activities, outputs and impact of the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research in 2025, within a rapidly evolving global health context marked by reduced development assistance, conflict and climate-related pressures. It outlines the Alliance’s portfolio of 109 projects across 41 countries and territories, focusing on generating and applying health policy and systems research to address priority challenges and strengthen health systems. The report describes progress across seven areas of work, including advancing universal health coverage through primary health care, harnessing digital transformation, addressing noncommunicable diseases, strengthening climate resilience, preparing for health emergencies, and promoting evidence-informed policy-making.
Through quantitative indicators and qualitative case studies, the report highlights how research contributes to policy decisions, service delivery improvements and institutional change. It documents initiatives such as embedded implementation research in immunization programmes, health financing analysis, and governance of public health agencies, as well as efforts to build capacity and foster collaboration across countries. The report emphasizes the importance of linking evidence generation to practical impact, demonstrating how the Alliance supports countries in translating research into policy and practice to improve health system performance and resilience.
Health reform manual
Strengthening health systems to achieve universal health coverage and improved population outcomes requires structured approaches that can navigate technical complexity, political dynamics and implementation challenges. This manual provides practical guidance for designing, implementing and evaluating health system reforms through a systematic, stepwise process grounded in health policy and systems research.
The publication presents an eight-step framework covering key stages of the reform process, including initiating reform, building a reform team, assessing system performance, diagnosing underlying problems, selecting policy options, conducting political analysis, managing implementation and evaluating results. It builds on the control knobs framework to analyse how policy levers influence intermediate outcomes such as access, quality and efficiency, and ultimately health status, financial protection and public satisfaction. The manual integrates analytical tools, conceptual frameworks and practical worksheets to support evidence-informed decision-making and adaptation to diverse country contexts. Emphasizing the interaction between technical, ethical and political dimensions, it is intended for policy-makers, advisors and stakeholders engaged in health system strengthening and reform processes aimed at improving equity and performance.
Youth co-creation for health
We developed this practical guide for youth and adults who are committed to greater youth participation in health programmes. It was co-led at every step by youth and included a large team who organized co-creation on conceptual issues, a global crowdsourcing challenge, systematic review of evidence, participatory workshops and an open review process.
Youth co-creation for health: a practical guide provides strategies for understanding, designing, nurturing and sustaining youth co-creation in health research, programmes and policies.
Register to join the launch webinar on 21 April.
FCTC/COP/11/DIV/1 List of participants
FCTC/MOP/4/14 Review of accreditation of nongovernmental organizations with the status of observer to the Meeting of the Parties
FCTC/MOP/4/13 Payment of Assessed Contributions and measures to reduce Parties in arrears
FCTC/MOP/4/12 Proposed Workplan and Budget for the financial period 2026–2027
Brochure
Global Strategy to Accelerate Tobacco Control
COP documents & Indicator compendium
FCTC/COP10(15) Global Strategy to Accelerate Tobacco Control: Advancing Sustainable Development through...
Tenth sessionPanama City, Panama, 20–25 November 2023
FCTC/COP8(16) Measures to strengthen implementation of the Convention through coordination and cooperation
Eighth session Geneva, Switzerland, 1−6 October 2018DECISION
Eighth session Geneva, Switzerland, 1−6 October 2018 Provisional agenda item 7.1This report presents a proposed draft medium-term strategic framework...
Multimedia
Main video
Infographics
