Invitation

20, AVENUE APPIA – CH-1211 GENEVA 27 – SWITZERLAND – TEL CENTRAL +41 22 791 2111 – FAX CENTRAL +41 22 791 3111 – WWW.WHO.INT Ref.: C.L.11.2026 The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) has the honour to communicate to Members of the Organization, in accordance with Rules 5 and 8 of the Rules ... of Procedure of the Executive Board, the provisional agenda and provisional annotated agenda for the 159th session of the Executive Board, which will be held in person from Monday 25 to Tuesday 26 May 2026, 1 commencing at 09:30 (CEST) at WHO headquarters, Geneva. There is no limitation applying to the number of persons registering as part of Member States and Associate Members’ delegations. However, in view of the space restrictions two persons per each Member State may be present in the meeting room where the Executive Board is convened. Registration can be initiated as of 20 April 2026 by going to the following link: https://events.who.int/EB159. Registration should be completed by 22 May 2026. In accordance with resolution WHA49.9 (1996), and to support the aim of achievement of SDG 5 (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls), the Director-General invites Member States to consider that gender balance be applied to their delegations. The Code of Conduct to prevent harassment, including sexual harassment at WHO events, is available at the following link: Code of Conduct to prevent harassment, including sexual harassment, at WHO events. Documents for the 159th session of the Executive Board can be accessed on the Internet through the WHO website (https://apps.who.int/gb/gov/) as they become available and practical ... information for delegates is attached. Member States are reminded that, as agreed by the Executive Board at its 143rd session, governing body meetings are paperless. The Director-General of the World Health Organization takes this opportunity to renew to Members of the Organization the assurance of his highest consideration. GENEVA, 27 March 2026 1 See Executive Board decision EB158(25) (2026). ... ENCLS.: (3)  REGISTRATION Online registration is required to participate in the Executive Board which will be held in person. Before each meeting, an invitation is sent to Member States indicating a link to access the electronic Registration System (CVENT). Each participant is invited to register her/himself. Registration can be initiated as of 20 April 2026 by going to the following link: https://events.who.int/EB159 and should be completed by 22 May 2026. The WHO Department of Governing Bodies will verify the information submitted into the registration system to generate the meeting badges and the list of participants. CREDENTIALS The credentials shall be issued by the Head of State, the Head of Government, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Health, or any other appropriate authority, i.e. Permanent Missions and senior government officials, such as Directors-General for Health. A copy of the credentials will have to be uploaded and submitted through the online registration system before the opening of the 159th session of the Executive Board. Credentials should include the following information for each participant: LAST NAME (in capital letters), first name, title, function, institution, city, gender (unless indicated in title). Credentials should be uploaded when registering in the online registration system and not be sent by email. Confirmation of registration will be sent through the online registration system. ACCESS TO WHO HEADQUARTERS Members of the delegations must register according to the timelines through the online registration system in order to collect their badge and access WHO. Please note that any late registrations will result in delays in securing badges upon arrival at WHO. In view of the space restrictions, please note that up to two members of each delegation of EB Member States may be present at a time in the meeting room. VISAS Attention is drawn to the strict provisions in force regarding entry into Switzerland – those not having the required visa will be refused entry. As of 13 December 2008, Switzerland has applied the Schengen visa regulations. Therefore, certain nationalities travelling to WHO headquarters to participate in meetings will require a Schengen visa to enter Switzerland. Since that date, it is no longer sufficient for a participant to present the invitation letter to obtain a visa. A visa support letter is now required. Before requesting a visa support letter, participants are advised to contact their nearest Swiss embassy or consulate to determine whether they require a visa. Member States requiring the assistance of WHO to obtain a Swiss Schengen visa are kindly invited to do so when they register for the meeting through the online registration system. EB159/ENCL./1  Executive Board 159th session ________________________________________________________________________________ Geneva, 25 and 26 May 2026 EB159/1 27 March 2026 ________________________________________________________________________________ Provisional agenda 1. Election of Chair, Vice-Chairs and Rapporteur 2. Opening of the session and adoption of the agenda Documents EB159/1 and EB159/1 (annotated) 3. Outcome of the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly 4. Report of the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board Document EB159/2 5. Report of the Standing Committee on Health Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response Document EB159/3 6. Management, governance and financial matters 6.1 Report by the Officers of the Executive Board on future modalities of the governance reform pilot Document EB159/4 6.2 Evaluation: annual report Document EB159/5 6.3 Hosted partnerships • Proposals for WHO to host formal partnerships [if any] • Report on hosted partnerships Document EB159/6 • Review of hosted partnerships Document EB159/7 EB159/1 2 6.4 Committees of the Executive Board • Committees of the Executive Board: filling of vacancies Documents EB159/8 and EB159/8 Add.1 • Independent Expert Oversight Advisory Committee: membership renewal Document EB159/9 6.5 Amendments to the Financial Regulations and Financial Rules [if any] 6.6 Process for the election of the Director-General of the World Health Organization Document EB159/10 7. Staffing matters 7.1 Statement by the representative of the WHO staff associations Document EB159/INF./1 7.2 Amendments to the Staff Regulations and Staff Rules [if any] 8. WHO’s action on United Nations system-wide action plans • Progress report on the implementation of the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy Document EB159/11 9. Matters for information: report on meetings of expert committees and study groups Document EB159/12 10. Future sessions of the Executive Board and the Health Assembly Document EB159/13 11. Closure of the session ---  Executive Board 159th session ________________________________________________________________________________ Geneva, 25 and 26 May 2026 EB159/1 (annotated) 27 March 2026 ________________________________________________________________________________ Provisional agenda (annotated) 1. Election of Chair, Vice-Chairs and Rapporteur 2. Opening of the session and adoption of the agenda 3. Outcome of the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly 4. Report of the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board The Board will receive at the opening of its session the report of the forty-fourth meeting of the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee, which is scheduled to be held from Wednesday 13 May to Friday 15 May, 2026. 5. Report of the Standing Committee on Health Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response The Board will receive the report of the eighth meeting of the Standing Committee on Health Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response, which is scheduled to be held on 14 and 15 April 2026. 6. Management, governance and financial matters 6.1 Report by the Officers of the Executive Board on future modalities of the governance reform pilot The Board will consider a report prepared by the Officers of the Executive Board on the future modalities of the governance reform pilot, as requested in decision EB158(21) (2026). 6.2 Evaluation: annual report In line with WHO’s evaluation policy, approved by the Executive Board in decision EB157(2) (2025), an annual report on evaluation will be submitted to the Board through its Programme, Budget and Administration Committee. It describes the progress made and challenges faced in implementing the policy and the Organization-wide evaluation workplan for 2024–2025, and summarizes how recently conducted evaluations were used. The Board will be invited to note the report. 6.3 Hosted partnerships The Board will consider reports submitted pursuant to decision EB132(10) (2013), in which it requested its Programme, Budget and Administration Committee to ensure that the arrangements for hosted partnerships were regularly reviewed on a case-by-case and timely basis in respect of their contributions to EB159/1 (annotated) 2 improved health outcomes, WHO’s interaction with individual hosted partnerships, and the harmonization of their work with the work of WHO; and to make recommendations for the consideration of the Board, as appropriate, through a standing item on the subject on the Board’s agenda. The Board will be invited to note the reports. • Proposals for WHO to host formal partnerships [if any] • Report on hosted partnerships The Director-General will submit to the Board a general annual update on hosted partnerships. The Board will be invited to note the report. • Review of hosted partnerships The Director-General will submit to the Board a report on the review of Unitaid in the context of the periodic review of arrangements for hosted partnerships. The Board will be invited to note the report. 6.4 Committees of the Executive Board • Committees of the Executive Board: filling of vacancies This is a standing item. • Independent Expert Oversight Advisory Committee: membership renewal The Board will be invited to note a report by the Director-General on the membership of the Independent Expert Oversight Advisory Committee and consider a draft decision. 6.5 Amendments to the Financial Regulations and Financial Rules [if any] 6.6 Process for the election of the Director-General of the World Health Organization In the context of the relevant Rules of Procedure, resolutions and decisions, the report will address the following matters related to the Director-General election process: dates for the candidates’ forums and proposed detailed arrangements for the interviews of candidates at the first forum; prospective candidate status and leave status of internal candidates; electoral campaign activities at sessions of the regional committees; and support for candidates attending the interviews at the 160th session of the Board and, for nominated candidates, in the period between the 160th session of the Board and the Eightieth World Health Assembly. The Board will be invited to note the report and to consider the draft decision contained therein. 7. Staffing matters 7.1 Statement by the representative of the WHO staff associations This is a standing item. 7.2 Amendments to the Staff Regulations and Staff Rules [if any] 8. WHO’s action on United Nations system-wide action plans • Progress report on the implementation of the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy The report provides an update on implementation between 2019 and 2025 of the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy and the WHO policy on disability, highlighting the progress made, the remaining challenges and the launch of the WHO Disability Health Equity Initiative. The Board will be invited to note the report. EB159/1 (annotated) 3 9. Matters for information: report on meetings of expert committees and study groups In compliance with Regulation 4.23 of the Regulations for Expert Advisory Panels and Committees, the Director-General will submit to the Board for its consideration his report on meetings of expert committees, including a summary of the recommendations contained in the reports of expert committees and his observations on their significance for public health policies and implications for the Organization’s programmes. 10. Future sessions of the Executive Board and the Health Assembly This is a standing item. 11. Closure of the session Note: In accordance with Rule 8 of the Rules of Procedure of the Executive Board, the Director-General transmitted the draft provisional agenda to Member States for comment on 6 March 2026. No proposal for additional items was received from Member States by the deadline of 20 March 2026. --- Saatja: "ola" <[email protected]> Teema: WHO: C.L.11.2026 (EB159) Kuupäev: 2026-03-27 15:10 Tähelepanu! Tegemist on välisvõrgust saabunud kirjaga. Tundmatu saatja korral palume linke ja faile mitte avada. Dear Member States of the World Health Organization, Please find attached, in the six official languages, C.L.11.2026 regarding the 159th session of the Executive Board (25-26 May 2026). For any further questions, please contact [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> Best regards, Department of Governing Bodies World Health Organization ***DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS E-MAIL. YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE A REPLY***