A Framework forCivil Society OrganizationEngagement inHealth Emergencies A framework for civil society organization engagement in health emergencies ISBN 978-92-4-010952-0 (electronic version)ISBN 978-92-4-010953-7 (print version) © World Health Organization 2025 Some rights reserved. This work is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 IGOlicence (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/igo). Under the terms of this licence, you may copy, redistribute and adapt the work for non-commercial purposes, providedthe work is appropriately cited, as indicated below. In any use of this work, there should be no suggestion that WHOendorses any specific organization, products or services. The use of the WHO logo is not permitted. If you adapt the work,then you must license your work under the same or equivalent Creative Commons licence. If you create a translation ofthis work, you should add the following disclaimer along with the suggested citation:“This translation was not created bythe World Health Organization (WHO). WHO is not responsible for the content or accuracy of this translation. The originalEnglish edition shall be the binding and authentic edition”. Any mediation relating to disputes arising under the licence shall be conducted in accordance with the mediation rules ofthe World Intellectual Property Organization (http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/mediation/rules/). Suggested citation. A framework for civil society organization engagement in health emergencies. Geneva: World HealthOrganization; 2025. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. Cataloguing-in-Publication (CIP) data.CIP data are available at https://iris.who.int/. Sales, rights and licensing.To purchase WHO publications, see https://www.who.int/publications/book-orders. Tosubmit requests for commercial use and queries on rights and licensing, see https://www.who.int/copyright. Third-party materials.If you wish to reuse material from this work that is attributed to a third party, such as tables,figures or images, it is your responsibility to determine whether permission is needed for that reuse and to obtainpermission from the copyright holder. The risk of claims resulting from infringement of any third-party-owned componentin the work rests solely with the user. General disclaimers.The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not implythe expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of WHO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city orarea or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Dotted and dashed lines on mapsrepresent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement. The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers’ products does not imply that they are endorsed orrecommended by WHO in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. Errors and omissions excepted,the names of proprietary products are distinguished by initial capital letters. All reasonable precautions have been taken by WHO to verify the information contained in this publication. However, thepublished material is being distributed without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. The responsibility for theinterpretation and use of the material lies with the reader. In no event shall WHO be liable for damages arising from its use. Cover photo credit: [A Civil Society Organization Initiative by WHO supported a project to educate small businesses aboutCOVID-19 infection prevention and control in Papua New Guinea.] © WHO/Blink Media Contents PrefaceivAbbreviationsvAcknowledgementsviIntroduction1Aim, Objective, And Target Audience3Method3Steps4Step 1:Mapping CSOs4Step 2:Defining roles and responsibilities to ensure shared accountability6Step 3:Establishing communication, feedback, and information sharing channels7Step 4:Organizing joint needs assessment for preparedness and response –the importance of inclusivity8Step 5:CSO Planning in alignment with the national and local strategies, monitoringand evaluation8Step 6:Engaging CSOs in coordination and reporting mechanisms for health emergencies9Step 7:Collecting data – the importance of data analysis and visualization9Step 8:Enhancing and strengthening capacities – collaborative construction of knowledge 10Step 9:Advocacy and resource mobilization11Step 10:Piloting new approaches for good practice dissemination / influencing policies11References12 Preface Emergencies of all hazards, be they natural, man-made, environmentalor biological, gravely affect the health and wellbeing of people across allages and social strata. The most vulnerable of us are hit the hardest during emergencies,exposing gaps in national health and development systems andhampering or preventing access of people to essential services,including health care. The World Health Organization is committed to supporting countriesin stren