Investment in Internal Oversight Services

WHO / G Lymperopoulos
Participants listen to Nelson Olim, WHO Academy learning programme creator, during a table-top simulation activity as part of a Mass Casualty Management training for the Emergency Unit team at Attikon University Hospital, Greece.

WHO’s auditors, evaluators and investigators work to uphold WHO’s mission of health for all by providing quality assurance and oversight across the Organization’s programmes and workforce, helping ensure they operate effectively and deliver results. Alongside audit and investigations, evaluation strengthens WHO’s and its partners accountability for results and organizational learning by promoting transparency, and evidence-informed decision-making that drive continuous improvement.

By offering its staff regular professional development workshops, continuous learning and training, Internal Oversight Services (IOS) is investing in the development of skills, knowledge and tools to enhance its capacity to do this important work.

This investment is also an opportunity to build collaborative bridges between Audit, Evaluation, and Investigations, enabling staff to overcome challenges collectively. 

Internal investment

Since 2023, IOS held numerous continuous learning sessions for its staff and its Member States, covering themes like fraud, abusive conduct, sexual misconduct, leadership, data analytics and artificial intelligence, culture, confidentiality, and oversight in the Polio programme and in health emergencies.

The Evaluation Office continues to invest in strengthening institutional capacity and systems to uphold the independence, quality, and utility of evaluations across the Organization.

During 2024–2025, a key corporate investment focused on strengthening WHO’s evaluation function. In collaboration with technical units and regional offices, the Evaluation Office completed 34 evaluations, generating 170 recommendations which informed the development and implementation strategies, policies and programme informing decision-making and strategic positioning.

External investment

IOS participates in external meetings to broaden their work's reach through learning and listening exercises and IOS presentations. Additionally, there are exchanges with other global health oversight offices, on topics such as fraud, abusive conduct, retaliation, and sexual misconduct in the aid sector. 