In 2016, WHO established the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) monitoring and evaluation framework, which lists 4 critical components for assessing and monitoring IHR minimum core capacity: State Party annual assessments, joint external evaluations (JEEs), after-action reviews and simulation exercises. Monitoring and evaluation of IHR capacity foster effective planning, implementation, participation, communication and informed decision-making for better preparedness, readiness and response to public health emergencies. The United Republic of Tanzania (URT) has been enforcing the IHR and implementing its core capacities since 2007. Progress in implementation has been evaluated with the WHO “self-evaluation” tool, and reports have been submitted to WHO annually. In February 2016, the URT became the first country in the world to conduct a JEE of its 19 selected core capacities to prevent, detect and respond to public health events and to further comply with the IHR. In 2017, a costed national action plan for health security (NAPHS) for 2017–2021 was launched, based on the findings of the JEE. Achievement of the targets in the national action plan and overall implementation of the IHR requires an effective monitoring and evaluation plan. In December 2018, the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children of the URT, in collaboration
with WHO, conducted a training workshop for national IHR focal points in measuring progress in and the effectiveness, impact, relevance and sustainability of IHR core capacities