At the request of the Ministry of Health, the WHO Regional Office for the European region, in collaboration with the WHO Country Offices and WHO Headquarters, conducted the first Joint External Evaluation orientation workshops in the region, held in Vilnius, Lithuania, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova and Belgrade, Serbia in June and July 2018.

Using a global standardized methodology, the workshops were the first phase of launching the JEE process and initiating the country self-evaluation phase, which was then followed by the external evaluation mission. The workshops aimed to ensure multisectoral engagement of all relevant sectors from an early stage of the process, familiarize these stakeholders with the evaluation methodology and conclude with an agreement and timeframe on the next steps of the process.

The first half of the workshop covered the conceptual and methodological background, including the key aspects of the IHR (2005), the IHR Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (IHR MEF) and the JEE tool and process. The second half consists of facilitated group work sessions, in which the relevant national sector representatives practice filling-out the self-evaluation workbook and present the results in a standardized manner based on the required template.

Each of the three workshops included more than 30 technical experts, representing more than 10 different ministries and agencies. The presence, and participation in group work, of high-level ministerial representatives indicated a serious commitment to the JEE process and IHR overall. These orientation workshops contributed to IHR monitoring and evaluation by improving the quality of the JEE mission, report and recommendations, which form the building blocks for the future development of a NAPHS to address the capacity gaps .

The guidance from WHO, the content and impact of the workshop were highly appreciated by the national counterparts in all three countries. The activity was perceived as an important step to prepare for the JEE missions, which will be conducted in Lithuania, Republic of Moldova, and Serbia in the last quarter of 2018.

Detailed information on the contents, objectives and planning of the JEE orientation workshop can be found in the JEE Country Implementation Guide, available in English, Russian, French and Portuguese online.