An After Action Review (AAR) is a qualitative review of actions taken to respond to a real emergency as a means of identifying best practices, gaps and lessons. Following a response to a public health event, an AAR seeks to identify what worked and what did not, in order to understand how these practices can be maintained, improved, institutionalized and shared with relevant stakeholders. 

While AAR can vary in scope and format, they should involve a structured review of response activities, an exchange of experience, and deeper analysis of what happened and why. They can focus on one particular area or can involve all elements, sectors and partners involved in the response.