Harnessing the power of science to achieve health for all
The Science Division harnesses the power of science and innovation. It provides global leadership in leveraging the best scientific evidence to improve health and promote health equity for all. Its mission is to ensure that Member States are able to call
on the best of science and innovation to achieve the health-related Sustainable Development Goals. WHO’s coordinating role for science is especially important in ensuring that access to new therapies, diagnostics, and vaccines under development
is equitable and that they are available to all who need them.
The creation of the Science Division in 2019 as part of WHO’s transformation was timely: when COVID-19 took hold, the Science Division put WHO at the forefront of global efforts to combat the pandemic. The Science Division has been instrumental in making WHO the trusted source of the best scientific evidence about COVID-19, its treatment and prevention. COVID-19 has also shown us that with the rapid pace and sheer scale of digital communication, the voice of science risks being lost in the noise. WHO’s Science Division plays a key role in countering the infodemic of misinformation and supporting scientists to be active and visible at the science-policy interface.
WHO’s Chief Scientist, Dr Jeremy Farrar, is the public face of science at WHO. He has taken a leadership role for science around the world, convening the world’s experts, and keeping WHO ahead of the curve. Three WHO departments drive the work of the Science Division:
The Science Division benefits from hosting three specialist research entities:
The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the need for countries to be proactive and stay ahead of the curve, and also to react fast in the face of a public health emergency. The Science Division’s priorities for the years ahead are in support of its mission: to provide global leadership in translating the latest in science, evidence, innovation, and digital solutions to improve health and health equity for all.
This includes pandemic preparedness and response, but it also goes well beyond that: to harness the power of science to help Member States attain the health-related Sustainable Development Goals. To this end, the Science Division has clearly identified goals, each supported by its three departments.