About EPI-WIN
Science for communities during health emergencies
Short Background:
Successful preparedness and response to a public health emergency needs evidence-informed decisions, policies and actions by the decision makers and communities. To achieve this, however, it is essential that both the public and decision makers have timely access to scientific information in a format that is understandable and useful. This requires engaging with different communities including those who produce the science, those who communicate it widely, and those who are trusted by their community and use it
WHO has established the Information Network for Epidemics (EPI-WIN), to provide timely scientific information on health emergencies and to co-create solutions through dialogue with affected communities. Two global networks have been established: Faith, Health in the World of Work. A third network, Science Translation will be formalized in 2022. EPI-WIN is also supporting the initiation of the Director-General’s Youth Council. EPI-WIN has also established a mechanism of distilling science and key information on the COVID-19 pandemic, through various platforms. This mechanism can be utilized for future pandemics.
Objectives of programme or initiative:
The overall objective of this programme is to make scientific information accessible, understandable and meaningful to all communities during emergencies so that their decisions, policies and actions are evidence-informed.
This includes engaging and strengthening collaboration with global community networks for emergency preparedness and response, by: 1) recognizing and promoting a whole-of-society approach, 2) convening community leaders and decision-makers so they can access trustworthy information and share best practices, 3) co-creating tailored products, webinars and solutions with key communities that address the Infodemic and are guided by evidence, and 4) engaging with communities to share accurate information and build resilience to misinformation.
Areas of work/axes/pillars/strategic directions:
- Innovation for engagement:
- Networks
- Norms and Standards
- Infodemic management
- The Faith Network, have worked with EPI-WIN to co-develop several solutions to the most pressing COVID-19 challenges, such as:
- Establishing three Communities of Practise (COPs) regarding communication, advocacy, research and strategy development
- Communications and advocacy for vaccine equity, access and uptakethrough a joint WHO-UNICEF-RFP webinar
- Dialogue for Faith communities, WHO and national governments to strengthen national responses to health emergencies
- The Health in the World of Work Network was a unique initiative that has brought together employers, workers, and the public for health during the COVID-19 pandemic. A Dialogue in November 2020 consolidated the experiences of diverse representatives in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, learnings which contribute to future epidemic and pandemic preparedness.
- The Global Conference on Science Communication in Health Emergencies in June 2021, with tracks on research, media, policy and practice, highlighted the need to generate trust in science in emergencies and strengthen scientific literacy in the public and decision makers. It also revealed the need for a multidisciplinary science translation network.
- Timely translation of technical information into simple and relevant formats through over 75 EPI-WIN slide sets and 120 EPI-WIN webinars with experts, that are translated to French, Spanish, Portuguese and Russian and adapted at the national level for countries to provide accurate information to the public and policy makers.
- Co-development of meaningful material with community networks
- Experience sharing among communities through the HIVE platform
- Mutual exchange of learning and perspectives among key stakeholders through the establishment of the Science Translation Network
- To collaborate both with networks and corresponding regional and country offices
- Formalize and sustain inclusive partnerships within the organization to create sustainable, coordinated mechanisms of engagement, while also ensuring our work remains meaningful
This area of work focuses on innovations engagement with communities, such as WHO’s HIVE, a community knowledge platform providing access to credible health information, promoting knowledge sharing and collaboration, and fostering communities of practice.
Global community networks, such as the WHO Faith Network, Health in the World of Work, support for the Director-General’s Youth Council and the Science Translation Networks enable a mutual exchange of experiences and learnings and co-development of products and activities.
This area focuses on development of evidence-based best practices and field guides on science for communities. These include a World Health Organization strategy for engaging religious leaders, faith-based organizations and faith communities in health emergencies; Interim guidance and recommendations for religious leaders and faith-based communities; identifying best practices for strengthening science literacy for public health emergencies.
Infodemic management applies evidence-based interventions by analyzing concerns, questions, narratives, information voids and misinformation to promote adherence to health guidance and public health and social measures, and uptake of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics during health emergencies.
Science translation and infodemic management are mutually supportive in delivery of quality health information, and addressing health information inequalities in at-risk populations and communities of focus. Science translation structures and capacities can empower stakeholders including public health professionals to translate science in their professional and personal communities. This also makes them better infodemic managers in work they do with individuals and communities of focus.