Bissau—The World Health Organization (WHO) in Guinea-Bissau and the Ministry of Public Health signed the 2026–2027 Biennial Workplan and Budget on 29 April 2026, during an official ceremony held at the Ministry of Public Health in Bissau.
The Workplan and Budget sets out how WHO will prioritize its technical cooperation with Guinea-Bissau over the next two years. It follows the prioritization exercise that led to the approval of the WHO Programme Budget 2026–2027 and helps ensure that WHO support remains aligned with national health priorities and the country’s health system needs.
The ceremony brought together the WHO Representative in Guinea-Bissau, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, and the Minister of Public Health, Comodoro Dr Quinhin Nantote. The signing marks an important step in the partnership between WHO and the Government of Guinea-Bissau, reaffirming their shared commitment to advancing national health priorities and strengthening the health system.
A framework for WHO technical cooperation
The 2026–2027 Biennial Workplan and Budget will guide WHO’s technical and institutional support to Guinea-Bissau throughout the two-year period, in line with national policies and the WHO Programme Budget.
During the meeting, both parties highlighted the importance of government leadership, coordinated implementation, and accountability for results. Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to providing technical support adapted to the national context, while Comodoro Dr Quinhin Nantote emphasized the need for inter-institutional collaboration to translate agreed priorities into concrete progress.
Priority areas for 2026–2027
The Workplan and Budget focuses on priority areas for stronger and more resilient health systems, including:
- governance, leadership, and coordination in the health sector;
- quality essential health services, with a focus on equity;
- preparedness, surveillance, and response to public health emergencies;
- prevention, control, and management of priority communicable and noncommunicable diseases;
- maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health;
- life-course approaches and social determinants of health;
- health information systems, monitoring, evaluation, and data use for decision-making.
Implementation and accountability
WHO and the Ministry of Public Health committed to regular follow-up on progress, challenges, and emerging priorities throughout the 2026–2027 cycle. The institutions also underlined the importance of working with partners, mobilizing resources where available, and maintaining continued dialogue to support implementation.
Advancing health in Guinea-Bissau
Through this new work cycle, WHO reaffirms its support to Guinea-Bissau in building a more resilient, equitable, and evidence-informed health system, with a focus on improving access, service quality, and health outcomes for the population.
