WHO and Switzerland Renew Strategic Partnership to Advance Global Health Security Through 2028

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Swiss Confederation have officially renewed their collaborative framework, signing the WHO–Switzerland Country Cooperation Strategy for the period 2024–2028. The formal signing ceremony took place on March 4, 2025, at the WHO Regional Office for Europe in Copenhagen, Denmark. This landmark agreement builds upon more than a decade of structured partnership, cementing Switzerland’s status as a pioneering high-income contributor within the WHO European Region.

The renewed strategy establishes a clear roadmap for addressing contemporary public health challenges, reinforcing health systems across borders, and accelerating global health security initiatives. By aligning national public health priorities with regional and global frameworks, WHO and Switzerland aim to leverage their collective expertise, financial resources, and diplomatic influence to foster resilient health architecture in Europe and beyond.

A Historic Partnership: Background and Evolution

The collaboration between Switzerland and the WHO has deep historical roots, bolstered by the fact that Geneva serves as the global headquarters for the organization. However, the structured framework known as the WHO–Switzerland Cooperation Strategy originated in 2013. At that time, Switzerland made history by becoming the first high-income country within the WHO European Region to pilot a dedicated country cooperation strategy.

Traditionally, country cooperation strategies were designed primarily for low- and middle-income nations to help guide WHO technical assistance, resource allocation, and priority-setting. Switzerland’s decision to adopt this model broke conventional molds, demonstrating that even advanced economies with robust domestic health systems benefit immensely from a formalized, strategic alignment with international public health bodies.

Over the subsequent decade, this unique partnership evolved from a pilot initiative into an indispensable mechanism for multilateral cooperation. The initial phases focused heavily on aligning Swiss public health policies with European health goals, sharing best practices in health workforce training, and addressing non-communicable diseases. As global health threats grew increasingly complex—highlighted by the emergence of antimicrobial resistance, climate-related health crises, and the COVID-19 pandemic—the scope of the collaboration expanded dramatically.

The decision to update and renew the strategy was jointly reached in 2022, recognizing that post-pandemic recovery required a recalibrated approach to health security. Following extensive consultations between federal authorities in Bern and WHO officials in Copenhagen and Geneva, the final text of the 2024–2028 strategy was codified, culminating in the March 2025 signing ceremony.

The 2024–2028 Strategic Framework: Core Pillars and Priorities

The newly minted WHO–Switzerland Country Cooperation Strategy for 2024–2028 is structured around several critical thematic pillars designed to address both enduring public health demands and emerging systemic vulnerabilities.

First and foremost, the strategy prioritizes the strengthening of health system resilience. Drawing critical lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, the framework emphasizes the need for robust primary health care, integrated surveillance systems, and scalable supply chains capable of withstanding future shocks. Switzerland’s advanced medical infrastructure and research capabilities will serve as vital assets in supporting technical capacity-building across the broader European region.

Second, the framework places a heavy emphasis on health security and emergency preparedness. This includes bolstering cross-border health intelligence, enhancing laboratory capacities, and facilitating the rapid deployment of medical countermeasures. A cornerstone of this security pillar is Switzerland’s ongoing integration with and support for innovative global health infrastructure, such as the WHO BioHub system. Established to facilitate the rapid, safe, and transparent sharing of novel pathogens and clinical specimens, the BioHub initiative represents a paradigm shift in global pandemic prevention.

Third, the strategy addresses non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health, which account for the vast majority of the disease burden in high-income European nations. By fostering joint research initiatives and policy dialogues, WHO and Switzerland aim to tackle systemic risk factors such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and mental health disorders, utilizing data-driven interventions and health promotion campaigns.

Finally, the cooperation framework addresses the health impacts of climate change and environmental degradation. Recognizing that climate change is fundamentally a health crisis, the strategy outlines collaborative efforts to build climate-resilient and low-carbon health systems, aligning with global commitments to achieve sustainable development goals.

Chronology of Key Milestones

To understand the trajectory of the WHO–Switzerland partnership, a review of key developmental milestones highlights how the relationship has matured over the past decade:

• 2013: Switzerland becomes the first high-income country in the WHO European Region to pilot a formal Country Cooperation Strategy, establishing a novel precedent for multilateral engagement with advanced economies.
• 2013–2020: The initial strategy phases focus on aligning domestic health policies, strengthening institutional cooperation, and sharing technical expertise in universal health coverage and chronic disease management.
• 2020–2022: The COVID-19 pandemic tests global health architecture. Switzerland and WHO intensify operational collaboration, focusing on vaccine equity, epidemiological surveillance, and emergency response coordination.
• 2022: WHO and Swiss authorities jointly decide to update and renew the cooperation strategy for a new multi-year cycle, initiating drafting processes reflecting post-pandemic realities.
• June 2024: WHO and Switzerland further strengthen their partnership by signing landmark agreements related to the global BioHub system, anchoring physical pathogen-sharing mechanisms within Swiss research infrastructure.
• March 4, 2025: The WHO–Switzerland Country Cooperation Strategy 2024–2028 is officially signed at the WHO Regional Office for Europe in Copenhagen, Denmark, by Dr. Hans P. Kluge and Ambassador Barbara Schedler.

Official Responses and Leadership Perspectives

The formal signing ceremony in Copenhagen was marked by high-level diplomatic and technical engagement, underscoring the political commitment driving the partnership forward.

Dr. Hans P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, underscored the strategic significance of the agreement during the proceedings. He noted that Switzerland’s unwavering commitment to multilateralism and public health excellence serves as an exemplary model for the entire European region. Dr. Kluge emphasized that addressing transnational health threats requires deep, institutionalized solidarity, stating that the renewed strategy provides the exact operational tools necessary to navigate an increasingly complex global health landscape.

Representing the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health, Barbara Schedler, Ambassador for Global Health, articulated Switzerland’s strategic vision. Ambassador Schedler highlighted that domestic health security is inextricably linked to global health stability. By pooling resources, sharing scientific advancements, and supporting WHO’s normative leadership, Switzerland reinforces its constitutional mandate to promote international cooperation and humanitarian welfare. She stressed that the 2024–2028 framework will enable both parties to proactively address emerging challenges rather than merely reacting to crises.

The Broader Context: Switzerland’s Role in Global Health Diplomacy

Switzerland’s partnership with the WHO must be viewed within the broader framework of the country’s longstanding tradition of international diplomacy and humanitarian engagement. As the host nation for WHO headquarters in Geneva, as well as numerous other international organizations and non-governmental bodies, Switzerland functions as an essential nexus for global governance.

The Swiss government has consistently utilized its diplomatic capital and financial contributions to support the WHO’s normative work, emergency responses, and structural reforms. In recent years, Switzerland has been a vocal advocate for sustainable financing of the WHO, recognizing that predictable, flexible funding is vital for the organization to maintain independence and operational readiness.

Furthermore, the integration of specialized Swiss assets—such as advanced academic institutions, pharmaceutical research centers, and specialized containment laboratories—into WHO-led networks amplifies the global impact of the strategy. Initiatives like the global BioHub system, which relies heavily on Swiss logistical and biosafety frameworks, demonstrate how national infrastructure can be leveraged for international public goods.

Implications and Future Outlook

The formalization of the WHO–Switzerland Country Cooperation Strategy for 2024–2028 carries significant implications for regional and global health governance.

Practically, the strategy provides a predictable, structured environment for joint programming, technical exchanges, and resource allocation over the next four years. It ensures that technical expertise flows seamlessly between Swiss institutions and WHO technical departments, translating high-level policy commitments into tangible public health outcomes.

Strategically, the renewal sends a powerful political signal at a time when multilateral institutions face intense geopolitical pressures and funding constraints. By reaffirming their commitment to collaborative health governance, WHO and Switzerland demonstrate that international solidarity remains the most effective defense against cross-border health threats.

As the implementation phase of the 2024–2028 strategy gets underway, monitoring mechanisms and joint steering committees will oversee progress across the identified priority areas. With clear benchmarks established for health security, system resilience, and disease prevention, the renewed partnership stands as a vital pillar in the architecture of modern global health.