ATACH Task Teams

Proposed ATACH Task Teams for 2026-27

Based on the latest identified country needs in climate and health, the list of ATACH Task Teams has been revised for 2026-27. Four new Task Teams are being introduced and one Task Team scope evolved.  

Task Teams are listed below with their proposed deliverables/activities. These deliverables will be further detailed in a formal workplan for each Task Team, to be developed by the selected Task Team leads based on expressions of interest received. 

 

New Task Teams for 2026-27 (open for Expressions of Interest) 

ATACH members may submit an expression of interest to lead and/or contribute to a new Task Team via the designated form available in the Members Area. 

Task Teams	Proposed deliverables/activities
Mapping and description of financing opportunities  (evolved in 2026 – open for EOIs)	i. Develop a mapping of current financing initiatives and provide information on how to access them  ii. Role of private sector and the different types of private finance available, including blended financing options  iii. Develop case studies showcasing country experiences and lessons learnt in accessing financing opportunities
Guidance to integrate gender and equity considerations in climate change and health policies and planning   (new Task Team in 2026 – open for EOIs)	i. Develop guidance to integrate gender and equity considerations in CCH policies and planning, including through participation of communities and underrepresented groups.  ii. Develop a brief on how ATACH operational and governance mechanisms ensure inclusion of gender & equity considerations
Standards for climate resilient and low-carbon sustainable health care facilities (HCFs)  (new Task Team in 2026 – open for EOIs)	i. Developing harmonized global standards for safe, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable health care facilities as targets to achieve for healthcare facilities: These standards will support countries in designing, operating and maintaining facilities that are safe, resilient and sustainable, advancing universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These should include a tiered structure (minimum and advanced levels) and be organized in, potentially stand-alone components covering the following areas:  Safe WASH (including waste management and environmental cleaning), reliable electricity, climate resilience, environmental sustainability, safe management of chemicals and radiation, and health worker protection.
Mapping of capacity building needs of different types of actors  (new Task Team in 2026 – open for EOIs)	i. Mapping capacity building competencies and needs of key stakeholders in climate change and health structured around the key functions required to advance climate resilience and low carbon sustainability in health
Practical recommendations for the integration of heat into existing climate change and health risk assessment and management approaches (new Task Team in 2026 – open for EOIs)	i. Providing practical recommendations to countries for the integration of heat into existing climate change and health risk assessment and management approaches. This could include practical recommendations for the integration of heat into e.g.: Climate change and health vulnerability and adaptation assessments at population or healthcare facility level, the Health component of National Adaptation Plans (HNAPs), and integrated climate and health surveillance systems.

 

List of Task Teams established in 2025

Task Teams established in 2025 will continue working until their deliverables are finalized. ATACH members interested in being added as contributors to an already established Task Teams may contact the ATACH Secretariat at mailto:atach@who.int.  

Task Teams related to the pilot ATACH/I-CAN Thematic Community of Practice on Nutrition, Climate Change and health are identified in green. More information on ATACH Thematic Communities of Practice can be found here. 

Task Teams	Description
Climate Change and Health Indicators	i. Global meeting(s) on indicators (including CRHS and LCSHS) organized to bring together on-going initiatives/work on indicators and agree on pathway towards standardization and alignment of different monitoring/reporting    ii. Initiatives to regularly share information about work on indicators  (including CRHS and LCSHS) and work towards alignment
Alignment of national procurement standards	i. Harmonizing sustainable procurement standards (for the subset of countries ready to identify overlap and align their procurement standards)   ii. Developing sustainable procurement standards (for the subset of countries beginning their policy development journey)  iii. Guidance on sustainable procurement standards for nutritious & sustainable food in public procurement, including health settings*  iv. Sustainable procurement standards for UN Agencies
Measuring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of national health systems	i. Develop guidance for countries to identify and implement the most appropriate methods to assess GHG emissions in health systems
Integration of nutrition in climate policies*	i. Developing guidance to enhance integration of nutrition in member states’ climate policies
“Smart Buys” for climate change and health interventions	i. Map available knowledge/resources on “smart buys”for climate change and health interventions (both adaptation and mitigation), and identify a priority research agenda to fill major gaps    ii. Generate guidance / evidence on cost-effectiveness of interventions that countries can use for decision-making on climate & health investment (considering both adaptation and mitigation)
Costing and prioritization of climate change and health interventions	i. Develop guidance on how to cost and prioritize climate change and health interventions at country level, including by their integration into the design and delivery of wider  plans (health reform and climate action) to maximize cross-sectoral benefits.

 

Criteria for the creation of Task Teams

The following criteria are proposed to ensure that ATACH task teams effectively respond to country needs in implementing climate & health work. To be established in the ATACH, task teams should:

1. Respond to identified country needs and priorities for advancing action on climate and health at country level;   
2. Be established to deliver a specific activity or product in the ATACH workplan within an agreed timescale, pilot innovative approaches to identified needs by countries or pilot new tools and products as developed by TTs; 
3. Be endorsed by the Steering Group (SG) as part of the ATACH workplan. Based on the evolution of the work and evolving country needs and priorities, new TT proposals may be submitted by ATACH members for consideration by the SG; 
4. Be led by, at least, one ATACH member with demonstrated experience, willingness and availability to coordinate the TT and deliver the agreed product. Co-leadership will also be possible where relevant.

Selection criteria for Task Team leads 

Task Team leads are selected by the Secretariat based on expressions of interest received from ATACH members (countries/areas and technical partners). Selection is guided by a set of criteria to ensure diverse representation and effective delivery of outputs. Leads (and co-leads where relevant) should have:  

• Demonstrated experience and/or technical capacity relevant to the Task Team scope and objectives. 

• Availability and commitment to coordinating the Task Team(s) under ATACH, supporting engagement of ATACH members and achieving agreed deliverables. 

• Commitment to collaborating with the ATACH Secretariat, Steering Group and other ATACH members (e.g., other Task Team leads), including through coordination calls and reporting to the Secretariat (2x year) 

• Balanced representation across geographical areas, income groups and gender. 

Roles and responsibilities in Task Teams

Interested ATACH members are invited to consider the responsibilities below to inform their expression of interest in leading and/or contributing to ATACH Task Teams. 

Task Team lead(s) are responsible for:  

• Engaging with relevant contributors from the broader community of ATACH members to develop ATACH products and activities as the main outcome of their Task Team. 

• Developing a Task Team workplan outlining the objectives, timeline and activities to advance delivery on the ATACH activity/product of the Task Team. 

• Managing the organization and running of meetings (e.g., agenda development, facilitation, sharing meeting summaries and next steps, and potential technical follow-up) and other collaborative activities for the Task Team (e.g. developing document drafts and facilitating inputs, etc.) 

• Engaging with the relevant Thematic Community of Practice leads to promote alignment, consultation and sharing with the CoP participants at different stages of product development, as relevant; 

• Reporting to the full ATACH in relevant meetings (e.g. general meetings) and in an annual progress report by the ATACH. 

Task Team contributors’ responsibilities will be agreed in consultation with Task Team leads, and could include: 

• Participating in Task Team meetings; 

• Contributing to the development of Task Team deliverables, as outlined in the workplan; 

• Participating in communication and dissemination activities related to the Task Team; 

• Other tasks as relevant to the Task Team objectives. 

 

The ATACH Secretariat is responsible for: 

• Providing administrative support to Task Team meetings (e.g., opening link, sending invite and arranging interpretation if required).

• Providing inputs into the Task Team workplan developed by the lead.

• Participating in Task Team meetings, activities, communications and product development to provide strategic direction where relevant.

• Supporting with dissemination of Task Team updates and results as relevant to the broader ATACH community, including uploading task team minutes to the ATACH Community of Practice website and disseminating reports and milestones through the ATACH newsletter.

• When possible and relevant, make funding available to Task Team leads or countries to advance and pilot specific ATACH deliverables.

• Organize meetings among the different Task Team leads at minimum on an annual basis. Between meetings, support the Task Teams ensure open communication channels between Task Teams.