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Thematic Communities of Practice

Thematic Communities of Practice (CoPs) are a new operational mechanism introduced in 2026 to respond to ATACH countries’ requests for more in-depth capacity strengthening and technical support around key thematic priorities that are complex and sustained in nature. Building on the results of the ATACH evaluation conducted in December 2025, a total of 5 communities of practice will be established over time, namely on: 

  • Finance 

  • Climate Change and Health governance, assessments and plans 

  • Climate-informed health surveillance and Early Warning Systems 

  • Climate resilient and environmentally sustainable healthcare facilities 

  • Nutrition, climate change and health.  

Once fully implemented, all ATACH mechanisms (including Task Teams, Technical Meetings and other activities) will be structured around the CoPs. Sub-groupings may also be created within each Thematic CoP for more focused collaboration on specific topics under the overarching theme. 

Thematic CoPs will be co-led by an ATACH country member and a technical partner with demonstrated experience, willingness and availability to coordinate the CoP n a way that is inclusive of the needs, capacitiesand resources of ATACH members on an equitable basis. Thematic CoPs will be open to ATACH formal members and invited experts to join as contributors.  

On this page, you will find information about (click on titles to quickly access contents): 

Additional information about Task Teams and Technical Meetings is also available on their dedicated webpages. 

 

Thematic CoP on Nutrition, Climate and Health (Pilot)

 

The first ATACH Thematic Community of Practice to be launched in 2026 will focus on Nutrition, Climate and Health. This first CoP will advance the implementation of the COP27 Initiative on Climate Action and Nutrition (I-CAN) and will serve to pilot the new Thematic CoP mechanism in ATACH. A pilot approach to this new structure has been recommended by key stakeholders and countries to tackle different priorities identified in the evaluation, including the need to avoid the creation of silos, the need to identify and promote cross-cutting activities (e.g., capacity building) and the need to better leverage the potential for other sectors to advance health at country level. 

ATACH Members interested in joining this first Community of Practice can express interest via the dedicated form on the Members Area.  

Following this pilot, calls for expressions of interest for the other Thematic CoPs will be progressively launched and ATACH members notified in due course. 

Objectives and criteria

Objectives of Thematic Communities of Practice can include: 

  • Advancing the global, regional and national agenda forward at pace and scale informed by country needs and priorities around the specific thematic CoP.

  • Building capacity of countries and overall ATACH membership (incl. knowledge and best-practices sharing) on the CoP topic; 

  • Matching country needs to technical expertise in the ATACH membership; 

  • Identifying and agreeing on specific technical deliverables (i.e., Task Teams needed to address specific country needs/priorities within the CoP topic, or technical capacity strengthening activities (e.g., Technical Meeting or training). 

  • Strengthening alignment and coordination among relevant stakeholders and related initiatives.  

  • Being inclusive of the needs, capacities and resources of all ATACH members on an equitable basis. 

 

Criteria for the creation of a Thematic CoP: 

Each Thematic CoP must meet the following criteria to be established within ATACH:  

  • Respond to an identified large demand from countries.

  • Address a broad and complex technical topic, that encompasses key country priorities and needs in climate change and health.

  • Respond to a broad and sustained need for technical support, capacity building, peer to peer learning and knowledge sharing.

 

Selection criteria for leads (and co-leads where relevant):  

CoP leads will be selected by the ATACH Secretariat based on expressions of interest received from ATACH members (country/area or technical partners), against a set of criteria including: 

  • Demonstrated experience and/or technical capacity relevant to the Community of Practice scope and objectives. 

  • Availability and commitment to coordinate the CoP under ATACH, supporting engagement of ATACH members. 

  • Commitment to organize all CoP activities in a way that is inclusive of the needs, capacities and resources of all ATACH members on an equitable basis. 

  • Commitment to working closely with the ATACH Secretariat, Steering Group and other ATACH members (e.g. leads of other CoPs and Task Teams), i, including through coordination calls and reporting to the Secretariat (2x year) 

  • Balanced representation: CoP leadership must include at least one ATACH country member. The Secretariat will also give consideration to broad representation of leads across WHO regions and different income groups and strive for gender equity in leadership positions.   

 

Roles and responsibilities within Thematic Communities of Practice

Governance of thematic Communities of Practice:  

Thematic CoPs will be co-led by at least an ATACH country member and a technical partner with demonstrated experience, willingness and availability to coordinate the CoP. In specific cases, and based on comparative advantages, more than two co-leads will be selected.  

CoP lead(s) are responsible for:  

  • Organizing all CoP activities in a way that is inclusive of the needs, capacities and resources of all ATACH members on an equal basis.

  • Engaging interested ATACH members as participants in the CoP, as well as external experts where relevant to CoP objectives.

  • Developing a CoP workplan that includes objectives, priority topics, timeline and activities to advance delivery on the established objectives and a calendar of events.

  • Managing the organization and running of meetings (e.g., agenda development, facilitation and potential technical follow-up), capacity building activities, and other collaborative activities for the CoP (e.g. developing document drafts and facilitating inputs, etc.) in consultation with the ATACH Secretariat and in collaboration with other CoP participants.  

  • Proposing new activities (including Task Teams) for the CoP and broader ATACH based on needs and priorities identified by the ATACH Secretariat.  

  • Recognizing ATACH in all communications and activities of the CoP. 

  • Preparing technical updates and reports to be submitted to the ATACH Secretariat and SG members (e.g., biannual reports to be submitted to the ATACH Secretariat and SG and minutes of meetings). 

  • Participating in calls organized by the ATACH Secretariat to foster coordination between CoPs and related mechanisms/activities (e.g. Task Teams).

The ATACH Secretariat is responsible for: 

  • Clearly crediting the contribution of ATACH CoP leads in all relevant communications. 

  • Ensuring coherence, building synergies, and ensuring alignment with the aims and mandate of ATACH.

  • Facilitating the collection of expressions of interest from ATACH members for the CoPs, establishing a process open to continuous submissions and sharing with CoP leads.

  • Identifying country priorities, challenges and needs, and, based on this, proposing the technical products to be developed for the specific Task Team in consultation with CoP leads.

  • Supporting meeting logistics (e.g., opening link, sending invite and arranging interpretation if required) and sharing post-meeting materials and next steps with CoP participants, e.g. a meeting summary, recording, related resources, etc.

  • Providing inputs into the CoP workplan developed by the leads.

  • Provisioning of inputs to planned activities (e.g., agendas and panelists for specific meetings and trainings. This will be critical to ensuring coherence, building synergies and ensuring alignment between the different ATACH delivery mechanisms.  

  • Participating in CoP meetings, activities, communications and collaborative processes.

  • Supporting with dissemination of CoP updates as relevant to the broader ATACH community, including disseminating reports and milestones through the ATACH newsletter.

  • When possible and relevant, making funding available to CoP leads or countries for specific high-priority activities.

  • When deemed relevant, organizing meetings to convene CoP leads. Between meetings, supporting the CoPs to collaborate and communicate if required and ensure open communication channels. 

  • Facilitating liaison with the SG where appropriate to seek strategic guidance on CoP direction.  

CoP contributors role 

  • Designating focal points for engagement in the thematic CoP.  

  • Participating in the consultation aiming to develop the CoP workplan.

  • Participating in CoP activities, which may include meetings, surveys, capacity building opportunities such as training events, etc. 

  • Contributing technical expertise related to the thematic CoP through relevant mechanisms (e.g., technical presentations, development of case studies, contributors to Task Teams).  

  • Identification of additional partners relevant to the CoP.