Thematic Communities of Practice

Thematic Communities of Practice

The Thematic Communities of Practice (CoPs) were introduced in 2026 as a new mechanism for continuous knowledge sharing, collaboration and capacity building on key priority topics identified by countries. The CoPs will be able to advance their work through different means (e.g. Task Teams, Technical Meetings, Clinics, trainings).

All ATACH CoPs will aim to be led by a country representative, an ATACH technical partner and WHO. CoPs are open to ATACH formal members and invited experts.  

Building on the priorities voiced by countries, a total of eight communities of practice will be established by the end of 2026, namely on: 

Thematic Communities of Practice	Topics / description
National climate change & health planning	Support countries in undertaking evidence-based planning for climate change and health. Based on specific country priorities, this may include conducting climate change and health vulnerability and adaptation assessments, developing health national adaptation plans, and integrating health in nationally determined contributions.
Climate change & health financing	Support countries to identify available financing opportunities and potential sources for specific climate change and health priorities. Specifically, the CoP will facilitate the exchange of information, evidence, good practices and mapping of instruments on different types of funding and financing opportunities. The CoP will focus on understanding and addressing the barriers to access these financial opportunities.
Integrated climate change & health surveillance and early warning systems (incl. heat)	Support countries on advancing the integration of climate and weather information into health surveillance systems and, when feasible, developing climate-informed health early warning systems, able to predict the risk of an outbreak.  This CoP will also focus on heat-health early warning systems.
Climate resilient and environmentally sustainable health care facilities (CRESHCFs)	Support countries in strengthening the climate resilience and environmental sustainability of health care facilities. It will focus on implementation and innovative solutions. Based on countries priorities and needs, this may include support on assessing facility vulnerability to climate hazards, identifying and implementing resilience and sustainability measures across areas such as energy, WASH, infrastructure, waste, and health workforce, and integrating these considerations into facility planning and investment. The CoP will facilitate the exchange of practical tools, country experiences, standards and good practices to support implementation and monitoring.
National health systems decarbonization	Co-led by England NHS, the National Center for Sustainable Medicine (CoSM) at the University of Singapore, and WHO, this CoP will support countries advancing their decarbonization methods. The CoP will focus on key priorities by countries such as emissions measurement and analytics, implementation approaches, and most impactful interventions.
Climate resilient and environmentally sustainable supply chains	Support countries and partners to make health products and supply chains more climate resilient while reducing their emissions and wider environmental impacts, without compromising access, quality or affordability. Areas of focus and support may include assessing climate risks and vulnerabilities across regulations and prequalification, procurement, production, storage, distribution and delivery, as well as identifying opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, waste and other environmental impacts. The CoP will facilitate peer learning, exchange of tools and good practices, and support countries integrating climate resilience and sustainability considerations into procurement policies, supply chain planning and implementation, in addition to official climate and health policies and documents.
Climate, nutrition and health	Co-led by WHO’s Department of Nutrition and Food Safety and Egypt, this CoP is a collaborative platform that advances action across nutrition, climate, and health agendas through knowledge exchange, technical collaboration, and peer learning. The CoP supports the integration of nutrition into climate and health policies, promotes sustainable healthy diets and enabling food environments, strengthens climate-resilient and nutrition-sensitive food systems, and improves monitoring and accountability frameworks. By providing practical tools, guidance, and a space for technical exchange and capacity strengthening, the CoP helps countries align nutrition, health, food systems, and climate priorities while accelerating progress at global, regional, and national levels.
Climate change and health indicators	This CoP, co-led by WHO and the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, supports member countries in selecting, piloting and reporting of indicators for climate-resilient and low-carbon sustainable health systems. Through technical exchanges, webinars, country case studies and shared tools, the Community of Practice facilitates peer learning, strengthens capacity, and shares practical tools and experiences. It also works to promote coherence and alignment across major global climate and health monitoring processes, helping to reduce reporting burdens while supporting consistent and meaningful monitoring.

Objectives and criteria

Objectives of Thematic Communities of Practice can include:  

• Advance the global, regional and national agenda forward at pace and scale informed by country needs and priorities around the specific priority issue
• Build capacity (incl. knowledge and best-practices sharing) on the CoP topic
• Match country needs to technical expertise in the ATACH membership
• When required, advance the development of specific technical deliverables (i.e., through the creation of Task Teams (TTs) needed to address country needs/priorities within the CoP topic, or technical capacity strengthening activities (e.g., Technical Meeting (TM) or training)
• Strengthen the alignment and coordination among relevant stakeholders and related initiatives
• Be inclusive of the needs, capacities and resources of all ATACH members

Criteria for the creation of a Thematic CoP

Each Thematic Community of Practice 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)

Community of Practice 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 serve as co-lead of the Community of Practice under ATACH, supporting engagement of ATACH members.
• Commitment to ensure an inclusive approach in the way the Community of Practice works. 
• Commitment to working closely with the ATACH Secretariat, Steering Group and other ATACH members (e.g., leads of other Communities of Practice and Task Teams), including through coordination calls and reporting to the Secretariat (2x year) 

 

Roles and responsibilities in Communities of Practice

 

Community of Practice lead(s) are responsible for:

• Organizing all Community of Practice 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 Community of Practice, as well as external experts where relevant to Community of Practice objectives. 
• Co-developing a Community of Practice workplan that includes objectives, priority topics, timeline and activities to advance delivery on the established objectives and a calendar of events. 
• Supporting the organization and running of specific meetings or events (e.g., chairing, agenda development, facilitation).   
• Proposing new activities (including Task Teams) for the Community of Practice based on needs and priorities identified by the ATACH Secretariat.   
• Recognizing ATACH in all communications and activities related to the Community of Practice.  
• Preparing biannual reports to be submitted to the ATACH Secretariat and Steering Group members. 
• Participating in calls organized by the ATACH Secretariat to foster coordination between Communities of Practice and related mechanisms/activities (e.g. Task Teams). 

Community of Practice participants role (as relevant and feasible with existing capacities and priorities): 

• Designate and update focal points for engagement in the thematic Community of Practice they are interested in.  

• Share needs, priorities and challenges related to the Community of Practice, as they are identified at country level, via the mechanism provided for this purpose (e.g. input form);   

• Participate in consultations aimed at developing Community of Practice activities;  

• Participate in Community of Practice activities and contribute expertise and experience as relevant to institutional priorities and capacities. Activities may include Task Teams, meetings, surveys, development of case studies, sharing resources, capacity building opportunities such as implementation clinics and training events, peer-to-peer support, etc.; 

• Identifying additional partners relevant to the Community of Practice. 

The ATACH Secretariat is responsible for:  

• Quality assurance, ensuring that the activities of the thematic Community of Practice promote evidence-based approaches and respond to the needs and demands from countries.  
• Liaising between co-leads to ensure coordinated delivery of Communities of Practice, also identifying opportunities for alignment, linkages and synergies with other ATACH thematic Communities of Practice or operational mechanisms (e.g., Fellowship programme). 
• Supporting with dissemination of Communities of Practice key outputs and updates as relevant to the broader ATACH membership and public, clearly crediting the contribution by ATACH Community of Practice leads in all relevant communications.  
• Ensuring coherence, building synergies, and ensuring alignment with the aims and mandate of ATACH, including by providing operational support (e.g. templates, SOPs) and inputs as relevant to Community of Practice activities developed by leads; 
• Facilitating the collection of expressions of interest from ATACH members to lead the Communities of Practice; 
• Establishing a mechanism to collect and compile country priorities, challenges and needs;
• Support meeting logistics (e.g., opening link, sending invite and arranging interpretation if required) and sharing post-meeting, etc.; 
• When deemed relevant, organizing meetings to convene Community of Practice leads. Between meetings, support the Communities of Practice to collaborate and communicate if required and ensure open communication channels; 
• Facilitate liaison with the Steering Group where appropriate to seek strategic guidance on Community of Practice direction