On 28 – 30 April 2025, the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, convened a three-day Joint External Evaluation (JEE) Planning and Stakeholder Orientation meeting in Windhoek. The meeting marked a significant milestone in Namibia’s ongoing efforts to continuously assess and evaluate the implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) core capacities with the aim to assess the countries progress in developing capacities for prevention, timely detection, reporting and response. The purpose of the meeting was to orient stakeholders on the JEE process, to establish a multi-sectoral team responsible for leading the country through the planned JEE, importantly the self-evaluation phase and data gathering process. These activities for a critical part of the country’s preparation for the external evaluation process of the JEE.

Namibia’s first JEE was conducted in 2016, an assessment that provided valuable insights into public health emergency preparedness and response capacities. Following this evaluation, the government developed and implemented the NAPHS for the period 2021-2025. The country is due for the second JEE exercise and with the current phase of the NAPHS approaching its conclusion, there is a need to track progress made in improving health security.  

The updated JEE tool was introduced to the participants by Ms. Roselina De Wee, WHO's Emergency Preparedness and Response Officer as part of the review process, allowing stakeholders to identify quick-win opportunities that can be addressed before the official external assessment. This proactive approach underscores Namibia’s commitment to enhancing its public health systems in alignment with international standards.

Key presentations during the meeting included an overview of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Monitoring and Evaluation Frameworks, emphasizing the need to prevent and respond to the international spread of diseases while minimizing disruptions to international travel and trade. Participants were also provided with detailed progress of the NAPHS implementation progress to date.

The JEE process encourages a broader participation across the health system. It provides a unified opportunity for countries to identify areas that require urgent measures to enhance health system security. Additionally, it supports the prioritization of key activities to strengthen and sustain capacities for operational preparedness and response to current and future public health events. It also evaluates preparedness for future pandemics and emerging health threats. In addition, the successful completion of the second JEE will further position Namibia as a proactive and transparent member of the global health community, capable of managing health emergencies and contributing to preparedness efforts and will enable the review and update of the NAPHS strategy.

Partners representing the one health sector, different government departments, health partners and the IHR National Focal Point participated in this planning session. The second JEE is planned for October 2025.