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GOARN 【Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network】

Introduction of GOARN

The Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network – also referred to as GOARN – is a global technical partnership, established by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2000 as a key mechanism to engage the resources of technical agencies for rapid identification, confirmation and response to public health emergencies of international importance.

GOARN currently comprises over 300 technical institutions and networks across the globe. As of 14 November 2023, GOARN partners by each WHO region are 44 members in Americas, 35 members in African Regions, 20 members in Eastern Mediterranean Regions, 112 members in European Region, 26 members in South-East Asia Region, and 74 members in Western Pacific Region. The main objective of the network is to provide technical support to countries experiencing a public health event due to various threats including diseases outbreaks, food safety, zoonosis, etc.

GOARN’s Purpose

GOARN　aims to improve global health security by coordinating and making available the resources of its partners to ensure preparedness for and appropriate responses to public health emergencies.

GOARN’s Vision

The network’s vision is that of institutions and stakeholders working together at national, regional and global levels to improve the detection of public health events; to support preparedness and readiness, as well capacities for alerts and rapid responses; to strengthen international coordination and networking; and to provide access to multidisciplinary technical support and expert teams around the world that can collaborate, be deployed rapidly and work effectively as part of an organized response.

GOARN’s Mission

GOARN’s mission is to provide assistance to countries and communities in their disease control efforts by facilitating rapid alerts and coordination, and ensuring technical assistance is available to support affected populations. To support national outbreak preparedness, GOARN will help to contain epidemic threats by taking immediate action and learning from its experiences.

GOARN’s three key stakeholder group

• ① GOARN Partner institutions/organizations is to support GOARN’s mission to provide assistance to the disease-control efforts of countries and communities. Partners must have a designated GOARN focal point.
• ② Steering Committee comprises representatives from 21 of the partner institutions. The committee guides the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of GOARN’s activities, operations and strategic goals.
• ③Operational Support Team (OST) is composed of managerial, technical and administrative personnel and manages the day-to-day operations

GOARN strategy 2022-2026

GOARN strategy focuses on

• -Community centered
• -Commitment to the global public health emergency workforce
• -A collaborative network of institutions, and
• -Creating solutions for a better response

GOARN’s Provision

• -Alert and Risk Assessment to facilitate information exchange and partner coordination e.g., Weekly operations coordination call, GOARN knowledge platform and epidemic intelligence in open sources
• -Capacity building and training to develop a cadre of technically and culturally competent public health emergency responders
• -Coordination, planning and deployment of rapid response capacity e.g., Rapid Response Mobile Laboratories (RRML)
• -Operational research to integrate into response

GOARN’s Assistance towards the public health emergency

Upon request of a Ministry of Health, GOARN delivers support to augment the overall WHO response to the public health emergency. Based on the varied and evolving needs of an emergency, the support could include:

• ・The deployment of technical experts to the affected countries, under the leadership of WHO.
• ・Provision of technical advice and information sharing during emergency
• ・Provision of resources for the response efforts, such as laboratory and operational tools to reinforce field teams

GOARN’s process for outbreak assistance

• ① Identification：an event/operations that may threaten international public health
• ② Alert : based on the outcome of the Event/Operations risk assessment
• ③ Request for Assistance：National health authorities request assistance from GOARN through WHO
• ④ Upload/offer expert profiles: by GOARN partner focal points to assist response
• ⑤ Selected experts’ area: contracted by WHO to deploy with GOARN for the mission

GOARN’s assistance in figures

( as of 14 November 2023 )

• ・3,570 international deployments
• ・170 operations, and
• ・115 Countries supported

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