WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean launches AI Community of Practice for Disaster and Emergency Response Surveillance

16 April 2026, Cairo, Egypt - The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean has launched a Community of Practice on artificial intelligence for disaster and emergency response surveillance through the WHO Collaboratory platform.

The initiative brings together national authorities, practitioners, researchers, partners and WHO staff to share knowledge, build capacity and co-develop practical guidance for applying AI in surveillance, early warning, risk assessment and operational response.

As a core component of WHO's AI Literacy Programme, the Community of Practice is designed to strengthen national and regional capacity to evaluate, adopt, govern and scale AI tools safely, ethically and effectively during disasters and health emergencies.

Members will have access to curated training modules, peer-to-peer learning, technical working groups and a repository of best practices and tested guidance. The platform prioritizes ethical, equitable and transparent use of AI, in line with WHO standards.

"At WHO, we advocate for the science-driven use of artificial intelligence in public health response, especially during emergencies," said Dr Annette Heinzelmann, WHO Regional Emergency Director, a.i. "Our priority is to ensure these technologies are applied in ways that are safe, ethical and grounded in public health needs. This initiative reflects our commitment to supporting Member States in translating innovation into faster, more effective emergency response."

Amid growing and overlapping health challenges across the Region, including disease outbreaks, conflict, displacement and climate-related shocks, stronger and more timely information is essential to guide decision-making and response.

The launch builds on recent efforts by WHO to strengthen AI capacity across the Eastern Mediterranean. Last year, WHO launched the All-Hazards Information Management (AIM) Toolkit, an AI-powered solution designed to make emergency information management faster, clearer and more consistent, and to streamline the production of core information products, including rapid risk assessments, response plans, monitoring tools and situation reports. Participants from 20 countries were trained in the use of the AIM Toolkit, as well as on AI literacy for emergency preparedness and surveillance.

"Artificial intelligence has enormous potential in public health, but its impact depends on how responsibly and effectively it is applied," said Dr Oliver Morgan, Head of the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence. "At the WHO Hub in Berlin, we develop innovative tools and bring experts together through initiatives like the Collaboratory to support countries and regions to detect health threats faster and respond more effectively. This Community of Practice helps ensure AI solutions move beyond pilots and into real-world emergency response, where speed, trust and usability matter most."

Together, the AIM Toolkit and the Community of Practice provide countries with both practical tools and a collaborative platform to strengthen the use of AI in emergency preparedness and response.

Multiple protracted emergencies, ranging from disease outbreaks and displacement to climate-related shocks and conflict, continue to place immense pressure on health systems across the Region. Strengthening how information is generated, shared and used is essential to support more timely, coordinated and effective health emergency response.

Related: collaboratory.who.int

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