WHO European Healthy Cities sub networks

WHO established sub networks on the core themes of Phase IV to provide leadership on the core themes and to develop expertise that would provide learning for all cities across the European Network. sub networks are intended for smaller groups of cities who have particular experience of or interest in one of the core areas of work. They are expected to develop practical products - such as training, research and tools that will benefit the Network as a whole. There are three sub networks, and WHO European Healthy Cities are expected to participate in at least one of them.

Each sub network is chaired by a lead city with particular experience of the theme and has 10-15 member cities. The sub networks meet twice each year and are supported by WHO expert advisors and or Institutes that have a particular expertise in the subject area.

Cities designated to Phase V have six strategic goals:

1. To promote policies and action for health and sustainable development at the local level and across the European Region, with an emphasis on the determinants of health, poverty and the needs of vulnerable groups.

2. To increase accessibility of the WHO Healthy Cities Network to all Member States of the European Region.

3. To promote solidarity, cooperation and working links between European cities and networks and with cities and networks participating in the healthy cities movement in other WHO Regions.

4. To strengthen the national standing of Healthy Cities in the context of policies for health development, public health and urban regeneration.

5. To play an active health advocacy role at European and global levels through partnerships with other agencies concerned with urban issues and networks of local authorities.

6. To generate the policy and practice know-how, the good evidence and the case studies for promoting health to all cities in the Region.

In practice, WHO sets core themes and objectives for cities, which determine the agenda for each five year phase. Cities are expected to develop programmes for each theme that are appropriate for local circumstances and also integrate work on the themes.

Progress is monitored at yearly WHO Business Meetings and cities complete ART (Annual Reporting Templates) which are forwarded on an annual basis to WHO Europe early in the calendar year.

Each phase culminates in an International Healthy Cities Conference. A very successful Conference at the end of Phase III, in 2003 was held in Belfast with 800 delegates from around the world attending

WHO European Healthy Cities Advisory Committee.

The WHO European Healthy Cities Advisory Committee consists of six cities and our Programme Director, Joan Devlin was elected chair of the WHO Advisory Committee in October 2005. The role of the Advisory Committee is to support the WHO European Healthy Cities office in the implementation of Phase IV Themes.

Other elected cities include Udine, Italy; Bursa, Turkey; Lodz, Poland; Seixal, Portugal and Sandnes, Norway.