The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean has launched a new Community of Practice on artificial intelligence for disaster and emergency response surveillance through the WHO Collaboratory platform in Cairo on 16 April 2026. The initiative brings together governments, health practitioners, researchers, partners, and WHO staff to collaborate on how AI can be applied in surveillance, early warning systems, risk assessment, and operational emergency response across the region.
As part of WHO’s broader AI Literacy Programme, the Community of Practice aims to strengthen national and regional capacity to safely, ethically, and effectively evaluate and scale AI tools in health emergencies. It provides access to training resources, peer learning opportunities, technical working groups, and a shared repository of tested guidance and best practices, with a strong focus on transparency, equity, and responsible use of AI.
WHO officials emphasized that the initiative comes at a critical time, as the Eastern Mediterranean Region continues to face overlapping crises including disease outbreaks, conflict, displacement, and climate-related shocks. In such contexts, timely and reliable information is essential for effective decision-making and emergency response coordination.
According to WHO leadership, the program is designed to ensure that artificial intelligence is applied in ways that are grounded in public health needs and translated into real-world operational impact. It builds on the organization’s commitment to helping Member States adopt innovation that improves the speed and quality of emergency response while maintaining ethical safeguards.
The initiative also expands on previous WHO efforts, including the All-Hazards Information Management (AIM) Toolkit, which uses AI to improve emergency information management, streamline reporting processes, and support rapid risk assessments and response planning. Health workers from multiple countries have already been trained in using these tools and in strengthening AI literacy for preparedness and surveillance.
WHO experts highlighted that while AI has strong potential in public health, its effectiveness depends on responsible implementation and practical usability in crisis settings. The new Community of Practice is intended to move AI applications beyond pilot projects and into routine emergency operations where speed, trust, and accuracy are essential.
Together, the Community of Practice and existing AI tools such as the AIM Toolkit aim to strengthen regional preparedness by improving how health information is generated, shared, and used, ultimately supporting more coordinated and effective responses to emergencies across the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
