PAHO Strategic Plan 2026-2031

Overview

The PAHO Strategic Plan 2026-2031 (SP26–31) will set the medium-term strategic direction of the Pan American Health Organization and specify the collective priorities and results to be achieved during the period, with a strong focus on those priorities to which PAHO adds value, on driving impact at the country level, and on addressing inequities in health.

It represents the final Strategic Plan during the period of the Sustainable Health Agenda for the Americas 2018-2030 (SHAA2030) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and will respond to the regional priorities agreed upon by Member States in the SHAA2030 and the global health priorities set out in the WHO Fourteenth General Programme of Work, 2025-2028 (GPW 14).

The new Strategic Plan presents an opportunity to reflect on the strategic direction of the Organization and make necessary shifts to get the Region of the Americas back on track to meet regional and global commitments, including the SHAA2030 and SDGs, as well as emerging regional and global mandates. It will also present the Region’s response to country priorities.

Children of the Americas looking at the camara

Roadmap for the development of the PAHO SP26-31

Preparation of the Strategic Plan development process (March–June 2024): development of the process by PASB and presentation to the 174th Session of the Executive Committee. A briefing session was held with Member States in June 2024 who provided input on the process, methodology for consultations, and timeline.

Analysis and drafting (July 2024–February 2025): review of the health situation, including the application of strategic foresight methodologies; identification of priorities utilizing the theory-of-change approach; definition of results (including targets and indicators) by PASB in consultation with all Member States (including country-level strategic input and identification of priorities) and other stakeholders; draft the full SP26–31 and outline of the PAHO Program Budget 2026–2027, both for submission to the 19th Session of the Subcommittee on Program, Budget, and Administration, in March 2025.

Refinement and approval (March–September 2025): refinement of the SP26–31 and the Program Budget 2026–2027 based on input received from the 19th Session of the Subcommittee on Program, Budget, and Administration and the 176th Session of the Executive Committee; finalization of both documents and their corresponding proposed resolutions for approval by the 62nd Directing Council.

Tracking Progress on Key Milestones

Milestone 1 - Roadmap for the development of the SP26-31 presented to the 174th Session of the Executive Committee (June 2024)

Milestone 2 - Progress update on the development of the SP26-31 to the 61st Directing Council (September 2024)

Milestone 3 - Full draft of the SP26-31 and outline PB26-27 presented to the 19th Session of the Subcommittee on Program, Budget, and Administration (March 2025)

Milestone 4 - Updated SP26-31 and draft PB26-27 presented to the 176th Session of the Executive Committee (June 2025)

Milestone 5 - Final drafts of the SP26-31 and PB26-27 presented to the 62nd Directing Council (September 2025)

See document (CD61/INF/1 – ENG, ESP, FRA, POR) for details.

Consultation and Information Sessions

Addressing health challenges requires the involvement of many actors, including those working in fields outside the health sector.

The SP26–31 development process will utilize a wide-ranging and participatory engagement approach for collaborating with Member States and stakeholders in a strategic and transparent manner, in order to develop a realistic Strategic Plan that is results-based and country-focused.

The process will include multiple virtual consultations with Member States and information sessions with stakeholders at key junctures in the process, especially regarding the development of its Results Framework.

In addition, Member States and stakeholders will be invited to provide their input in writing. Importantly, the responsibility for the approval of the Strategic Plan rests with Member States through PAHO’s Governing Bodies.