In 2008, WHO’s Commission on Social Determinants of Health noted that “social injustice is killing on a grand scale.” This claim has never been more relevant than during the COVID-19 pandemic, the impacts of which have been felt so unequally around the world. In this context, the Member States of WHO, in resolution 74.16 of the Seventy-fourth World Health Assembly in 2021, requested the Director-General “to foster and facilitate knowledge exchange among Member States and relevant stakeholders on best practices for intersectoral action on the social, economic and environmental determinants of health in order to achieve health equity and gender equality for all.”  Currently, knowledge exchange between countries and other stakeholders on social determinants of health often occurs on a bilateral basis, which can lead to inefficiencies and missed opportunities for broader collaboration and exchange. WHO established the Global Knowledge Network for Health Equity (GKNHE) to address these issues.

GKNHE aims to:

• foster collaboration through a platform that connects stakeholders, partners, and existing networks;
• empower champions and technical officials in countries tasked with addressing the social determinants of health equity;
• facilitate knowledge exchange on strategic frameworks, policy and implementation challenges and solutions, measurement considerations, and the latest WHO technical guidance;
• spur action on the social determinants of health equity by enabling dialogue around and implementation of the upcoming WHO World report on the social determinants of health equity; and
• offer targeted support through dedicated work streams for practitioners addressing the social determinants of health.

Membership will primarily include WHO Member States through government officials who are tasked with coordinating actions on social determinants of health equity at a national level. Over time, the intention is to expand membership to local actors and champions, civil society organizations, and academic institutions. 

• Expand and Deepen Member Engagement: Maintain robust communications with current members while actively inviting new countries and stakeholders to join the Network.
• Support WHO World Report Launches: Facilitate country-level launches of the WHO World Report on Social Determinants of Health Equity by providing comprehensive resource packages and technical guidance.
• Convene Collaborative Meetings: Organize virtual meetings to share best practices, discuss case studies, and foster intersectoral collaboration.
• Deliver Webinars and Capacity-Building Sessions: Host a series of webinars and training sessions tailored to emerging priorities and member needs in health equity.
• Develop and Disseminate Case Studies: Produce country-specific case studies that document best practices and lessons learned in advancing health equity.