WHO Global Competency Model
The World Health Organization's Enhanced Global Competency Model describing the core, management, and leadership competencies expected of all WHO staff. Designed to ensure WHO has a capable, motivated, and productive workforce that delivers on its mission to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable.
WHO Global Competency Model is a compliance framework from International with 9 domains and 42 controls that map to 5 other frameworks. The largest domains are Health Leadership and Systems Themes (9 controls), Leadership Competencies (8 controls), Core Competencies (7 controls). Every control below carries what it requires and what an assessor expects to see.
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Framework Domains (9)
Core
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| WHOCOMP-1 | Core Competencies |
Core Competencies
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| WHO-CORE-01 | Communicating in a Credible and Effective Way |
| WHO-CORE-02 | Knowing and Managing Yourself |
| WHO-CORE-03 | Producing Results |
| WHO-CORE-04 | Moving Forward in a Changing Environment |
| WHO-CORE-05 | Fostering Integration and Teamwork |
| WHO-CORE-06 | Respecting and Promoting Individual and Cultural Differences |
| WHO-CORE-07 | Setting an Example |
Framework Governance, Assessment and Learning
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| WHO-ASSESS-01 | Competency Assessment and Performance Management |
| WHO-GOV-01 | Governance of the Competency Framework |
| WHO-LEARN-01 | Learning and Development Aligned to Competencies |
Functional Competencies
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| WHO-FUNC-01 | Functional: Technical Expertise |
| WHO-FUNC-02 | Functional: Policy and Strategy |
| WHO-FUNC-03 | Functional: Programme and Project Management |
| WHO-FUNC-04 | Functional: Emergency Response |
| WHO-FUNC-05 | Functional: Data, Monitoring and Evaluation |
Health Leadership and Systems Themes
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| WHO-FW-01 | Emergency response leadership - leading health emergency preparedness, response, and recovery (WHO Emergency Response Leadership Framework) |
| WHO-FW-02 | Evidence-informed decision-making - using evidence to inform health policy and practice decisions (WHO EIDM Framework) |
| WHO-FW-03 | Evidence-informed policy-making - developing policies based on systematic use of evidence (WHO EIPM Framework) |
| WHO-FW-04 | Health policy and systems research - conducting and applying health systems research for better outcomes (WHO HPSR) |
| WHO-FW-05 | Health systems strengthening - building resilient and responsive health systems (WHO HSS Framework) |
| WHO-FW-06 | Health workforce resilience - developing resilient health workforces that adapt to challenges and disruptions |
| WHO-FW-07 | Health workforce well-being - promoting the physical and mental well-being of health workers |
| WHO-FW-08 | Healthy workplace - creating safe, healthy, and supportive work environments (WHO Healthy Workplace Framework) |
| WHO-FW-09 | Multisectoral collaboration - partnering across sectors for improved health outcomes (WHO Multisectoral Framework) |
Leadership
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| WHOCOMP-3 | Leadership Competencies |
Leadership Competencies
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| WHO-LDR-01 | Vision - articulating compelling future states that motivate collective action |
| WHO-LDR-02 | Strategic Thinking - analyzing complex environments and designing impactful interventions |
| WHO-LDR-03 | Change Leadership - mobilizing organizations through transformations |
| WHO-LDR-04 | Innovation - creating conditions supporting novel approaches to persistent problems |
| WHO-LDR-05 | Systems thinking - understanding interconnected systems and their impact on health outcomes and interventions |
| WHO-LEAD-01 | Driving the Organization's Position in Health Leadership (Leadership) |
| WHO-LEAD-02 | Promoting Innovation and Organizational Learning (Leadership) |
| WHO-LEAD-03 | Empowering and Motivating Senior Staff (Leadership) |
Management
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| WHOCOMP-2 | Management Competencies |
Management Competencies
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| WHO-MGMT-01 | Creating an Empowering and Motivating Environment (Management) |
| WHO-MGMT-02 | Ensuring the Effective Use of Resources (Management) |
| WHO-MGMT-03 | Building and Promoting Partnerships Across the Organization and Beyond |
| WHO-MGR-01 | Creating an Empowering and Motivating Environment for staff |
| WHO-MGR-02 | Building and Promoting Partnerships across organizational and sectoral boundaries |
| WHO-MGR-03 | Ensuring Effective Use of Resources through planning and accountability |
| WHO-MGR-04 | Managing Performance - setting expectations, monitoring, providing feedback |
Your Compliance Coverage
If you comply with WHO Global Competency Model, you already cover:
ISO 37000:2021
14%
6 controls mapped
Compare →Senge Fifth Discipline - Learning Organization
14%
6 controls mapped
Compare →VUCA Leadership Framework
12%
5 controls mapped
Compare →+ 2 more: Argyris Double-Loop Learning (7%), COSO Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) (5%)
See all 5 mapped frameworks ↓Maps to 5 other frameworks
What is WHO Global Competency Model and who does it apply to?
WHO Global Competency Model is a compliance framework from International with 9 domains and 42 controls. The World Health Organization's Enhanced Global Competency Model describing the core, management, and leadership competencies expected of all WHO staff. Designed to ensure WHO has a capable, motivated, and productive workforce that delivers on its mission to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable. It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
What does WHO Global Competency Model actually require?
WHO Global Competency Model has 42 controls organised across 9 domains. The largest domains are Health Leadership and Systems Themes (9 controls), Leadership Competencies (8 controls), Core Competencies (7 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
If I already comply with another framework, how much of WHO Global Competency Model do I already cover?
WHO Global Competency Model maps to 5 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are ISO 37000:2021 (14% coverage), Senge Fifth Discipline - Learning Organization (14% coverage), VUCA Leadership Framework (12% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.
How do I implement WHO Global Competency Model?
Start your WHO Global Competency Model compliance journey by running a self-assessment on our platform to identify your current compliance posture. Our AI advisory can answer specific questions about WHO Global Competency Model requirements, and cross-framework mapping helps you leverage existing controls from other frameworks you may already comply with. Create a free account to access all 42 controls and track your progress.
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