The action aims to contribute to resilient and interconnected health systems in Eastern Partnership countries to strengthen their capacities to handle health emergencies and core health challenges. It focuses on Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine and is implemented by WHO through a regional multi-country approach.
It is pursued through two specific objectives: strengthening health workforce capacities and resilience to ensure quality health services’ provision, and strengthening mental health systems, including governance, capacities and skills in prevention and management of mental ill health. The action is designed to improve policies for retention and attraction of health workers, enhance systems to deliver quality nursing and medical education, and strengthen health workforce governance and planning. It also aims to address mental health and wellbeing of the health and care workforce, improve policy and legislative frameworks, expand access to quality mental health care, raise awareness and reduce stigma, and promote mental health through cross-sectoral collaboration. Implementation relies on evidence-based approaches, capacity building, policy dialogue, technical assistance and better-practice sharing, ensuring alignment with national priorities and sustainable impact for beneficiaries and the general population.

Overall objective: To contribute to resilient and interconnected health systems in Eastern Partnership countries to strengthen their capacities to handle health emergencies and core health challenges.
Specific Objective 1: Health workforce capacities and resilience strengthened to ensure quality health services’ provision. Specific Objective 2: Mental health systems strengthened, including governance, capacities and skills in prevention and management of mental ill health.

Expected results of the project: · Improved policies for retention and attraction of health workers, supported by regional reports, technical briefs and country-specific policy recommendations. · Enhanced systems to deliver quality nursing and medical education, including updated curricula, standards, continuous professional development systems, and alignment with EU and international frameworks. · Strengthened health workforce governance and planning, through labour market analyses, planning and forecasting tools, improved HRH information systems, and national action plans. · Improved mental health and wellbeing of the health and care workforce, informed by surveys, analytical reports and evidence-based policy recommendations.
Strengthened mental health policies and legislative frameworks, with country-specific recommendations and performance indicators for service provision. · Enhanced skills and capacities of the workforce to deliver quality mental health care, including training, mhGAP implementation and QualityRights approaches. · Increased mental health awareness and reduced stigma and discrimination through policy dialogue, campaigns and multi-sectoral engagement. · Greater capacity to promote mental health and wellbeing through cross-sectoral collaboration, including engagement with the cultural sector and implementation of arts and health initiatives.