Small countries initiative

The WHO/Europe Small Countries Initiative is a network of 11 European countries with 2 million or less inhabitants: Andorra, Cyprus, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino and Slovenia.

The Small countries initiative is a laboratory for innovation. Since its start in 2014, the small country initiative is the place where small countries come together to find solutions to health-related needs and vulnerabilities.

Today the small countries face new challenges – such as the response and recovery from COVID-19.

The objectives of the Initiative are to:

• place health and well-being high on the key political agendas of small countries;
• advocate the needs of small countries at the regional and international levels;
• promote investment for health and well-being, leaving no one behind;
• build a solutions platform for better population health and resilient health systems;
• measure progresses.
  

This requires even stronger action - under the umbrella of the WHO European Programme of Work:

• to protect people better against health emergencies, such as COVID19 
• to strengthen health systems towards achievement of universal health coverage
• to ensure healthy lives and well-being for people of all ages.
  

The Secretariat is housed at the WHO European Centre for Investment for Health and Development in Venice, Italy.