WHO Technical Advisory Group on behavioural sciences holds a consultation on Non-Communicable Diseases

The WHO Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for Behavioural insights and Sciences for health met in Geneva for a three-day consultation from August 29 to September 1 which resulted in recommendations relating to WHO's work in behavioural sciences.

The consultation focused on reviewing WHO's strategy in behavioural insights and discussing key behavioural considerations that can be applied to the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases. Different technical programmes from across WHO as well as country teams from the African region interacted with the TAG during the consultation in sessions related to capacity building and the development of behavioural components as part of NCDs' in-country workplans, among others.

During his opening remarks at the meeting, WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus said "Your work is important because behavioural science remains an under-utilized resource in most public health work. Despite many advances in the field, we have found that many policymakers lack confidence in these interventions." He added that the advisory group has made great achievements since its creation in July 2020.

Prior to the consultation, WHO extended the mandate of the TAG for the next two years and nominated Professor Susan Michie as chair and Dr Fadi Makki as co-chair to lead the advisory group. Under their leadership, the TAG will continue to provide strategic advice and direction to WHO's Behavioural insights for better health initiative, as well as to WHO technical programmes and pilot projects implemented by Member States.

More about the TAG
The TAG consists of 19 members, and was established following a global call for experts that received more than 200 applicants. In the two years since its formation, the group has advised WHO on a range of health topics and activities including: antimicrobial resistance, COVID-19 vaccinations, risk taking behaviours by youths during the pandemic. In addition, the TAG supported the development of a training curriculum and tools to help both WHO and Member States add a behavioural science component in public health.

The TAG, with support from the WHO secretariat, has issued several publications and outlined key principles and steps for the application of behavioural and social sciences within public health.