What is the World Rehabilitation Alliance?

WHO / Violaine Martin

The World Rehabilitation Alliance (WRA) is a WHO global network of stakeholders whose mission is to support the implementation of the Rehabilitation 2030 Initiative through advocacy activities. It focuses on promoting rehabilitation as an essential health service that is integral to Universal Health Coverage and to the realization of Sustainable Development Goal 3 Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

Rehabilitation 2030

Feature news and resources

Advocating for Rehabilitation

In many countries around the world there is an urgent need to strengthen rehabilitation. Globally, an estimated 2.4 billion people are living with a health condition that could benefit from rehabilitation. This number is expected to grow due to people living longer and with more chronic disease and disability. It is estimated, however, that in low- and middle-income countries, more than 50% of people do not receive the rehabilitation they require. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on future rehabilitation needs is also yet to be seen.

Membership

Why join?

The WRA provides an opportunity for your entity to network and share knowledge with other stakeholders in the rehabilitation sector. As part of the WRA, your entity will contribute to raising the profile of rehabilitation at global, regional, national, and local levels, and support WHO in its efforts to strengthen rehabilitation through advocacy. For more on the benefits of becoming a member of the WRA, click here.

Who can join?

Member States and State bodies; intergovernmental organizations; nongovernmental organizations; private sector including international business associations; philanthropic foundations; and academic institutions.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible for membership, the entity should contribute both to the advancement of rehabilitation and to the objectives of the WRA. It should be working internationally in the field of rehabilitation; have at least 3 years of proven experience; and should have an established structure, constitution, and accountability mechanisms.

Members' role

Members must support the purpose, goals, objectives, guiding principles, work, and activities of the WRA, and to attend and actively participate in the WRA’s various annual and ad hoc meetings, acting in the best interest of public health and in alignment with WHO policies.

Terms of reference

When and how?

WRA membership application process is temporally closed as of 31 March 2023. Membership approval is based on an assessment, due diligence process, and review of submitted documents, in accordance with the eligibility criteria and with WHO rules and policies.

WRA membership application process will reopen in July 2023. Watch this space.

WHO / NOOR / Sebastian Liste

Areas of work

Workstreams

All members of the WRA will participate in one or more workstream. The purpose of the workstreams is to bring together members with similar interests, share information and collectively work on specific activities that align with the WRA’s overall mission and objectives.

Each workstream will have an area of focus with corresponding workplan, that is approved by the Steering Committee, which outlines its objectives, key outputs, priorities and methodology. The workstream topics were the result of a global survey and a consultation with representative stakeholders working in the rehabilitation sector.

The 5 workstreams of the WRA are: