The Joint External Evaluation (JEE) tool of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) aims to assess countries’ capacity to independently prevent, detect and respond rapidly to public health threats and to
better characterize the functionality of their core IHR capacities to ensure health security, considering the ‘One Health’ approach.
Gambia conducted its first JEE in 2017 using the first edition of the JEE tool. The tool has since been revised into a third edition, considering relevant lessons from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and
other public health emergencies. During the JEE mission in September 2024, Gambia’s capacities in 19 technical areas were evaluated through a peer-to-peer consultative process that brought a multisectoral group of national subject matter experts together with the external JEE team for a week of discussion, collaboration and field visits.
This process led to consensus on scores and priority actions across the 19 technical areas.