10. The ERF provides WHO staff with essential guidance on how the Organization manages the assessment, grading and response to public health events and emergencies with health consequences in support of Member States and affected communities. While the ERF focuses primarily on sudden-onset events and emergencies, it also introduces WHO's grading process for protracted emergencies. A summary of assessment and grading processes can be found here.
20. The ERF also adopts the Incident Management System (IMS) as the main Organizational approach to manage emergency response. The IMS is based on recognized best practices of emergency management and is increasingly used globally, including within the health sector.
30. WHO's critical functions for emergency response under the IMS are:
- planning & monitoring
- operations support and logistics
- technical expertise and health operations
- health information and epidemiology
- partner coordination and engagement
- finance and administration
