The negative consequences of any emergency or disaster on communities and countries continue to highlight the importance of an all-hazards risk management approach in all emergency preparedness and response actions. Emergency risk assessment is a crucial process in emergency management, guiding preparedness planning and prioritizing our readiness actions.
Regular risk assessment is recognized as a core element of the International Health Regulations (2005) and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030). WHO’s Strategic Toolkit for Assessing Risks (STAR) is a methodology that enables public health authorities to rapidly conduct an evidence-based assessment of public health risks using an all-hazards, multisectoral and participatory approach. Countries identify hazards most likely to lead to health emergencies, from infectious to environmental to societal hazards.
STAR is used to guide risk-informed programming to prevent, prepare for and reduce the level of risk associated with a particular health hazard and its consequences for health. In Ireland, the Health Security Unit at the Department of Health had requested technical support from WHO/Europe to develop and implement a multisectoral, all-hazards national strategic risk assessment to guide evidence-based planning for health emergencies and disaster risk reduction.
From a long list of hazards (developed using an all-hazards approach), 17 priority hazards were shortlisted by the Strategic Risk Assessment National Steering Committee led by the Department of Health through pre-workshop consultations with relevant line ministries, including the agriculture, housing and defence departments. From 10 to 12 March 2026, WHO/Europe experts will lead participants from relevant sectors through a step-by-step process assessing the likelihood and impact of the 17 priority hazards, leading to the determination of risk levels and the development of a national priority risk profile. Workshop participants will then collectively identify key actions to mitigate those risks and better prepare health systems for health emergencies.
WHO/Europe’s work on health security
Health is a key pillar of our society. In the European Region, immediate, decisive and coordinated action is crucial to bolstering preparedness and resilience at every level.
WHO is leading the way through the Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience framework, along with the transformative regional strategy and action plan on health emergency preparedness, response and resilience in the WHO European Region (Preparedness 2.0) for 2024–2029.
This workshop is supported through the financial assistance of the European Union and the Department of Health of Ireland.