Dear HIFA colleagues
Two new WHO Collaborating Centres on qualitative evidence for decision making are launching – and you’re invited to the webinar marking this milestone.
In 2026, WHO designated two new Collaborating Centres that focus on strengthening the use of qualitative research in WHO policies and practice:
* WHO Collaborating Centre for Policy Making and Qualitative Evidence (based at NTNU – Norwegian University of Science and Technology)
* WHO Collaborating Centre for Systematic Reviews of Qualitative Evidence for Decision Making<https://www.hvl.no/en/collaboration/who-collaborating-centre-for-systema... (based at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences)
Working together, these Centres aim to advance the use of qualitative evidence in decision making to support WHO policies, guidelines, and practices globally. The Centers will particularly focus on strengthening networks and capacities with partners in the Global South.
�� Webinar date: 12 November 2026
⏰ Time: 13:00–14:00 (Norway time)
In the webinar, we will present the aims of the two Centres, hear WHO’s perspective on how qualitative evidence can strengthen guideline development; explore examples of how qualitative research has shaped WHO guidelines; and discuss how to mainstream qualitative research in normative decision making.
�� More information and registration: https://NTNU.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XLpOHwJVSreXDkPy8XqLtQ<https://...
You can also follow the Centres on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/who-collaborating-centres-for-qualitati...
Thanks
Simon
HIFA profile: Simon Lewin is a health systems researcher at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) (https://www.ntnu.edu/employees/simon.lewin), the South African Medical Research Council (www.mrc.ac.za) and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (https://www.fhi.no/en/kn/ceir/). He has a keen interest in how research evidence can be used to inform decisions for health systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and at the global level in multilateral organisations such as the WHO. As Co-Lead of Cochrane People, Health Systems and Public Health, he has played a key role in strengthening Cochrane’s work in the field of health systems and in developing Cochrane methods for qualitative evidence synthesis. Cochrane is a HIFA supporting organisation and Simon is a member of three HIFA working groups: CHWs; mHealth-Innovate (informal use of mobile phones by health workers) and Support-Systems - How can decision-making processes for health systems strengthening and universal health coverage be made more inclusive, responsive and accountable? https://www.hifa.org/support/members/simon simon.lewin AT ntnu.no