WHO launched the Regional research agenda on health, migration and displacement in the WHO Western Pacific Region, with a focus on climate change. The launch brought together experts from WHO, United Nations agencies, academia, civil society organisations and migrant youth networks to discuss how stronger evidence can support more inclusive, resilient and climate-responsive health systems across the region.
The Western Pacific Region is home to a large and growing migrant population. Migration and displacement influence the social determinants of health, access to health services and overall well-being, challenged exacerbated by climate change.
Panelists highlighted the need for stronger governance, sustainable financing, migration-sensitive data systems, and closer collaboration among researchers, policymakers and affected communities. Speakers also focused on the need to address migration, displacement and climate change through a broader health equity lens, recognising the social, economic, environmental and legal factors that shape health outcomes.
The panel collectively stressed the need to move beyond documenting challenges, towards identifying, testing and scaling solutions. In addition, they emphasized the importance of implementation research, stronger research-to-policy mechanisms, and meaningful engagement of migrants, displaced populations and young people as partners in shaping research priorities and solutions.
A Roadmap for Action
To support implementation, the research agenda includes dedicated roadmaps for the Pacific and Asia subregions, helping countries adapt priorities to their specific contexts while strengthening research capacity, governance and policy uptake. Priority action areas include: strengthening research governance, leadership and stewardship; improving migration-sensitive data systems and knowledge exchange; securing sustainable and flexible funding; translating research into policy and practice; and building research capacity and strengthening intersectoral collaboration, including the integration of indigenous and traditional knowledge.
“Climate change, migration, displacement and health can no longer be considered separate issues. Across the Western Pacific Region, their impacts are increasingly visible in communities and health systems. This agenda provides an important foundation for generating the evidence needed to inform equitable and effective responses,” said Dr Sandro Demaio, Director and Head of Office of the WHO Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health.
By strengthening research capacity, improving policy uptake and fostering regional collaboration, health systems may become more inclusive, resilient and climate-responsive, supporting UHC and help ensure that migrant and displaced populations are not left behind.
