Translating a resolution into institutional practice requires more than political will. It requires operational guidance tailored to the realities of public health organizations, which vary significantly in size, mandate, technical capacity, and resources.
On 20 May 2026, at the 79th World Health Assembly, WHO launched Mainstreaming Behavioural Sciences into Institutions Responsible for Public Health: A Framework and Indicators .
The framework and its 12 RECAPPS indicators are designed to help Member States — and in particular institutions responsible for public health — track progress in their strategies to mainstream behavioural sciences into public health practice, in line with the call to action set out in World Health Assembly resolution WHA76.7 .
By integrating the indicators into their monitoring and evaluation strategies, institutions will be able to identify which areas warrant change or strengthening to enable behaviourally-informed practices and policies; determine what type of change can be captured; and establish what constitutes measurable progress. Institutions adopting the indicators will join a global community with a common goal.
The framework is part of a suite of tools developed over the past three years by WHO to support countries in implementing resolution WHA76.7 through institutional innovation. These tools include:
Workforce Survey on the Use of Behavioural Science in Organizations (2023). This template survey tool supports public health organizations wishing to assess the current state of behavioural science use within their workforce. It identifies barriers and enabling factors affecting systematic uptake of a behavioral sciences approach among technical experts, and is intended as a diagnostic instrument — the recommended first step for any organization before planning structural changes.
Decision Support Tool for Establishing a Behavioural Insights Function (2024). This tool provides structured guidance for organizations at any stage of building or enhancing a dedicated behavioural insights function. It presents key considerations and guiding questions covering institutional positioning, mandate, staffing models, and operational scope. It is designed for use by the individual or team responsible for scoping and planning the function, and draws on documented experience from national behavioural science units in multiple countries.
Behavioral Science Around the World, Volume III: Public Health (2024). This joint report by WHO and the World Bank maps the landscape of behavioural science application in the health sector across 26 countries, documenting the models and operational approaches adopted by more than 40 behavioural insights units or functions working in public health. It is structured as a reference report, illustrating the range of approaches that have been adopted in different national and institutional contexts. It complements the Decision Support Tool by offering documented real-world reference points against which organizations can assess options relevant to their own circumstances.
Behavioural insights glossary for public health practitioners (2026). This reference publication will provide standardized definitions for key terms in the behavioural insights field, establishing a common vocabulary for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers working across disciplines and institutional contexts.
Additional tools to capture monitoring data and to address the ethical oversight of behavioural studies will be released during the next biennium.
Each tool addresses a distinct institutional need, and they are designed to function as a connected suite. Together, they offer countries a practical pathway for implementing the commitments made under resolution WHA76.7 — from initial diagnosis through to sustained institutional capacity. They are relevant for national health authorities at any stage of development, whether just beginning to explore how to embed behavioural science in their work or seeking to formalize and evaluate long-standing existing functions.
