What GOARN - Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network does

GOARN (Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network) is a WHO-coordinated network of more than 360 technical institutions across 70+ countries, founded in 2000 to provide rapid surge response to public health emergencies. Its core function is operational coordination: deploying multidisciplinary teams of experts to support national authorities during outbreaks, while running capacity-building programs that credential the next generation of field responders. Governance is exercised through a Steering Committee of 21 partner institutions, supported by a small Operations Support Team embedded within WHO (six staff in the source material).

The network's product surface is a portfolio of programs rather than a commercial stack. Core offerings include the GOARN Network itself (response and partner coordination), the Knowledge Platform and Virtual Training Platform (capacity-building infrastructure now in build-out phase), the Berlin Fellowship Programme (currently in Cohort 5 with Robert Koch Institute), the GOARN Leadership Initiative (now extended to Africa with the April 2026 Windhoek launch), the Go.Data field-data tool, and Research & Innovation activities. A WHO Collaborating Centre designation was extended to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in late 2025 to anchor operational support and training delivery outside WHO headquarters.

GOARN's business model is non-commercial. The network does not sell a product; it is funded through WHO assessed contributions, member-state grants, and in-kind contributions from partner institutions that staff the response rosters. Pricing, ARR, and customer contracts in the conventional sense do not apply. Expansion is driven by partner onboarding, regional capacity programs, and episodic field-exercise contracts (e.g., the 2025 El Salvador Functional Exercise and ECDC EU Health Task Force exercise), with the Steeplechase Initiative representing the network's current effort to diversify donor funding beyond any single member-state source.

Name

GOARN - Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network

Legal name

GOARN - Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network

Website

https://goarn.who.int

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

GOARN is a WHO-coordinated network of 388 technical institutions across 70+ countries that deploys expert surge teams and runs training and fellowship programs to support national authorities during public health outbreaks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Global Public Health Emergency Response Coordination

NAICS

National Security and International Affairs (9281)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Syndromic Surveillance & Early Warning Systems (HLAJABAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Syndromic & Event-Based Surveillance (HLAJANAC)

Keywords

• Outbreak response coordination
• Public health emergency
• Epidemic intelligence
• Global health security
• Disease surveillance network

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

GOARN is a WHO-coordinated global network of over 360 technical institutions that responds to acute public health events by deploying staff and resources to affected countries. It delivers rapid and effective international support to prevent and control infectious disease outbreaks and public health emergencies when requested by member states, supported by digital platforms for partner information exchange (Knowledge Platform), capacity building (Virtual Training Platform), and outbreak data management (Go.Data).

Product overview

GOARN is a WHO-coordinated network of over 360 technical institutions and networks globally that respond to acute public health events. The network operates through its core GOARN Network coordinated by an Operational Support Team in Geneva, supported by regional offices. Key offerings include the Knowledge Platform for partner resources and coordination, a Virtual Training Platform (LMS) for capacity building, the Berlin Fellowship Programme for epidemic intelligence training, the Go.Data Project for outbreak data management, and the Leadership Initiative for developing global health emergency preparedness leaders. The network focuses on alert and risk assessment, rapid response capacities, capacity strengthening, and operational research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GOARN Operational Support Team (OST): The operational team based at WHO headquarters in Geneva that facilitates day-to-day running of the network and coordinates outbreak response missions.
• GOARN Steering Committee
• GOARN Berlin Fellowship Programme
• GOARN Leadership Initiative
• Go.Data Project

Products and services

• GOARN Outbreak Response Coordination Network

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 360 technical institutions and networks mobilized for global outbreak response
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGOARN is a WHO network coordinated by an Operational Support Team based at WHO headquarters in Geneva, with governance by a Steering Committee. WHO provides institutional framework, authority, and coordination for the global outbreak response network.
• African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFENET is a key partner representing Africa CDC on the GOARN Steering Committee. Led by Dr Simon Nyovuura Antara, AFENET contributes field epidemiology expertise and coordinates response activities across African member states.
• European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECDC heads the section Emergency Preparedness and Response at ECDC in Stockholm and hosts the Secretariat for the EU Health Task Force. Led by Mr Thomas Hofmann, ECDC collaborates on scenario-based capacity strengthening exercises with GOARN.
• Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChina CDC is represented on the Steering Committee by Dr Yanping Zhang, Director of the Infectious Disease Control Division, contributing expertise in emerging and reemerging infectious disease control.
• Robert Koch InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Robert Koch Institute, Germany's federal public health agency, collaborates with GOARN on the Leadership Initiative, hosting the Berlin Fellowship Programme. Led by Dr Andreas Jansen.
• United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDC is represented by Dr Athalia Christie, Principal Deputy Director for the Global Health Center. CDC provides extensive outbreak response expertise and has served as Senior U.S. Government Official overseeing interagency response teams.
• Public Health Agency of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresented by Dr Eleni Galanis, Director-General of the Centre for Applied Public Health Sciences, contributing to international outbreak response coordination.
• International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFRC contributes community-based emergency response expertise and volunteer networks. Led by Ms Gwendoline Eamer, IFRC provides global epidemic response tools and coordinates health responses.
• United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNICEF is represented by Dr Douglas Noble, Associate Director for Public Health Emergencies Preparedness and Response, focusing on protecting children and families during public health emergencies.
• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSF contributes extensive field experience in outbreak response in resource-limited settings. Led by Dr Daniela Garone, International Medical Coordinator, with expertise in infectious diseases and humanitarian emergencies.
• International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infection Consortium (ISARIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISARIC established the research arm of GOARN and coordinates global hospital-based clinical research networks during outbreaks. Led by Dr Gail Carson, Chair of GOARN SCOM.
• National University of Singapore (NUS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNUS contributes expertise through the Centre for Infectious Disease Emergency Response (CIDER). Led by Dr Louisa Sun, focusing on emerging infectious diseases and outbreak response training in Asia-Pacific.
• UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUKHSA is represented by Dr Edmund Newman, Director of the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team partnership with LSHTM. Provides rapid response to disease outbreaks in low- and middle-income countries.
• University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNMC was recently designated as a WHO Collaborating Center for the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), contributing to global health emergency response efforts.
• Indo-Pacific Centre for Health Security, DFATcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade leads the Partnerships for a Healthy Region initiative (AUD 620 million) supporting partner countries in the Pacific and Southeast Asia, including support for GOARN operations.
• Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMPHNET leads the Public Health Emergency Management Center at EMPHNET in Amman, Jordan. Led by Dr Haitham Bashier, focusing on emergency management and health systems in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
• International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research (ICDDR,B)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICDDR,B contributes expertise in diarrheal diseases and emerging infectious diseases. Led by Dr Lubaba Shahrin, with extensive experience in clinical care and outbreak response.
• Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Virales Humanas (INEVH)-ANLIS MalbráncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArgentina's national reference center for arboviruses and viral hemorrhagic fever, serving as WHO/PAHO Collaborating Center. Led by Dr Alejandra Morales, coordinating RELDA network.
• American University of Beirut (AUB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAUB houses a WHO Collaborating Center for Reference and Research on Bacterial Pathogens. Led by Dr Ghassan M. Matar, contributing to antimicrobial resistance research and infectious disease diagnostics.
• Tribhuvan University, NepalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral Department of Microbiology serves as GOARN Primary Focal Point for Nepal. Led by Professor/Dr Prakash Ghimire, contributing to field epidemiology training and outbreak investigation in South-East Asia.
• National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), South AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNICD serves as key public health reference institution for Southern Africa. Led by Dr Lerato Sikhosana, contributing to regional disease surveillance and outbreak response.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF): International medical humanitarian organization deploying field teams to outbreak zones, with deep expertise in resource-limited settings. MSF is a GOARN Steering Committee member and directly comparable as a deployer of outbreak response teams.
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC): Global humanitarian network coordinating community-level emergency response across 191 national societies. IFRC brings volunteer-based epidemic response capacity to GOARN and operates overlapping outbreak coordination functions.
• WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE): WHO's operational arm for health emergencies; directly parallel to GOARN as the institutional counterpart managing WHO's own emergency response. Both are based at WHO HQ and collaborate on outbreak deployments, making WHE the closest organizational peer.
• European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC): EU agency for infectious disease surveillance and outbreak response, headquartered in Stockholm. Operates parallel coordinating functions for Europe and hosts the EU Health Task Force Secretariat, with active GOARN Steering Committee representation.
• Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI): Global partnership accelerating development of vaccines against epidemic and pandemic threats. Operates as a complementary global health security mechanism with overlapping funder base and stakeholder network to GOARN.
• Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC): Continental public health agency coordinating outbreak response across African Union member states. Functions as a regional equivalent of GOARN, mobilizing expert teams and partner institutions across Africa, and is a GOARN Steering Committee participant via AFENET.

Others

• FIND (Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics): Global non-profit driving diagnostic test development for outbreak-prone diseases. Partners with GOARN network institutions on laboratory capacity strengthening and outbreak-related diagnostic deployment.
• Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance: Global public-private partnership funding vaccine access in lower-income countries. Operates adjacent to GOARN with shared stakeholders in outbreak response and pandemic preparedness, particularly around epidemic vaccination campaigns.
• The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria: Major multilateral health financing mechanism overlapping with GOARN's partner network and beneficiary countries. Funds health system components that underpin outbreak response capacity in many GOARN-supported geographies.

Regional players

• Africa Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET): Pan-African network of Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programs (FELTPs) supporting outbreak investigation across African Union member states. Sits on the GOARN Steering Committee and operates as a regional implementation peer for field epidemiology capacity building.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WHOGOARN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/goarn-global-outbreak-and-response-network

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about GOARN - Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network