Convergent Agenda for Sustainable Mobility and Health - Reference Document

Abstract

The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) is dedicated, among other actions, to cooperating with Member States in the implementation of public policies and programs in favor of health, with a view to guaranteeing economic, social and environmental sustainability, through initiatives that promote healthy communities and spaces. PAHO/WHO Brazil, with the aim of accelerating the implementation of inter-sector actions that can have a synergistic impact on municipalities, has been organizing discussions and reflections on convergent policies and actions that enable the provision of shared and cumulative benefits of great relevance to public health. The coordination and convergence of work agendas for the implementation of coherent public policies are presented as one of the strategic innovations for promoting the well-being of populations, enabling the optimization of resources, the leveraging of planning processes and the sharing of results by different sectors, expanding its reach and effectiveness at the same time. We understand that this convergence becomes even more urgent given the impacts and challenges posed by the pandemic-scale health crisis caused by SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19). More than ever, the integrated vision and understanding of the mobility and health agendas are now strategic and necessary. Thus, the purpose of this document is to present the results of a first collaborative effort to gather evidence, reflect on implications and propose Lines of Action that facilitate the understanding and guide municipal public managers to act on the Convergent Agenda for Sustainable Mobility and Health, by planning and implementing actions with shared inter-sector benefits.