Overview: The Country COVID-19 Intra-Action Review (IAR) is a facilitated process that brings together COVID-19 responders from multiple sectors for experience sharing and collective learning, and it has been modelled after the WHO After Action Review (AAR) methodology. This course provides a general introduction to the management and the facilitation of an IAR during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic through presentations, quizzes and an assessment at the end of the course to test the knowledge acquired. It targets any individuals or entities involved in the preparedness of and response to the COVID-19 outbreak at the national or subnational levels, including but not limited to Government officials, WHO staff, public health professionals, communities and partners.

In line with the advice and temporary recommendations from the 4th, 5th, 11th and 12th IHR (2005) Emergency Committee on COVID-19, a global analysis of IAR reports received by WHO in collaboration with all six WHO regional offices and country offices has been conducted. A total of 83 reports from 57 countries comprising 2556 best practices, 2366 challenges, and 2859 recommendations were analyzed and triangulated with 27 interviews and 29 survey consultations with countries. This global analysis took a solution-oriented angle aimed at consolidating and showcasing the various strategies adopted by countries to address and overcome common challenges to the COVID-19 response, and to bring these learning to the rest of the world to encourage peer learning. 

As countries conduct mini COVID-19 vaccine Post-Introduction Evaluation (mini-cPIE), also called the COVID-19 Vaccination Intra-Action Review (IAR), to review and adjust their COVID-19 vaccine roll-out, WHO will be hosting regular clinics for countries to share learnings with peer countries.