More than 800 participants from over 100 countries are gathering in Ethiopia from 3 to 5 November 2026 for the seventh Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) Global Meeting, the first held in the WHO African Region. The meeting focuses on strengthening countries’ capacity to provide timely, quality clinical care during emergencies.

Hosted by the Government of Ethiopia in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), with support from Macao SAR and the Robert Koch Institute, the meeting brings together government representatives, health professionals, researchers and humanitarian partners to advance the development of national emergency medical teams.

Guided by the EMT 2030 Strategy and lessons from recent emergencies, discussions focus on sustainable financing, quality standards, operational readiness and international cooperation. These are essential to establishing nationally led EMT programmes that strengthen the health emergency workforce and support health services under pressure.

Emergency Medical Teams are groups of health professionals trained and equipped to provide care during outbreaks, disasters, conflicts and other emergencies. They support the affected country’s health system, working under national coordination and according to agreed standards for safe, quality care.

In September 2026, Ethiopia’s national EMT achieved WHO international classification following an assessment of its clinical services, logistics and operational readiness against international standards.