International Federation of Environmental Health
Mission
The Federation works to disseminate knowledge concerning environmental health and promote co-operation between countries where environmental health issues are transboundary. It promotes the interchange of people working in this sector and the exchange of Member's publications of a scientific and technical nature. Members of the IFEH are national Environmental Health association as well as associated academic institutions and universities. The IFEH uphold 5 regional groups: Africa - Americas - Asia & Pacific - Europe - Middle East.
IFEH represents a global network of academic environmental health centres and practicing environmental health professionals, and is uniquely able to disseminate relevant training, education, and research findings. Most importantly, our members are committed to identifying best practices and sharing those through our established network.
Disaster Reduction Goal
The IFEH has its goals set on the implementation of Environmental Health disciplines in the context of DRR as a way forward for preventing human disasters to occur - and when they anyway do, to reduce the effect of those.
Policies and Programmes in DRR
The International Federation of Environmental leading up to the Global Platform 2025 on DRR has issued a Policy Statement on Disaster Risk Reduction and Environmental Health. The IFEH issued this policy statement to highlight the essential role of environmental health in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). As disasters grow in frequency and intensity due to climate change and other global pressures, the integration of environmental health expertise into DRR frameworks is critical to protecting public health, achieving sustainability, and building resilient communities.
This statement affirms IFEH's position and provides an actionable framework to strengthen the engagement of the environmental health workforce in DRR at global, national, regional, and local levels. The Policy Statement is available on the IFEH website.
IFEH Disaster Risk Reduction Committee - IFEH DRR Committee
In order to fullfill the IFEH commitments to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 - 2030 and in order to secure further IFEH engagement and participation the IFEH with the endorsement of the IFEH Council formed the IFEH DRR Comittee.
The Committee includes broad representation from all IFEH Regional Groups, the IFEH Presidency as well as from the academic societies associated with the IFEH. It provides a strong foundation for the Federations work on DRR. Its mission is to promote and facilitate engagement in all IFEH Regions and to promote co-operation between EH professionals and the Scientific Communities and to distribute information about DRR and to do this in partnership with international bodies as the UNDRR. The committee will be aiming at fostering a frame for the sharing of experience on EH related DRR and disseminate information, fostering co-operation between members and between universities on educational frameworks.
The IFEH DRR Committee is chaired by: Mr. Henning Hansen, Hon. Vice President IFEH.
The IFEH helps and endorses the setting up of appropriate courses on Disaster Management and DRR run by IFEH Member organisations and associated universities.
The IFEH organizes the flow of information on DRR - to all parts of the World through our 5 regional groups - Africa - Americas - Asia & Pacific - Europe - Middle East.
Membership in Key Networks
The IFEH is a partner with the UNDRR. The IFEH participated at the Geneva UNDRR Conference on DRR Science and Technology 2016 as an UNDRR organizing partner and giving presentation. The IFEH participated December 2016, Geneva, as an invited organization by UNDRR to give inputs to the Cancun Summit.
Leading up to the UNDRR Global Platform Summit 2017, Cancun, Mexico, IFEH has partitioned in two planning groups and participated at the summit. IFEH participated at the Global Platform 2019 where an official IFEH Statement was given to the organizer.
IFEH participated at the Global Platform 2025, Geneva and being member of one of the Organizing Team experts groups.
The IFEH is working together with the International Science Council (ISC) and was member of the scientific committee regarding the update an review of the UNDRR-ISC Hazard Information Profiles (HIPs)
The IFEH and the WFPHA World Federation of Public Health Associations holds a mutual membership.
The IFEH is a member of the EU IMPEL network with observer status.
Disaster Reduction Focal Point(s)
The IFEH has a focal point in combining good scientific work with practical implementation/experiences by facilitating cooperation and bridging the gap between the scientific community and the local/regional/national authorities.
In the cooperation between the experts - being from authorities - as well as universities etc, it is of vital importance that the public is advised and invited to take part in the process.
Voluntary Commitments
The Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments (SFVC) online platform allows stakeholders to inform the public about their work on DRR. The SFVC online platform is a useful toolto know who is doing what and where for the implementation of the Sendai Framework, which could foster potential collaboration among stakeholders. All stakeholders (private sector, civil society organizations, academia, media, local governments, etc.) working on DRR can submit their commitments and report on their progress and deliverables.