Ethiopia to Host Emergency Medical Teams Global Meeting
More than 800 participants from over 100 countries will gather in Ethiopia for the seventh Emergency Medical Teams Global Meeting, the first held in the WHO African Region.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Emergency Response
Ethiopia will host the seventh Emergency Medical Teams Global Meeting from 3 to 5 November 2026, hosted by the Government of Ethiopia with the World Health Organization. The meeting is the first of its kind held in the WHO African Region and is supported by Macao SAR and the Robert Koch Institute.
Why it matters
The meeting brings together emergency medical team stakeholders from across the globe to exchange expertise on emergency preparedness and response. Its location in Africa reflects growing regional capacity, with Ethiopia's national Emergency Medical Team having achieved WHO international classification in September 2026.
Over 800 participants from more than 100 countries are attending the meeting, while 30 countries in the WHO African Region are developing national Emergency Medical Team capacities. The extraction does not specify meeting outcomes or formal commitments that will emerge from the gathering.
The players
World Health Organization
The United Nations agency responsible for international public health, which co-hosts the meeting with the Government of Ethiopia and oversees the EMT classification framework.
Robert Koch Institute
Germany's federal government agency and research institute for disease control and prevention, which provides support for the meeting.
The details
The seventh Emergency Medical Teams Global Meeting is guided by the EMT 2030 Strategy and lessons from recent emergencies. The Regional EMT Training and Knowledge Hub in Addis Ababa will provide training, simulation exercises and expertise exchange under the Regional Framework on Emergency Medical Teams covering 2026-2030.
Timeline
September 2026: Ethiopia's national Emergency Medical Team achieves WHO international classification.
3 to 5 November 2026: Seventh Emergency Medical Teams Global Meeting held in Ethiopia.
Seasonal Patterns
The seventh Emergency Medical Teams Global Meeting is the first held in the WHO African Region, building on the EMT 2030 Strategy and the Regional Framework on Emergency Medical Teams for 2026-2030. It marks a shift in where the global EMT network convenes, moving beyond earlier meeting locations to reflect expanding regional capacity.
Emergency medical teams and health authorities across the WHO African Region can use the meeting's training resources at the Regional EMT Training and Knowledge Hub in Addis Ababa. The Regional Framework on Emergency Medical Teams for 2026-2030 provides the structure for countries developing national EMT capacities.
The takeaway
Strengthening national emergency medical teams is a regional priority, and training hubs such as the one in Addis Ababa are central to building that capacity. Countries preparing their own teams can draw on shared frameworks and peer exchange.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in our Emergency Response section.
