The World Health Organization Coalition of Interested Parties Network: a unified and coordinated approach to regulatory system strengthening

Strong and effective regulatory systems are essential for achieving universal health coverage and ensuring access to safe, effective and quality-assured medical products. Yet, many countries have not yet achieved a well-functioning, stable and integrated regulatory system, with capacity gaps continuing to hinder the performance of national regulatory authorities. In response, the World Health Organization developed the Five-Step Capacity Building Model to guide and strengthen regulatory systems and the Global Benchmarking Tool, and further established the Coalition of Interested Parties (CIP) Network as a global coordination mechanism to unify and optimize regulatory system strengthening support. This manuscript describes the development, operationalization and measurable impact of the CIP Network, which has grown to include 33 active members, including leading global donors, development agencies and technical partners. Between 2023 and 2025, the CIP Network facilitated over USD 235 million in targeted investment and coordinated nearly 600 technical activities across more than 50 countries. Anchored by WHO's Global Benchmarking Tool and the implementation of Institutional Development Plans (IDPs), the Network operationalizes support through country-led coordination, shared visibility of priorities, continuous communication and accountability tracking. Member contributions span all regulatory functions, enabling rapid deployment of context-specific technical expertise. Regional and country-level case studies illustrate the transformative effect of this approach, demonstrating regulatory system strengthening, accelerated IDP implementation and maturity-level progression within a short timeframe. The CIP Network's structured, scalable and country-driven model exemplifies how coordinated, evidence-informed and partner-aligned mechanisms can deliver sustainable improvements in regulatory performance, serving as a blueprint for global regulatory strengthening.