5.E. Round table: Crafting Policies for Health Promotion: evidence from local settings

Abstract As communities vary in their needs, challenges, and resources, tailoring health promotion policies to specific contexts becomes imperative for effectiveness. Drawing upon the expertise of seasoned practitioners, policymakers, and researchers, this workshop offers a multifaceted perspective on navigating the complexities inherent in designing, implementing, and evaluating locally tailored health promotion policies, with a specific focus on environmental and social factors. The workshop will make it possible to compare different experiences from various European countries, with high-level speakers who have different backgrounds and roles in their countries and regions, thus providing an interesting and interactive way of comparing and examining real-world examples and best practices. The examples provided delve into: participatory techniques to design healthier environments, to identifying, collecting and elaborating evidence upon which to build policies and actions that are effective in addressing specific health challenges. Through the examples presented, we will seek to make the case for multi-actor and multisectoral collaboration. In addition, we will try to understand How do subnational authorities and partners identify priorities for action. A common question asked to the speakers will therefore: how can a variety of actors (local and regional authorities, university and research centres...) come together to support cross-sectoral action? How can policymakers be supported towards creating environments that prioritize the well-being of all, ensuring a healthier and more prosperous future for everyone? The end goal will be to enable attendees to be equipped with actionable strategies and tools to foster meaningful change within their own communities, by understanding the intricate interplay between community dynamics, stakeholder engagement, evidence-based practices, and policy implementation strategies. The workshop is being organized by the WHO Regions for Health Network (RHN). Key messages • Tailoring health promotion policies to specific contexts is imperative for effectiveness, considering the diverse needs, challenges, and resources of different communities. • Subnational authorities and partners must identify priorities for action and collaborate across sectors to address specific health challenges effectively. Speakers/Panelists Klara Dokova Medical University of Varna, Varna, Bulgaria Camilla Ihlebaek Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Aas, Norway Jo Peden Public Health Wales, Cardiff, UK Odile Mekel NRW Centre for Health, Bochum, Germany Liesbeth van Holten Province of Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands