Briefing notes

The aim of a briefing note is to provide clear, simple and concise information on a particular subject. Senior officers use briefing notes to prepare themselves for meetings and events. For example, you might be asked to provide a briefing note for your Regional Director to be used in negotiations on funding with a major donor. The note must provide just enough background for the reader to understand the situation, and should cover the main issues that might potentially be addressed. We call these briefing notes or simply briefs.

Types of briefing notes

At headquarters, the types of briefing notes required fall into five categories:

briefs for the Director-General's meeting with dignitaries: health ministers, heads of states, other ministers, other international organizations, donors, NGOs or private foundations/industry or other prominent persons;
briefs for input into the Director-General's speeches and/or the DG’s participation in meetings;
briefs for country visits regarding important issues and/or a programme with the country;
technical briefs in relation to review of programmes — normally requested by the departments, or in the case of issues of current importance, by DGO;
briefs for governing body issues: EB, WHA.

Other officers or groups of officers, including Regional Directors, Assistant Directors-General and groups of officers undertaking formal missions, may also require briefing notes.