Theadora Swift Koller

Theadora Swift Koller leads WHO’s cross-cutting Rural health equity strategic programming initiative, which has activities on rural proofing for health; breaking sectoral silos through capacity building of health and rural development authorities on rural health equity; advancing work on the climate, food systems, and health equity nexus; and cooperation with other parts of the Organization and partners on rural health systems strengthening. Theadora also leads WHO work on assessing barriers to health services, and – through coordinating with programming areas across WHO -- reorienting health planning and programming to be more equity-oriented, with this work having an important focus on rural populations. Recent publications for which Theadora was lead and coordinating author include the WHO handbook for conducting assessments of barriers to effective coverage with health services, and a 15-UN agency report on tackling inequalities in public services provision in rural areas. Theadora has previously worked for the WHO India Country Office and the WHO Regional Office for Europe, sustainable development issues, including those relevant to rural communities and Indigenous Peoples, for the Earth Council in Costa Rica, the Corporación Nacional Forestal (National Forest Cooperation - CONAF) in Chile, Stanford University, and the Cable News Network/CNN (including “Network Earth” and “Earth Matters” environmental programmes). Theadora is from a rural area and, when not working for WHO, she farms, with a focus on regenerative agriculture techniques and building the land’s resilience to climate change.