The Americas was one of the regions most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. By mid-January 2020, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) activated an organization-wide response to support its member states (MSs) in accordance with the COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness, and Response Plan (SPRP) of the World Health Organization (WHO). On 5 March 2020, PAHO launched its COVID-19 Response Strategy and Donor Appeal to support COVID-19 preparedness and response efforts in the Americas, followed by its Regional COVID-19 Response Strategy (2021). 

In early 2022, PAHO’s Director included the evaluation of PAHO's response to COVID-19 in PAHO’s corporate evaluation workplan. The aim was to provide an objective, independent assessment of PAHO’s performance during the response, covering the period January 2020 - August 2022. The evaluation served accountability and organizational learning purposes and is focused on the operations undertaken by the entire organization across its subregions.  The Caribbean (CRB), Central America (CAM), South America (SAM), and North America (NAM), and in 35 Member States. While not being a technical evaluation and not assessing Member States’ responses, this is a strategic, PAHO-wide evaluation of PAHO’s Response.