Our Story
Since 1990
TIP, as a people‑centred, evidence‑based approach, emerges from two converging histories: the evolution of transformational development thinking in the 1990s and the formalisation of Tailoring Immunization Programmes (TIP) by WHO in 2013.
In the 1990s, agencies such as UNDP began to question project models that focused only on short‑term outputs, instead promoting transformational engagements that support deep, systemic and sustainable change in people’s lives. This shift emphasised rigorous diagnosis of local constraints, adaptation to context, broad stakeholder engagement and institution‑building as the core of serious development work.
Today, when practitioners refer to TIP in development work, they draw on this combined legacy: the 1990s push for transformational, country‑owned change and the 2013 onward experience with tailoring programmes to specific behaviours and contexts. Together, these strands give TIP its distinctive background as an approach that starts from lived realities, uses evidence to guide design, and seeks lasting improvements rather than isolated project results.
The birth of the idea
TIP emerged in 2013, when WHO Europe formalized the Tailoring Immunization Programmes guide as a practical tool to help countries ask different questions: Who is not being reached, why, and what would truly fit their context. Instead of assuming that more vaccines, more messages, or more staff would automatically change coverage, TIP invited programme teams to listen deeply, map behavioural and social barriers, and co‑create solutions with communities themselves.
Early pilots revealed that low coverage was often rooted in trust, norms, gender roles, or daily survival pressures rather than simple “lack of information,” confirming that the old model was missing the real story. This insight crystallized the TIP idea: people are not the problem to be fixed; programmes must adapt, becoming people‑centred, behaviour‑aware and locally grounded. From there, TIP grew from a technical guide into a broader way of thinking about development, one that treats every missed service, every under‑reached group, as a signal to redesign the system, not blame the community
The Growth of Teso Peace Innitiative
The Tailoring Immunization Programmes (TIP) approach has grown from a technical guide into a people-centred framework for designing health programmes based on behavioural evidence. Introduced by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe in 2013, TIP helps countries identify why populations are missed by immunization services and develop context-specific interventions. Between 2013 and 2019, it was implemented in at least 12 countries, informing updated guidance and training.
TIP has been recognized as an effective behavioural-insights tool, shifting immunization strategies from supply-driven approaches to community-centred solutions. Its principles now inform broader WHO guidance on behavioural and cultural insights across public health.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, TIP-based behavioural tools were used in 30 of the 53 WHO European Member States, supporting targeted interventions and contributing to improved vaccine coverage, including the recovery of DTP3 coverage and increased HPV vaccination rates worldwide.