Technical Advisory Group on Social Connection (TAG-SC)
WHO has established the Technical Advisory Group on Social Connection to provide the Organization with advice in its work on the issues of social connection, social isolation and loneliness on a global level.

Terms of Reference for the Technical Advisory Group on Social Connection

 

Background and rationale

Social connection is the foundation of well-functioning societies, economies, communities, and families. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated this beyond doubt.

Social isolation and loneliness – which reflect deficits in social connections – affect people of all age groups and have serious consequences for mortality, physical and mental health (including suicide risk), and well-being. For instance, social isolation and loneliness are associated with 25–33% increased risk of mortality and are now widely considered to be risk factors for mortality which are as important as obesity, lack of physical activity, smoking, other forms of substance abuse, and poor access to health care.

In addition, the quality of social connections within communities – for instance, in schools, workplaces, and neighbourhoods – is directly related to the safety, prosperity and governance of the wider society. There is also mounting evidence that the dimension of social connection captured by the concept of “social capital” – i.e. social networks and the associated norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness – fosters social and economic development and innovation within societies.

Building on the increased awareness and policy priority of social connection, amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the political opportunity that the UN Decade on Healthy Ageing 2021–2030 presents, WHO has decided to step up its work on this issue. It aims to increase the political visibility and priority of the issue; to reposition it as a genuine global public health problem that affects all regions around the world and all age groups; and to scale up cost-effective solutions adapted to low-, middle-, and high-income countries.

A Technical Advisory Group on Social Connection (TAG-SC), made up of up to 20 experts, will act as an advisory body to the WHO Secretariat on the issue of social connection and its impact on health and society. This is a complex and multi-faceted issue, which involves many sectors, is studied by multiple disciplines, and is replete with ongoing methodological and substantive controversies.

I. Functions

In its capacity as an advisory body to WHO, the main function of the TAG-SC shall be to provide advice to WHO on the following aspects of the issue of social connection:

  1. increasing the political visibility and priority of the issue of social connection by identifying the determinants of such visibility and priority and the mechanisms that can be used to reposition the issue as a genuine global public health problem that affects all regions around the world and all age groups;

  2. the technical content to be developed by WHO on social connection;

  3. measurement and, more specifically, the development of a Global Index on Social Connection and its implementation in as many countries as possible, including advising on the constructs to be measured; the instruments, scales, and items to measure them; existing data sources that can be used; modes of data collection; and methods of analysis, including methods for arriving at global, regional, and national estimates;

  4. mapping and identification of effective interventions to promote social connection and reduce social isolation and loneliness that can be the basis for scaling up interventions in countries; and

  5. communication science in this area, in particular how to most effectively frame and represent the issue using different media, including social media.

II. Composition

  1. The TAG-SC shall have up to 20 members (1), who shall serve in their personal capacities to represent the broad range of disciplines relevant to social connection. In the selection of the TAG-SC members, consideration shall be given to attaining an adequate distribution of technical expertise, geographical representation, and gender balance.

  2. Members of the TAG-SC, including the two Co-chairs, shall be selected and appointed by WHO following an open call for experts. The Co-chairs' functions include the following:

    3. a. to chair the meeting of the TAG-SC;
    b. to liaise with the WHO Secretariat between meetings.

    In appointing Co-chairs, consideration shall be given to gender and geographical representation.

  3. Members of the TAG-SC shall be appointed to serve for a period of two [2] years and shall be eligible for reappointment. Co-chairs are eligible for reappointment as members of the TAG-SC but are only permitted to serve as Co-chair for one term. Their appointment and/or designation as Co-chair may be terminated at any time by WHO if WHO's interest so requires or, as otherwise specified in these terms of reference or letters of appointment. Where a member’s appointment is terminated, WHO may decide to appoint a replacement member.

  4. TAG-SC members must respect the impartiality and independence required of WHO. In performing their work, members may not seek or accept instructions from any government or from any authority external to the Organization. They must be free of any real, potential or apparent conflicts of interest. To this end, proposed members/members shall be required to complete a declaration of interests form and their appointment, or continuation of their appointment, shall be subject to the evaluation of completed forms by the WHO Secretariat, determining that their participation would not give rise to a real, potential or apparent conflict of interest.

  5. Following a determination that a proposed member’s participation in the TAG-SC would not give rise to a real, potential or apparent conflict of interest, the proposed member will be sent a letter inviting them to be a member of the TAG-SC. Their appointment to the TAG-SC is subject to WHO receiving the countersigned invitation letter and letter of agreement. Notwithstanding the requirement to complete the WHO declaration of interest form, TAG-SC members have an ongoing obligation to inform the WHO of any interests real or perceived that may give raise to a real, potential or apparent conflict of interest.

  6. As contemplated in paragraph II.4 above, WHO may, from time to time, request TAG-SC members to complete a new declaration of interest form. This may be before a TAG-SC meeting or any other TAG-SC -related activity or engagement, as decided by WHO. Where WHO has made such a request, the TAG-SC member’s participation in the TAG-SC activity or engagement is subject to a determination that their participation would not give rise to a real, potential or apparent conflict of interest.

  7. Where a TAG-SC member is invited by WHO to travel to an in-person TAG-SC meeting, WHO shall, subject to any conflict of interest determination as set out in paragraph II.6 above, issue a letter of appointment as a temporary adviser and accompanying memorandum of agreement (together ‘Temporary Adviser Letter’). WHO shall not authorize travel by a TAG-SC member, until it receives a countersigned Temporary Adviser Letter.

  8. TAG-SC members do not receive any remuneration from the Organization for any work related to the TAG-SC. However, when attending in-person meetings at the invitation of WHO, their travel cost and per diem shall be covered by WHO in accordance with the applicable WHO rules and policies.

Note 1: Members serve as full participants and partake in the decision-making process of the meeting in which they are involved.

III. Operation

  1. The TAG-SC shall normally meet at least twice each year. However, WHO may convene additional meetings. TAG-SC meetings may be held in person (at WHO headquarters in Geneva or another location, as determined by WHO) or virtually, via video or teleconference.
    TAG-SC meetings may be held in open and/or closed session, as decided by the Chairperson in consultation with WHO.
    a. Open sessions: Open sessions shall be convened for the sole purpose of the exchange of non-confidential information and views, and may be attended by Observers (as defined in paragraph III.3 below).
    b. Closed sessions: The sessions dealing with the formulation of recommendations and/or advice to WHO shall be restricted to the members of the TAG-SC and essential WHO Secretariat staff.

  2. The quorum for TAG-SC meetings shall be two thirds of the members.

  3. WHO may, at its sole discretion, invite external individuals from time to time to attend the open sessions of an advisory group, or parts thereof, as “observers”. Observers may be invited either in their personal capacity, or as representatives from a governmental institution/intergovernmental organization, or from a non-State actor. WHO will request observers invited in their personal capacity to complete a confidentiality undertaking and a declaration of interests form prior to attending a session of the advisory group. Invitations to observers attending as representatives from non-State actors will be subject to WHO internal due diligence and risk assessment including conflict of interest considerations in accordance with the Framework for engagement with non-State actors (FENSA). Observers invited as representatives may also be requested to complete a confidentiality undertaking. Observers shall normally attend meetings of the AG at their own expense and be responsible for making all arrangements in that regard.

    At the invitation of the Chairperson, observers may be asked to present their personal views and/or the policies of their organization. Observers will not participate in the process of adopting recommendations of the AG.

  4. The TAG-SC may decide to establish smaller working groups (sub-groups of the TAG-SC) to work on specific issues. Their deliberations shall take place via teleconference or video-conference. For these sub-groups, no quorum requirement will apply; the outcome of their deliberations will be submitted to the TAG-SC for review at one of its meetings.

  5. TAG-SC members are expected to attend meetings. If a member misses two consecutive meetings, WHO may end his/her appointment as a member of the TAG-SC.

  6. Reports of each meeting shall be submitted by the TAG-SC to WHO (the Assistant Director-General of the responsible Cluster). All recommendations from the TAG-SC are advisory to WHO, who retains full control over any subsequent decisions or actions regarding any proposals, policy issues or other matters considered by the TAG-SC.

  7. The TAG-SC shall normally make recommendations by consensus. If, in exceptional circumstances, a consensus on a particular issue cannot be reached, minority opinions will be reflected in the meeting report.

  8. Active participation is expected from all TAG-SC members, including in working groups, teleconferences, and interaction over email. TAG-SC members may, in advance of TAG-SC meetings, be requested to review meeting documentation and to provide their views for consideration by the TAG-SC.

  9. WHO shall determine the modes of communication by the TAG-SC, including between WHO and the TAG-SC members, and the TAG-SC members among themselves.

  10. TAG-SC members shall not speak on behalf of, or represent, the TAG-SC or WHO to any third party.

IV. Secretariat

WHO shall provide the secretariat for the TAG-SC, including necessary scientific, technical, administrative and other support. In this regard, the WHO Secretariat shall provide the members in advance of each meeting with the agenda, working documents and discussion papers. Distribution of the aforesaid documents to Observers will be determined by the WHO Secretariat. [The meeting agenda shall include details such as: whether a meeting, or part thereof, is closed or open; and whether Observers are permitted to attend.]

V. Information and documentation

  1. Information and documentation to which members may gain access in performing TAG-SC related activities shall be considered as confidential and proprietary to WHO and/or parties collaborating with WHO. In addition, by counter signing the letter of appointment and the accompanying terms and conditions referred to in section II(5) above, TAG-SC members undertake to abide by the confidentiality obligations contained therein and also confirm that any and all rights in the work performed by them in connection with, or as a result of their TAG-SC -related activities shall be exclusively vested in WHO.

  2. TAG-SC members and Observers shall not quote from, circulate or use TAG-SC documents for any purpose other than in a manner consistent with their responsibilities under these Terms of Reference.

  3. WHO retains full control over the publication of the reports of the TAG-SC, including deciding whether or not to publish them.