Call for Experts: WHO Technical Advisory Group on Health Statistics

Issued on: 22 April 2025

Deadline: 27 May 2025

The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking experts to serve as members of WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on Health Statistics (TAG-HS). This “Call for Experts” provides information about the advisory group in question, the expert profiles being sought, the process to express interest, and the process of selection. 

Background

The WHO Technical Advisory Group on Health Statistics (TAG-HS) replaces the former Reference Group on Health Statistics (RGHS) providing advice and enabling knowledge sharing among experts with the goal of supporting WHO to benefit from the best possible scientific and strategic advice in the generation, use, interpretation and dissemination of global health data. The TAG-HS supports WHO in its efforts to assist Member States to achieve maximal gains in population health through correctly informed data, analytics and evidence. It serves as a broad scientific and strategic platform to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and application of health statistics, beyond mortality and cause of death, and to accelerate efforts to improve data cycle and analytical capacity in countries. The TAG-HS will act as an advisory body to WHO in health statistics, in general topics and specific areas where its respective expertise applies.

1. To provide technical and strategic advice to WHO to ensure that WHO’s practices in data processing, synthesis, production and use of population-health related statistics, are evidence-based. 
2. To advise WHO on strengthening collaboration with external research groups in advancing the methodological agenda for population-health estimates. 
   
3. To guide WHO on strengthening data and health information systems. 
4. To promote replicability and improve transparency in producing population-health related statistics.
5. To guide WHO in setting norms and standards in the utilization of emerging digital capability, particularly Artificial Intelligence, to produce high quality health estimates at national and global levels.

Operations of the TAG-HS

1. The TAG-HS shall normally meet at least once each year. However, WHO may convene additional meetings. TAG-HS 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-HS 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 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-HS and essential WHO Secretariat staff.

2. The quorum for TAG-HS 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 TAG-HS 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 decisions and recommendations of the TAG-HS.

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

5. TAG-HS 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-HS.

6. A meeting report shall be submitted by the TAG-HS to WHO (the Assistant Director-General of the responsible Cluster). All recommendations from the TAG-HS 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-HS. The TAG-HS 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.

7. Active participation is expected from all TAG-HS members, including in working groups, teleconferences, and interaction over email.

8. TAG-HS members may, in advance of TAG-HS meetings, be requested to review meeting documentation and to provide their views for consideration by the TAG-HS.

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

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

11. The working language of the TAG-HS will be English.

Who can express interest?

WHO is seeking applicants with a broad range of technical knowledge, skills, and experience relevant to the data production cycle, including the generation, analysis, and application of population health statistics. Candidates should have expertise in statistical methods such as modeling, forecasting, demography, and analysis of mortality and causes of death. Experience with civil registration and vital statistics systems is highly desirable, as is familiarity with emerging digital technologies in health data, health information systems, and their applications in the health sector.

WHO welcomes expressions of interest from experts in one or multiple relevant domains as detailed below:

• Alignment with WHO’s values and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion
• Advanced University degree in demography, statistics, epidemiology, mathematics, modelling and/or forecasting and/or other related areas
• Advanced University degree in health and/or health sciences, global health and/or other related areas
• Leadership at national or international scientific bodies, committees or other expert advisory institutions related to health statistics
• International working experience in a diverse range of countries
• Record of scientific publications
• Fluent level of English language, writing, reading and speaking

Up to 40 members will be selected, but the group size may be expanded if necessary to meet additional needs.

Selected technical experts will serve in their personal capacity and will not represent the institutions to which they are affiliated.

Submitting your expression of interest

To register your interest in being considered for the TAG-HS, please submit the following documents

by 27 May 2025 to healthstat@who.int

using the subject line “Expression of interest for the TAG-HS":

• A cover letter, indicating your motivation to apply and how you satisfy the selection criteria
• Curriculum vitae
• List of publications
• Completed Declaration of Interests (DOI) form for WHO Experts*, available at https://www.who.int/about/ethics/declarations-of-interest.

Important information about the selection processes and conditions of appointment

Applicants are required to complete the DOI as members of WHO technical advisory groups (TAGs) must be free of any real, potential or apparent conflicts of interest. The selection as a member of a TAG is, amongst other things, dependent on WHO determining that there is no conflict of interest or that any identified conflicts could be appropriately managed (in addition to WHO’s evaluation of an applicant’s experience, expertise and motivation and other criteria).

All TAG members will serve in their individual expert capacity and shall not represent any governments, any commercial industries or entities, any research, academic or civil society organizations, or any other bodies, entities, institutions or organizations. They are expected to fully comply with the Code of Conduct for WHO Experts.

Selection process

After submission, your expression of interest will be reviewed by WHO and applicants will be informed when the selection has been completed.

At any point during the selection process, interviews may be scheduled between an applicant and the WHO Secretariat to enable WHO to ask questions relating to the applicant’s experience and expertise and/or to assess whether the applicant meets the criteria for membership in the relevant AG.

The selection of members of the TAGs will be made by WHO in its sole discretion, taking into account the following (non-exclusive) criteria: relevant technical expertise; experience in international and country policy work; communication skills; and ability to work constructively with people from different cultural backgrounds and orientations. The selection of TAG members will also take account of the need for diverse perspectives from different regions, especially from low and middle-income countries, and for gender balance.

If selected by WHO, proposed members will receive an invitation letter to join the TAG and will be required to send their short biography and sign and return a Confidentiality undertaking.

WHO may publish the names and short biographies of the selected individuals on the WHO internet.

WHO reserves the right to accept or reject any expression of interest, to annul the open call process and reject all expressions of interest at any time without incurring any liability to the affected applicant or applicants and without any obligation to inform the affected applicant or applicants of the grounds for WHO's action. WHO may also decide, at any time, not to proceed with the establishment of the TAG, disband an existing TAG or modify the scope of work.

WHO shall not in any way be obliged to reveal, or discuss with any applicant, how an expression of interest was assessed, or to provide any other information relating to the evaluation/selection process or to state the reasons for not choosing a member.

TAG members will not be remunerated for their services in relation to the TAG or otherwise. Travel and accommodation expenses of TAG members to participate in TAG meetings will be covered by WHO in accordance with its applicable policies, rules and procedures.

The appointment will be limited in time as indicated in the letter of appointment.

If you have any questions about this “Call for experts”, please write to healthstat@who.int well before the applicable deadline.