Open call for experts to serve as members of the Digital Health Competency Framework Committee

We acknowledge the receipt of all submitted applications received to date.

We have extended the submission date till 20 March 2023 and will communicate the status of your application after this date.

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WHO is seeking subject matter experts to serve as members of the WHO Digital Health Competency Framework Committee. This “Call for experts” provides information about this Committee, the expert profiles being sought, the process to express interest, and the selection process.

Background

The Digital Health Competency Framework (DHCF) aims to strengthen digital health capacity at the country level. The framework will outline competencies for digital health policymakers, programme planners or managers, health practitioners, and the patient/people/population. It will guide curriculum developers, digital health leaders, digital health practitioners, and others in using and implementing digital health solutions, systems, and services.

The domains and competencies described in the framework will be interpreted and applied in the context of specific local roles and responsibilities, regulations, and practices. The competency framework is aimed to support both academic and vocational education and training in university, health training institutes, in-service training and continuous professional development.

The competency framework  is planned for use in the following ways:

1. To inform standardized nomenclature and terminology in the field of digital health competencies , aligned with WHO’s guidance on competency-based education and practice activities.¹
2. To inform assessment and benchmarking of existing digital health competencies within the workforce
3. To assist in reviewing and improving digital health education in academic and vocational programmes
4. To inform and optimize digital health policies and governance
5. To inform digital health research and development needs
6. To inform national  accreditation, credentialing, licensing, and employment standards in the domain of digital health, aligned with international standards where relevant.
   

Functions of the Digital Health Competency Framework Committee

1. To support WHO’s Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020 - 2025 (GSDH) objectives and WHO’s Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030 by developing relevant global norms and standards on digital health competencies .
2. To outline the skills, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours that differing occupations within the health workforce (including policymakers, practitioners and planners) and populations should demonstrate when engaging with or utilising digital health tools or platforms to improve health services and strengthen the health system.
3. To guide DHCF development and positioning in the context of the rapid evolution of digital health trends and corresponding competencies, as well as provide guidance on advancements, knowledge uptake, and applications of frameworks in education, credentialing, employment, marketplace, and government institutions.
4. To suggest opportunities to mobilize strategic multi-stakeholder support, collaboration, and outreach across Member States, inter-governmental organizations, and non-state actors to adapt and maximize the use and impact of the Competency framework.
   

Who can express interest?

WHO welcomes expressions of interest from professionals with

• At least ten years of experience in one or more of the following areas: educational technology; competency-based education; competency development; instructional design; technical learning standards; education and lifelong learning policy, strategy, and governance; adult learning, workplace learning; learning transformation and impact; learning assessment; learning science or analytics; capacity building at the individual, community, institutional, national or global level;
• Experience in operating at the highest strategic level in public, private, or other sectors (e.g., academia);
• Knowledge of the digital health, health information systems or similar domain is desirable but not absolutely required    

The Digital Health Competency Framework Committee

The anticipated outputs of the Committee shall include the following:

• Report synthesis based on the review of scientific literature collected for the development of the competency framework
• Detailed advisory guidance on competency outline, domains and definitions   based on existing competency frameworks, WHO standards, best practices, and inputs from other contributing groups
  

Shared principles guiding the work shall include:

• Keeping in line with Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it is noted that any willing individual also has the right to obtain digital health competencies;
• Digital health competencies should not increase health inequities or increase the digital divide;
• The DHCF should be aligned with related initiatives of WHO, relevant global stakeholders,  and United Nations agencies’ technical products and digital transformation projects;
• The DHCF should be cognisant of various levels of digital health maturity and sustainable development capacity of users.

Experts invited to participate will be expected to contribute their expertise to different aspects of the competency frameworks’ development through virtual meetings and working groups. The first of these meetings is scheduled to occur in Q1 of 2023, with subsequent working group meetings occurring fortnightly.

Submitting the expression of interest

Interested candidates must confirm interest, availability, and commitment to participate and provide:

• Curriculum vitae (CV) – maximum of 2 pages;
• A two-slide presentation, sent in PDF format, outlining a proposed structure for a globally adaptable digital health competency framework;

If selected, the candidates will also be required to complete the following:

• Declaration of Interests (DoI) form for WHO Experts
• Completed Annex C: Confidentiality Undertaking form

Your CV will be used in the assessment of your expertise. The CV should be written in English and should include all contact details including, if available, a phone number.

Please send your completed applications to the WHO email address: DigitalHealth@who.int with the subject line "Application for Digital Health Competency Framework Committee – [name of country where you work] and [full name of the applicant]” for email receipt before 17:00 CET on the 28^th of February 2023 .

For any questions, please email:  DigitalHealth@who.int  

Selection processes and conditions of appointment

The Secretariat will acknowledge receipt of your application and its completeness (by e-mail reply) and will check it for eligibility within five working days of reception, starting from 28^th of February 2023 onwards. The experts will be asked to commit themselves for a period of one year with a possible extension of three additional months, depending on the work plan.

The Secretariat will rely on the information provided to assess your expertise, skills, and potential. Please ensure that you provide written evidence to support how you satisfy the selection criteria. Interviews may be scheduled to assess whether the applicant’s experience and expertise meet the criteria for membership.

The selection of members will be made by WHO at 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 members will also take into account the need for diverse perspectives from different regions, especially from low and middle-income countries, and gender balance.

All applications will receive notification from the Secretariat informing them of the final status of their nomination, whether successful or unsuccessful.

Participation in this Committee is not remunerated. However, compensation would be provided for expenses related to attending in-person meetings where travel may be required. Such compensation, which includes the issuance of airline tickets, per diem to cover lodging, food, and incidental expenses, will be in accordance with the WHO travel rules and regulations. Please note that due to the current COVID-19 pandemic situation, meetings will only be conducted virtually, and the Secretariat will try to accommodate all time zones. Participation in virtual meetings is not compensated

¹ Global Competency and Outcomes Framework for Universal Health Coverage. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2022 Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240034662