Technical Advisory Group - Biosafety

1 February 2022
Call for experts

Issued on:  1st February 2022

Deadline: 28th February 2022

The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking experts to serve as members of the Technical Advisory Group on Biosafety (TAG-B). 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 Biosafety (TAG-B) is composed of technical experts in various areas of biological science, evolving technology, transport, safety and security. The TAG-B provides independent advice to the WHO including its strategic priorities and plans of action on specific topics relating to biosafety and biosecurity.

The WHO Biosafety Advisory Group (BAG) with decades of service was recharted to the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Biosafety (hereinafter called the “TAG-B”), which will succeed the BAG and act as an advisory body to the WHO in this field. 

Functions of the TAG-B 

In its capacity as an advisory body to WHO, the TAG-B shall have the following functions:
  1. To provide, review and make recommendations to the WHO of the scientific, technical and strategic aspects of the WHO biosafety programme.
  2. To recommend priorities to the WHO e.g. revision of documents, most important areas of biosafety and biosecurity on which to focus.
  3. To advise the WHO on specific topics relating to biosafety and biosecurity.
  4. To advise the WHO on opportunities, international initiatives and partnerships appropriate to the WHO Biosafety programme.
  5. To review and makes recommendations to the WHO on biosafety and biosecurity guidance. 

Operations of the TAG-B

The WHO TAG-B shall normally be expected to meet once each year. However, WHO may convene additional meetings.  TAG-B meetings may be held in person (at WHO headquarters in Geneva or another location, as determined by WHO) or virtually, via video or teleconference. Meetings will usually last between 2-3 days each time. 
TAG-B meetings may be held in open and/or closed session, as decided by the Chairperson in consultation with the 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. 
(b) Closed sessions: The sessions dealing with the formulation of recommendations and/or advice to WHO shall be restricted to the members of the AG and essential WHO Secretariat staff. 

Interim teleconferences may be required of the members. The working language of the group will be English.

Who can express interest?

The TAG-B will be multidisciplinary, with members who have a range of technical knowledge, skills and experience relevant to biosafety and biosecurity. Approximately 15 members may be selected. 
WHO welcomes expressions of interest from:
  • Scientists, biological safety/security professionals with expertise in one or more of the following areas:
    • National and international biosafety/biosecurity policy/regulation/guidance; 
    • Safe storage and transportation of biological agents/infectious substances; 
    • Biological containment facilities and primary containment devices;  
    • Biological risk assessment; 
    • Personal protective equipment (PPE) for use when handling biological agents;  
    • Biological laboratory design and maintenance;
    • Decontamination and waste management of biological materials;  
    • Outbreak preparedness and resilience; 
    • New and emerging technologies in biological science; and/or  
    • New and emerging/re-emerging pathogens.

Submitting your expression of interest

To register your interest in being considered for the WHO TAG-B, please submit the following documents by the 28th of February 2022, 21.00 Geneva time to kojimak@who.int using the subject line “Expression of interest for the TAG-B”:

  • A cover letter, indicating your motivation to apply and how you satisfy the selection criteria. Please note that, if selected, membership will be in a personal capacity. Therefore, do not use the letterhead or other identification of your employer;
  • Your curriculum vitae; and
  • A signed and completed Declaration of Interests (DOI) form for WHO Experts, available at https://www.who.int/about/ethics/declarations-of-interest.

After submission, your expression of interest will be reviewed by WHO.  Due to an expected high volume of interest, only selected individuals will be informed.  

Important information about the selection processes and conditions of appointment

Members of WHO advisory groups (AGs) must be free of any real, potential or apparent conflicts of interest. To this end, applicants are required to complete the WHO Declaration of Interests for WHO Experts, and the selection as a member of a AG 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 AG 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 (https://www.who.int/about/ethics/declarations-of-interest). AG members will be expected to sign and return a completed confidentiality undertaking prior to the beginning of the first meeting.

At any point during the selection process, telephone 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 AGs 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 AG 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 be sent an invitation letter and a Memorandum of Agreement. Appointment as a member of an AG will be subject to the proposed member returning to WHO the countersigned copy of these two documents.

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 AG, disband an existing TAG or modify the work of the AG.

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.

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

AG members will not be remunerated for their services in relation to the AG or otherwise. Travel and accommodation expenses of AG members to participate in AG 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 kojimak@who.int well before the applicable deadline.