The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking experts to become part of a series of online consultations to jointly develop a Global Research Agenda on Knowledge Translation. This “Call for Experts” provides information about the consultations, the expert profiles being sought, the process to express interest, and the process of selection.
Background
The World Health Organization (WHO) Evidence to Policy and Impact Unit is in the process of developing the first WHO Global Research Agenda on Knowledge Translation. WHO defines Knowledge Translation (KT) as ‘the synthesis, exchange and application of knowledge by relevant stakeholders to accelerate the benefits of global and local innovation in strengthening health systems and improving people’s health’. The research agenda-setting is a global exercise that initiates the process of defining global research priorities in KT. This exercise will be multisectoral in that it will include research from the health sector as well as other policy areas that impact on health outcomes, such as education, environment, and agriculture. To support this, technical consultations will be held from February – April 2023 and combined with a modified Delphi exercise to rank the discussed research priorities.
The main objectives of the Global Research Agenda on Knowledge Translation are:
- To improve efficiencies and synergies of KT research;
- To direct, catalyze, and funnel KT research funding into identified priority areas;
- To improve our understanding of what works in the use of evidence for policy-making;
- To enhance collaboration on KT research within health and across sectors; and
- To raise awareness about research on KT and the use of evidence for policy-making.
Purpose
The purpose of this Call for Experts is to invite individuals with experience and expertise in Knowledge Translation research, who have conducted research in Knowledge Translation, or participated in it, or used Knowledge Translation (KT) in their work to attend up to three 2-to 3-hour online sessions as part of the consultation process for the WHO Global Research Agenda on KT. Both KT researchers and practitioners from all WHO regions and of all genders are invited to respond to this Call. The consultations will be combined with a Delphi ranking exercise, where experts will be asked to vote on the identified research priorities based on agreed-upon ranking criteria. The intention is to engage experts across all regions and countries who work across the evidence ecosystem on improving KT. The consultations will aim to identify research gaps and opportunities globally in KT, and subsequently determine global research priorities. Ahead of the consultations, experts will be provided with an initial list of priority research areas identified during a preceding review. During the consultations, experts will be asked to provide insights on the proposed priorities and to offer and discuss additional research opportunities and gaps in the field of KT.
Submission process
Submissions are being sought from individuals across all six WHO regions and of all genders with expertise and experience in the field of Knowledge Translation research and implementation in the health sector and other policy areas that impact on health outcomes, including but not limited to education, the environment, and agriculture. WHO welcomes expressions of interest from national or international researchers and practitioners from across academic/research institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international organizations, civil society groups (including patient advocacy/representative groups), as well as government institutions, agencies, or ministries. To register your interest in being considered for the consultations on the research agenda, please submit the following documents by 23:00 Geneva time (CET) on 19 January 2024 to eidm@who.int using the subject line “Expression of interest for the research agenda consultation”:
- A one-page cover letter, indicating your motivation to apply and how you meet the selection criteria. Please note that, if selected, participation 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
- Review of the Code of Conduct for WHO Experts at https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/declaration-of-interests---annex-b
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
Up to 100 experts will be invited to join the technical consultations based on their expertise and contributions to the field of Knowledge Translation research and implementation. Participants 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 to take part in the technical consultations is dependent on WHO determining that there is no conflict of interest or that any identified conflicts can be appropriately managed.
Participants 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. Please note that participation in the online consultations is voluntary and will not be renumerated.
A due diligence process will be conducted for shortlisted potential participants. 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 inclusion in the consultations.
The selection of participants of the technical consultations 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 participants will give special attention to the need for diverse perspectives from all six WHO regions, especially from low and middle-income countries, and from people of all genders.
WHO reserves the right to accept or reject any expression of interest, to annul the Call for Experts 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 consultations, disband an existing consultation group, or modify the work of the consultations.
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 participant.
Selected participants will be formally invited to the first technical consultation in February 2024. A full agenda and pre-reading material will be circulated prior.
Contact
If you have any questions about this “Call for Experts”, please write to eidm@who.int.