Serial number: 2024/January/142
Issued on: 12 February 2024
Deadline: 29 February 2024
The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking experts to serve as members of one of the Regional Technical Advisory Group for Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination. 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
Lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, is a neglected tropical disease. Infection occurs when filarial parasites are transmitted to humans through mosquitoes. Infection is usually acquired in childhood and causes hidden damage to the lymphatic system. The painful and profoundly disfiguring visible manifestations of the disease – lymphoedema and scrotal swelling – occur later in life and can lead to permanent disability. These patients are not only physically disabled, but suffer mental, social and financial losses contributing to stigma and poverty. Over 794 million people in 43 countries worldwide remain threatened by lymphatic filariasis and require preventive chemotherapy to stop the spread of this parasitic infection (2022).
Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis" (GPELF) was launched in 2000, following the adoption of the World Health Assembly Resolution 50.29, calling for elimination of the disease as a global public health problem. GPELF aims to interrupt transmission and alleviate suffering associated with LF through a two-pronged approach: mass drug administration (MDA) and morbidity management and disability prevention (MMDP). Mass drug administration involves administering a combination of antifilarial drugs, such as albendazole, ivermectin, or diethylcarbamazine, annually to entire at-risk populations. This strategy aims to reduce microfilaremia in infected individuals, thereby interrupting the transmission cycle of the parasite. Simultaneously, MMDP focuses on managing and preventing the disabilities and socio-economic consequences of LF, including lymphedema and hydrocele. Integrating these interventions within a comprehensive and sustained framework is crucial for the success of the global strategy to eliminate lymphatic filariasis.
In the World Health Organization South-East Asia Region (WHO/SEARO), nine of the eleven Member States are endemic for lymphatic filariasis. But since the launch of the GPELF, the remarkable progress has been made in the Region. To date, Maldives, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have already achieved elimination of lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem and is under the post-validation surveillance phase. Timor Leste is due for the final transmission assessment survey, and the remaining four countries are strengthening mass drug administration with triple drug regimen to accelerate its elimination.
The Regional Technical Advisory Group (RTAG) for Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination, comprised of experts on epidemiology, chemotherapy, entomology, laboratory, statistics, social science, morbidity management and disability prevention, and programme management pertaining to lymphatic filariasis elimination, will play an important role in providing evidence-based recommendations to WHO on strategies to accelerate the progress in the elimination of lymphatic filariasis in the Region towards the 2030 global elimination targets. The RTAG is the principal advisory group to WHO/SEARO for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis in WHO South-East Asia Region.
The Regional Technical Advisory Group (the “RTAG”) will act as an advisory body to WHO in this field.
Functions of the Regional Technical Advisory Group for Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination
In its capacity as an advisory body to WHO, the RTAG shall have the following functions:
- To review the progress of elimination of lymphatic filariasis in the Region, identify key challenges and gaps periodically.
- To advise WHO on strategic directions, optimal strategies and policies for accelerating and sustaining elimination of lymphatic filariasis in the Region, including the use of appropriate and new tools and technologies and integrated approaches where feasible.
- To advise WHO on major issues and programme priorities that arise in the implementation of the recommended strategies and tactics in the Region.
- To advise WHO on priority research agenda for accelerating and sustaining elimination of lymphatic filariasis in the Region, including operational and implementation research.
Operations of the Regional Technical Advisory Group for Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination
Members of the RTAG shall be appointed to serve for a period of 3 years and shall be eligible for reappointment. The RTAG shall normally meet once in two years starting 2024. However, WHO may convene additional meetings. RTAG meetings may be held in person at WHO or another location, as determined by WHO or virtually, via video or teleconference.
RTAG meetings may be held in open and/or closed session, as decided by the Chairperson in consultation with WHO.
Who can express interest?
The Regional Technical Advisory Group for Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination will be multidisciplinary, with members who have a range of technical knowledge, skills and experience relevant to epidemiology, chemotherapy, entomology, laboratory, statistics, social science, morbidity management and disability prevention, and programme management pertaining to lymphatic filariasis elimination Approximately 15 may be selected.
WHO welcomes expressions of interest from:
Scientists, healthcare professionals and healthcare regulators with expertise in the following areas pertaining to lymphatic filariasis elimination:
- Disease epidemiology
- Statistics and modelling
- Access to preventive chemotherapy
- Laboratory and diagnostics
- Entomology and vector control
- Morbidity management and disability prevention, including rehabilitation
- Health systems and programme delivery including supply chain management; and/or
- Social science, ethics, equity, human rights and gender in public health.
Submitting your expression of interest
To register your interest in being considered for the Regional Technical Advisory Group for Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination, please submit the following documents by 29 February 2024, 16.30 hrs (IST) to SEA-NTD@who.int using the subject line “Expression of interest” for the Regional Technical Advisory Group for Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination.
- 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 a 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 SEA-NTD@who.int well before the applicable deadline.