The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking experts to serve as members of the Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination in the Western Pacific Region. 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
As requested by the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific Region (RC) WPR/RC61.R7, the Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination (RVC) was first established in 2012 to independently monitor and verify the progress towards measles elimination in the region. The goal of rubella elimination was also formally adopted by the RC in 2014. To accomplish its mandate, the RVC meets annually to review annual reports from 16 National Verification Committees and the Sub-Regional Verification Committee (SRVC) for the 21 Pacific Island countries and areas, advise WHO on the determination of the status of measles and rubella elimination in each country or area, and provide expert recommendations.
Functions of the Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination in the Western Pacific
In its capacity as an independent technical advisory body supporting WHO, the RVC shall have the following functions:
- To verify the progress, achievement and maintenance of measles and rubella elimination first by country or area, including the Pacific subregion as one epidemiologic bloc, and eventually for the Region as a whole;
- To contribute to the review, update, and endorsement by WHO of guidelines on verification of measles and rubella elimination in the Region;
- To advise WHO on various issues related to verifying measles and rubella elimination and on advocating for measles and rubella;
- To provide guidance to WHO and conduct field visits when needed, in close consultation with the Secretariat (Regional Office); and
- To advise WHO on standardization of verification criteria and processes as appropriate and feasible.
Operations of the Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination in the Western Pacific
The RVC shall normally meet once each year. However, WHO may convene additional meetings. RVC meetings may be held in person at WHO Regional Office in Manila, Philippines or another location, as determined by WHO or virtually, via video or teleconference.
Who can express interest?
The Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination in the Western Pacific will be multidisciplinary, with members who have a range of technical knowledge, skills and experience relevant to contribute to deliberations on the elimination of measles and rubella (public health, virology, epidemiology, and/or health policy). Approximately 13 members may be selected.
WHO welcomes expressions of interest from individuals with expertise and experience in the following areas related to vaccine-preventable diseases and vaccines:
- global and/or regional (Western Pacific) measles and rubella elimination strategies,
- vaccine-preventable diseases prevention and surveillance;
- epidemiology;
- vaccinology;
- immunology;
- paediatrics;
- neurology;
- measles and rubella laboratory;
- primary healthcare.
Submitting your expression of interest
To register your interest in being considered for the RVC, please submit the following documents by 31 May 2024 at 2400H (midnight) Manila time to leech@who.int and bugnond@who.int using the subject line “Expression of interest for the Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination in the Western Pacific:
- 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 (including your nationality/ies) 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 an 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 leech@who.int and bugnond@who.int well before the applicable deadline.