The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking experts to serve as members of the Technical Advisory Group on Immunization and Vaccine-preventable Diseases 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
The Technical Advisory Group on Immunization and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in the Western Pacific Region (TAG) is the principal independent technical advisory group for vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccines and immunization in the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region. The TAG is responsible for advising the WHO Regional Director and the Secretariat on regional policies, strategies and tactics for control and elimination of vaccine-preventable diseases, strengthening immunization systems and programmes, and promoting the research, development and introduction of vaccines. The TAG also serves as a regional forum for technical discussion on implementation of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) recommendations within the regional context where appropriate.
Functions of the Technical Advisory Group on Immunization and Vaccine-preventable Diseases in the Western Pacific
In its capacity as an advisory body to WHO, the TAG shall have the following functions:
recommend appropriate goals, targets, strategies and monitoring indicators for vaccine-preventable disease control, elimination and immunization programmes in the Western Pacific Region in coordination and collaboration with: the Regional Commission for the Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication in the Western Pacific (RCC), the Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination in the Western Pacific (RVC), the Combined Subregional Committees for the Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication and Verification of Measles Elimination in Pacific Island Countries and Areas (SRCC/SRVC), and the Expert Resource Panel (ERP) for Vaccine Preventable Hepatitis;
review the epidemiological situation of vaccine-preventable diseases in the Western Pacific Region; monitor progress towards achieving the objectives of plans and strategies for vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization endorsed by the World Health Assembly and the Regional Committee; monitor progress towards achieving the regional goals and targets for vaccine-preventable disease control, elimination and immunization programmes; and identify constraints, obstacles, threats and opportunities for their achievement;
provide technical recommendations to WHO on how to help Member States of the Region strengthen and expand immunization systems and programmes, vaccine-preventable disease surveillance and laboratory networks, and preparedness for and response to vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks and immunization safety issues for achieving national and regional goals and targets for vaccine-preventable disease control, elimination and immunization programmes;
advise on the regional research agenda and identify appropriate areas for epidemiologic and implementation research in the fields of vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization programmes with the support of the Secretariat;
advice WHO on the endorsement of the regional strategic plan and technical guidelines to accomplish the goals and targets for vaccine-preventable disease control, elimination and immunization programmes in the Region;
advise on matters of special importance (such as new regional goals, targets, strategies, etc.) for submission to the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific;
advice WHO on advocating the regional goals and targets for vaccine-preventable disease control, elimination and immunization programmes among national immunization technical advisory groups (NITAGs), national governments, political leaders and other stakeholders/partners; and
participate in missions at the regional and country levels for progress reviews and technical update meetings upon request of the WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific.
Operations of the Technical Advisory Group on Immunization and Vaccine-preventable Diseases in the Western Pacific Region
The TAG shall normally meet at least once each year. However, WHO may convene additional meetings. TAG meetings may be held in person (at WHO Western Pacific Regional Office or another location, as determined by WHO) or virtually, via video or teleconference. The working language of the group will be English.
Who can express interest?
The Technical Advisory Group on Immunization and Vaccine-preventable Diseases in the Western Pacific Region will be multidisciplinary, with members who have a range of technical knowledge, skills and experience to contribute to the regional policies, strategies and tactics for control and elimination of vaccine-preventable diseases, strengthening immunization systems and programmes, and promoting the research, development and introduction of vaccines.
WHO welcomes expressions of interest from individuals with expertise and experience in the following areas:
- vaccine-preventable diseases (for example epidemiology, public health, vaccinology, immunology, paediatrics, internal medicine, infectious diseases, programme implementation and management, immunization service delivery, health economics, social behavioural science, etc.);
- vaccines (for example vaccinology, vaccine quality, safety and regulations);
- immunization; and/or
- international collaboration on vaccine-preventable disease control, elimination and immunization.
Up to 10 members may be selected.
Submitting your expression of interest
To register your interest in being considered for the Technical Advisory Group on Immunization and Vaccine-preventable Diseases in the Western Pacific Region, please submit the following documents by 4 March 2024 at 24:00h (midnight) Manila time to grabovacv@who.int and solidumr@who.int using the subject line “Expression of interest for Technical Advisory Group on Immunization and Vaccine-preventable Diseases in the Western Pacific Region”:
- 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 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 grabovacv@who.int and solidumr@who.int well before the applicable deadline.