The World Health Organization (WHO) Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) is seeking experts to serve as members of the Health Security Interface – Technical Advisory Group (HSI-TAG). 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
Within the mandates of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) and resolutions WHA55.16 (2002) and WHA74.7 (2021), WHO is a key leader of global public health responses to acute health security events, including in cases where the deliberate use of biological materials and chemicals to cause harm is suspected or confirmed. Within the context of the 13th General Programme of Work 2019-2023 (GPW13) and its target of ‘1 Billion People Made Safer’, the implementation of public health work in coordination with the security sector will be increasingly important in effective preparedness and response to global health security risks—whether natural, accidental, or deliberate.
The Health Security Interface (HSI) includes those public health activities which involve interaction with the security sector broadly understood (e.g. international and non-governmental organizations, civil defense, military health personnel, law enforcement and armed forces, defense-related research programs). Such activities may include the protection of health from traditional and emerging diseases and associated threats as well as any health activities performed in collaboration with security actors.
The Health Security Interface function within the Biosecurity and Health Security Protection (BSP) Unit serves as a platform for WHO/WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) initiatives related to the health and security sectors and works as a repository of past and current experiences in the framework of resolutions WHA55.16 (2002) and WHA74.7 (2021).
WHO has established the Technical Advisory Group on Health Security Interface (HSI-TAG) to provide advice to WHO and WHE across areas related to the interface between the public health and security sectors. The group will act as an advisory body to WHO to strengthen internal capacities in health security related fields.
The HSI-TAG will play a critical role in providing recommendations to WHO and as a vehicle for information sharing among relevant actors, through the WHE programme, with the aim of advising WHO on inter-agency coordination, cooperation in this specific area, and leadership in the UN system and among partner international organizations.
Functions of the HSI-TAG
In its capacity as an advisory body to WHO, the HSI-TAG shall have the following functions:
- To identify gaps, vulnerabilities, challenges, and opportunities within the health security interface,
- To provide WHO with the technical and scientific advice relevant to the health security interface and the work of the BSP unit,
- To advise WHO on a platform for information sharing, with the WHO’s international and other partners from health and security sectors.
Operations of the HSI-TAG
The Health Security Interface – Technical Advisory Group (HSI-TAG) will be expected to meet annually at least once, virtually via video or teleconference, or in person at WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, or another location, as determined by WHO. Meeting durations will usually be between one and three days. Interim teleconferences may be required of the members. HSI-TAG meetings may be held in open and/or closed session, as decided by the Chairperson in consultation with WHO. The working language of the group will be English. WHO may, at its sole discretion, invite external individuals from time to time to attend the open sessions of an advisory group, or parts thereof, as “observers”. The HSI-TAG may decide to establish smaller working groups (sub-groups of the HSI-TAG) to work on specific issues. HSI-TAG members are expected to attend all meetings. All recommendations from the HSI-TAG are advisory to WHO, who retains full control over any subsequent decisions or actions regarding any proposals, policy issues or other matters considered by the HSI-TAG.
Who can express interest?
The HSI-TAG will be multidisciplinary, with members who have a range of technical knowledge, skills and experience relevant to the health and security interface. Up to 20 members may be selected.
WHO welcomes expressions of interest from individuals with expertise in one or more of the following technical disciplines:
- public health management of deliberate events (planning and operational experience desirable);
- public health intelligence;
- epidemiology;
- toxicology;
- infectious diseases;
- analytical genomics/synthetic biology/virology/emerging biotechnologies/Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) and associated topics;
- biosafety & biosecurity;
- law enforcement and public health (LEPH);
- sampling & analysis, chain of custody, logistics & equipment;
- information and data assurance/health security consequences of infodemics/disinformation;
- risk communication and community engagement (RCCE);
- international law and governance;
- foresight/futurology.
Submitting your expression of interest
To register your interest in being considered for the HSI-TAG, please submit the following documents by 18 September 2022, 24:00 (midnight), Geneva time to BSP@who.int using the subject line “Expression of interest for the HSI-TAG”:
- A cover letter, indicating your motivation to apply, which area(s) of expertise you identify with from the abovementioned technical disciplines, and how you satisfy the selection criteria (maximum 500 words). Please note that, if selected, membership will be in your personal capacity. Therefore, please do not use the letterhead or other identification of your employer;
- Your curriculum vitae (maximum 5 pages; 12-point font size); and
- A signed and completed Declaration of Interests (DOI) form for WHO Experts, available here.
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 HSI-TAG 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 HSI-TAG 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 (available here). HSI-TAG 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 HSI-TAG 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 HSI-TAG 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 HSI-TAG 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 HSI-TAG, disband an existing TAG or modify the work of the HSI-TAG.
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.
HSI-TAG members will not be remunerated for their services in relation to the AG or otherwise. Travel and accommodation expenses of HSI-TAG members to participate in HSI-TAG 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 BSP@who.int well before the applicable deadline.