Closed call
Deadline: 27 April 2023
The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking experts to serve as members of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on In Vitro Diagnostics (SAGE IVD). 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 SAGE IVD is the advisory body to WHO on matters of global policies and strategies related to in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) including the WHO Model List of Essential In Vitro Diagnostics (EDL). SAGE IVD members are appointed for 2 years and can be re-appointed once.
For more information on SAGE IVD: WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on In Vitro Diagnostics (SAGE-IVD).
For more information on the EDL: Selection, access and use of in vitro diagnostics
Functions of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on In Vitro Diagnostics (SAGE IVD)
a) provide technical advice on global policies and strategies, ranging from development, assessment, use of IVDs and their linkages with other health interventions;
b) advise on the adequacy of progress towards the achievement of IVDs-related goals set in the World Health Assembly resolutions;
h) provide advice on WHO activities in the area of IVDs, including engagement of WHO in partnerships in the development, access and use of needed IVDs.
Operations of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on In Vitro Diagnostics (SAGE IVD)
The SAGE IVD is expected to meet every two years for about 5 days to make recommendations on the content, format, and implementation of the EDL. Participation in 1 hour monthly teleconferences is also expected of the members. The working language of the group will be English.
Who can express interest?
The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on In Vitro Diagnostics (SAGE IVD) will be multidisciplinary, with members who have a range of technical knowledge, skills and experience relevant to in vitro diagnostics. Approximately 15 may be selected.
WHO welcomes expressions of interest from IVD professionals in the following areas:
- IVDs in the clinical laboratory
- Academia (IVDs and public health)
- Ministry of health, (policy making on IVDs or medical devices)
- National reference laboratory or laboratories in national teaching public hospitals
- NGOs working on global public health supporting access to IVDs
- Product development, Innovation, R&D of IVDs
- Assessment, validation, clinical trials, regulation of IVDs
- Selection, procurement and supply of IVDs
- Pricing/reimbursement for IVDs
To be considered, candidates must be able to demonstrate that they have the expertise, skills and experience to meet the criteria described below:
- An understanding of the IVD issues covered by the Strategic Advisory Group (SAGE IVD);
- An outstanding record of achievement and personal credibility within own field, appropriate to the remit of SAGE IVD;
- Experience in: a) international settings; b)resource-limited settings; c) operating at a strategic level in the public or other sectors; d) working effectively in high level advisory groups or committees;
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to support effective discussion with a range of stakeholders;
- Ability to: a) evaluate complex issues and weigh up conflicting opinions; b) influence at a senior level;
- Proficient in English;
- Proficient in writing skills (reports, papers).
Submitting your expression of interest
To register your interest in being considered for the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on In Vitro Diagnostics (SAGE IVD), please submit the following documents by 27 April 2023 to EDLsecretariat@who.int using the subject line “Expression of interest for the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on In Vitro Diagnostics (SAGE IVD)”:
- 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://covid.comesa.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://covid.comesa.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 AG 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 EDLsecretariat@who.int well before the applicable deadline.Related links: