Expression of interest

The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking experts and practitioners to participate in technical consultations to develop a global implementation research agenda for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). This call for expression of interest provides information regarding the consultations and expression of interest process. Applicants will be required to fill in an online form (here) and to submit a CV and signed declaration of interests form.

Applications must be submitted by 5 September 2024 at 23:59 Geneva time.

Background

The WHO Department of Noncommunicable Diseases, Rehabilitation and Disability and the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research are developing a global implementation research agenda on NCDs. To support this, a series of technical consultations will be held from September 2024 to March 2025, during which priority research themes will be identified.

The research agenda setting is a global exercise that initiates the process of defining global implementation research priorities for NCDs. The concurrent formation of a research network and interregional mechanisms for discussion will support an ongoing, iterative process that will reflect emerging research priorities for NCDs.

The main objectives are to:

strengthen policy-relevant and system-level research, ensuring the equitable, effective, efficient, and quality delivery of NCD services;
facilitate the integration of NCD research into policy and practice, prioritizing and embedding implementation research within NCD studies, and advocating for the adoption of locally pertinent NCD evidence;
promote implementation research on NCDs by serving as a base for further regional, country and context-specific research priority setting and research activities;
build research capacity on NCDs and ensure translation of knowledge into policy and implementation.
Purpose

This research agenda focuses explicitly on priorities related to implementation research and health system strengthening to support the adoption and implementation of NCD interventions in an integrated way. The research agenda is intended to be used as a framework for further research agenda setting and prioritization by WHO regional and country offices and by United Nations agencies and other organizations.

This open call is to invite applications from experts in the following topics as they relate to NCDs: health policy and systems research; primary health care; universal health coverage; health system strengthening; social and commercial determinants of health; public health; political science; international law/public health law; governance, and human rights in public health.

The global research agenda will not cover research areas such as discovery science and NCD epidemiology.

Submitting your expression of interest

WHO welcomes applications from experts and practitioners across all WHO regions to participate in two 3-hour online technical consultations between September 2024 and March 2025 as part of the WHO global implementation research agenda setting on NCDs.

To indicate interest in participation in the technical consultations, please complete this online form and include a completed declaration of interests form for WHO experts (available here) and agreement with the Code of Conduct for WHO Experts (here), and your brief CV (PDF format, 3 pages maximum). Your submission will be considered complete only after you have submitted the full online application form, including the required attachments.

Important information about the selection processes and conditions of appointment

The selection of participants for the technical consultations will be made by WHO at its sole discretion, based on criteria such as relevant technical expertise, experience in international and country policy work, and the ability to work constructively with people from diverse cultural backgrounds and orientations. WHO will also consider the need for diverse perspectives, particularly from different regions, including low- and middle-income countries, as well as ensuring gender balance. Experts will be invited to join the consultations based on their expertise and contributions to the field of NCDs and implementation research at the national, regional, and/or international level. The selection process includes ensuring there are no conflicts of interest, or that any identified conflicts can be appropriately managed. Participants are expected to fully comply with the Code of Conduct for WHO Experts.

For more information about WHO work on NCD research, please visit Research on noncommunicable diseases

Contact

For questions or further information, please contact Giulia Loffreda loffredag@who.int.