Nominations and elections 2024

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ WELTGESUNDHEITSORGANISATION Date: 26 February 2024 ВСЕМИРНАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ ЗДРАВООХРАНЕНИЯ REGIONAL OFFICE FOR EUROPE . BUREAU RÉGIONAL DE L’EUROPE TO MEMBER STATES REGIONALBÜRO FÜR EUROPA ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЕ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЕ БЮРО IN THE WHO EUROPEAN REGION. Head office: UN City, Marmorvej 51, . DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark Tel.: +45 45 33 68 51; Fax: +45 45 33 70 01 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.who.int/europe Our reference: C.L. 2024 Your reference: Notre référence: Votre référence: Unser Zeichen: Ihr Zeichen: См. наш номер: На Ваш номер: Dear Sir or Madam, Call for nominations to serve on WHO governing bodies and committees – nomination year 2024 In accordance with Rules 14.2.2 (a) and 14.3 of the Rules of Procedure of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe, I am writing to initiate the annual process for nominating and electing new members for the WHO governing bodies and committees to be considered at the 74th session of the Regional Committee, which will take place from 29 to 31 October 2024 in Copenhagen, Denmark. As set out in the Rules of Procedure, Member States in the WHO European Region are invited to notify the WHO Regional Director for Europe by no later than 29 April 2024 of nominations they wish to make for membership of any of the following WHO governing bodies and committees: the Executive Board (EB) (2 vacant seats), and the Standing Committee of the Regional Committee for Europe (SCRC) (4 vacant seats). In this context, I would like to draw your attention to the criteria established by the Regional Committee at its 63rd session relating to the allocation of seats to ensure equitable geographical distribution, adequate representation of the interests of the Region, and the opportunity for all Member States in the Region to serve on governing bodies and committees, as well as other considerations relevant to maximizing the effectiveness of the governing bodies and committees. Further details regarding the criteria for membership of WHO governing bodies and committees and the requirements for submission of nominations are included in Annex 1 below. Please find the relevant templates attached. In addition, further to the recent informal consultation with Member States on intentions to serve on WHO governing bodies and committees in the coming years, an overview of the responses received is shown in Annex 2. Please address any queries regarding the above information to the Regional Governance and Languages Unit at [email protected]. I thank you for your continued support of participatory governance in the Region. Yours very truly, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge Regional Director UN City, Marmorvej 51 Tel.: +45 45 33 68 51 Email: [email protected] DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø Fax: +45 45 33 70 01 Website: https://www.who.int/europe Denmark Encls: Curriculum vitae form for nomination for membership of the Executive Board of WHO (EB) Curriculum vitae form for nomination for membership of the Standing Committee of the Regional Committee for Europe (SCRC) –2–  Annex 1. Vacancies on WHO governing bodies and committees: process and criteria for nominations and elections Overview 1. The WHO Regional Committee for Europe at its 74th session (RC74) shall determine the membership of the following governing bodies and committees for the following number of seats. (a) Executive Board (EB): two seats will become vacant at the closing of the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly in May 2025 when the terms of office of the members designated by the Republic of Moldova and Slovakia will have expired. (b) Standing Committee of the Regional Committee for Europe (SCRC): four seats will become vacant at the closing of RC74 when the terms of office of France, Montenegro, Spain and Turkmenistan will have expired. 2. In accordance with the established rules to ensure an equitable geographical distribution (see below), these seats will be allocated as follows: Table A1.1. Allocation of vacant seats – nomination year 2024§ Group A Group B Group C EB No vacant seats One vacant seat One vacant seat SCRC One vacant seat Two vacant seats One vacant seat § For the SCRC, the nomination year indicates the year when Member States are requested to nominate candidates for consideration by the Regional Committee at its annual session that same year. For the EB, the nomination year is one calendar year prior to the actual year of commencement of the term as an EB member. This means that candidates are nominated by the Regional Committee in the calendar year prior to commencement of their tenure as EB members. WHO governing bodies Underlying principles and selection criteria 3. Regarding the election of membership to WHO governing bodies and committees, Rules 14.2.1 and 14.3 of the Rules of Procedure of the Regional Committee for Europe set out the need for equitable geographical distribution, adequate representation of the interests of the WHO European Region, the opportunity for all Member States in the Region to participate over time in the work of WHO governing bodies and committees, as well as other considerations relevant to maximizing the effectiveness of the work of the governing bodies and committees. 4. Equitable geographical distribution is ensured through the creation of three subregional groupings of Member States (resolution EUR/RC63/R7, Annex 1; see Fig. A1.1 on the next page). 5. Other selection criteria refer to: (a) the equal opportunity for each Member State to serve on WHO governing bodies and committees; (b) the candidate countries’ past engagements and collaborations with WHO and their commitment to WHO’s priorities at the global and regional levels, as reflected in the Thirteenth General –3–  Programme of Work, 2019–2025, and the European Programme of Work, 2020–2025 – “United Action for Better Health”; and (c) the proposed representatives’ broad mix of skills and practical experience in public health and in national administration, as well as gender balance (as further detailed in Annex 2 of resolution EUR/RC63/R7). Number of seats and distribution 6. The Region has eight seats on the EB, which are distributed according to geographical subregional groupings as follows: two seats each in Group A and Group B, respectively (plus a third seat alternating between both groupings), and three seats in Group C. 7. Based on resolution EUR/RC53/R1, Member States in the Region that are permanent members of the United Nations Security Council are granted semi-permanent membership of the EB, meaning that each of them can take up membership every three out of six years. 8. The twelve seats on the SCRC are distributed equally among each of the three subregional groupings. 9. To provide more clarity around the annual vacancies for a three-year mandate in each subregional grouping, in combination with the above principle of semi-permanency, a long-term schedule of membership for both governing bodies was adopted (Table A1.2). –4– Table A1.2. Schedule of European membership of WHO governing bodies and committees: annual overview of vacant seats per subregional group by year of nomination (based on Annex 2 of decision EUR/RC69(1)) Nomination year§ Group A Group B Group C Executive Board 2024 0 1 1 2025 1 (United Kingdom)* 0 1 (Russian Federation)* 2026 1 2 (1 + France)* 1 Standing Committee of the Regional Committee † 2024 1 2 1† 2025 1 2 1 2026 3 0 1 § For the SCRC, the nomination year indicates the year when Member States are requested to nominate candidates for consideration by the Regional Committee at its annual session that same year. For the EB, the nomination year is one calendar year prior to the actual year of commencement of the term as an EB member. This means that candidates are nominated by the Regional Committee in the calendar year prior to commencement of their tenure as EB members. * Semi-permanency pursuant to EUR/RC60/R3 (and confirmed in resolution EUR/RC63/R7). † Adjustment based on the fact that in nomination year 2023, due to the lack of a candidate in Group A, one vacant seat in Group A was attributed to Group C. In order for the balance to be restored, in the nomination year 2024, one seat from Group C moves back to Group A. The nomination process: applicable rules and practices 10. The process for selecting Member States in the Region to serve on WHO governing bodies and other committees is governed by Rules 14.2 and 14.3 of the Rules of Procedure of the Regional Committee for Europe. 11. Following notification by the Regional Director, Member States are required to submit their nomination six months in advance of the Regional Committee session, with (1) a curriculum vitae, in a standard format, of the representative they intend to nominate if elected, as well as (2) a letter of intent explaining their relationship with WHO, their commitment to WHO priorities at the global and regional levels, and the contribution that they would make as a member of the specific body or committee (Rule 14.2.2 (a)). 12. After the deadline for submitting nominations is passed, the Secretariat first reviews the validity of the nominations received, namely, checking if each nomination was received within the deadline and with all the necessary documentation. Then, this information is compiled in the Membership of WHO bodies and committees document and communicated to the members of the SCRC. 13. Based on this information, the SCRC is asked to review all nominations received and identify which candidates in its opinion would best meet the criteria enumerated in the Rules of Procedure and relevant resolutions. This is done in a private session, usually held during the fourth session of the SCRC in June. The outcome of these deliberations are reflected in an assessment report that is sent to the candidate countries. In so doing, the SCRC in the first instance tries to seek consensus among Member States submitting nominations in case there are more candidates than seats (Rule 14.2.2 (b)). SCRC members representing a Member State that submitted its nomination for one of the vacant seats shall abstain from the assessment of received candidacies for that particular body or committee. 14. If consensus is not possible, and if immediately prior to the start of the Regional Committee session there would still be more nominations than seats to be filled for a specific body and within a particular subregional group, the SCRC will submit the relevant assessment report to the Regional Committee for its information (Rule 14.2.2 (c)). –5– 15. If consensus is still not reached by the time of the actual selection, the Regional Committee will proceed to an election by secret ballot in accordance with Rule 43. Candidate Member States must be represented during the relevant agenda item at the Regional Committee session (Rule 14.2.2 (d)). 16. If in a particular subregional group, insufficient nominations are received to fill all the vacant seats, the Regional Committee can decide to allocate the seat to an excess candidate from another group. In the subsequent year, the geographical balance would then normally be restored between both subregional groups by switching a vacant seat. The applicable long-term schedule would be adjusted accordingly. 17. As recommended by the Regional Committee at its 73rd session, the Thirty-first SCRC – through its subgroup on WHO/Europe’s governance – has been tasked with implementing the recommendations of the most recent governance review (document EUR/RC73/18), including those related to the nominations and elections of EB and SCRC members. A detailed proposal aimed at refining this process will be presented for the consideration of the Regional Committee at its 74th session, with a view to begin a pilot in 2025. Requirements for submitting nominations 18. Only nominations received no later than 29 April 2024 will be presented to the Regional Committee at its 74th session in October 2024. Nominations should be submitted to the following email address: [email protected]. 19. Each candidature must be accompanied by a curriculum vitae in standard format and a letter of intent. Curriculum vitae 20. A curriculum vitae needs to be completed for the representative whom a Member State intends to appoint if elected for any of the above-mentioned bodies and committees. The templates in standard format are attached. Letter of intent 21. The letter of intent must be written in one of the four official languages of the Region and should not exceed 600 words in length. It should include a short description of the following items: (a) an overview of the key elements of the relations between WHO and the nominating Member State, including events or programmes of particular relevance to the Member State concerned; (b) which WHO priorities the nominating Member State plans to represent during its three-year membership term; and (c) how the nominating Member State plans to achieve those priorities during its three-year term, and the reasons why the Member State is applying for membership of a governing body. 22. To facilitate a comparative consideration of the candidacies submitted by Member States, the letter of intent may include: (a) a record of Member States’ engagement with WHO’s governance and technical activities, for example, active participation in governing bodies’ meetings, or in special programmes such as the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR); active participation and involvement in intergovernmental negotiations launched under the aegis of WHO; compliance with reporting requirements to WHO at regional or global level; as well as other examples considered relevant by Member States to demonstrate a high level of engagement with WHO; –6– (b) details and evidence of their commitment to the implementation of global and regional WHO policies considered as a priority by them within the framework of their national health policies as well as their foreign policy; and (c) details of how they aim to engage and cooperate with WHO if elected, and the contributions they intend to make as members of the SCRC or the EB. –7–  Annex 2. Expression of interest to serve on WHO governing bodies and committees in 2024–2026 (results from the informal consultation) 1. By filling out an online survey that was sent on 19 January 2024, Member States in the WHO European Region were invited to informally share their intentions to serve on WHO governing bodies and committees in 2024–2026, as well as for the elective posts expected to be filled by the European Region at the Seventy- seventh World Health Assembly in May 2024 and at the 155th session of the Executive Board (EB) in June 2024. 2. This informal consultation procedure has been a valuable practice in recent years and brings an important element of predictability and transparency to the process of elections and nominations in the Region, while also supporting Member States in their efforts to plan when to submit their nomination and, possibly, in engaging with other potential candidate countries at an early stage. 3. The feedback received from this informal consultation by the deadline of 9 February 2024 can be found below in Table A2.1 and Table A2.2. Since Member States’ participation was strictly voluntary, this information is not binding and does not in any way curtail their right to submit their nominations in accordance with Rule 14.2.2 (a) of the Rules of Procedure of the Regional Committee for Europe. 4. Although it is not formally part of the process for nominations and elections, Table A2.3 and Table A2.4 contain the feedback received on, respectively, the elective posts for the upcoming Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly that are attributed to the WHO European Region, and the vacant positions for the 155th session of the EB attributed to EB members from the Region. Based on the feedback received and on any further suggestions made by the WHO Regional Director for Europe, the Standing Committee of the Regional Committee for Europe, in close consultation with the members of the EB from the Region, will nominate candidates for these posts (EUR/RC73/5 Rev.1 Add.1). 5. Following the launch of the call for nominations, the Secretariat will organize virtual briefings with the Member States to provide any further information about the process for nominations and elections. Table A2.1. Executive Board (EB): expressions of interest received from Member States (until 9 February 2024) Nomination year§ Group A Group B Group C 2024 0 1 1 Spain (last served: 2005) Armenia (last served: 2013) Kazakhstan (last served: 2018) 2025 1 (United Kingdom)* 0 1 (Russian Federation)* Czechia (last served: 2006) Russian Federation (last served: 2023) 2026 1 2 (1 + France)* 1 Czechia (last served: 2006) Netherlands (Kingdom of the) (last served: 2019) § For the EB, the nomination year is one calendar year prior to the actual year of commencement of the term as an EB member. This means that candidates are nominated by the Regional Committee in the calendar year prior to commencement of their tenure as EB members. * Semi-permanency pursuant to EUR/RC60/R3 (and confirmed in resolution EUR/RC63/R7). –8– Table A2.2. Standing Committee of the Regional Committee (SCRC): expressions of interest received from Member States (until 9 February 2024) Nomination year§ Group A Group B Group C 2024 1† 2 1† Poland (last served: 2021) 2025 1 2 1 Italy (last served: 2018) Russian Federation (last served: 2021) 2026 3 0 1 Republic of Moldova (last served: 2021) § For the SCRC, the nomination year indicates the year when Member States are requested to nominate candidates for consideration by the Regional Committee at its annual session that same year. † Adjustment based on the fact that in nomination year 2023, due to the lack of a candidate in Group A, one vacant seat in Group A was attributed to Group C. In order for the balance to be restored, in the nomination year 2024, one seat from Group C moves back to Group A. Table A2.3. Elective posts for the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly (May 2024): expressions of interest received from Member States (until 9 February 2024) Vice-President Vice-Chair Committee A General Committee Committee on Credentials (5 members) (3 members) Republic of Moldova Poland Poland – Republic of Moldova Table A2.4: Elective posts for the Executive Board (EB; at its 155th session): expressions of interest received from EB members (until 9 February 2024) Vice-Chair Member of Programme, Budget and Standing Committee on Health Administration Committee (PBAC) Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response (SCHEPPR) Republic of Moldova – – Switzerland = = = –9– Nomination for m embership of the Standing Committee of the Regional Committee (SCRC) Year of nomination: 2024 Curriculum v itae Member State making nomination: FORMTEXT Family name: FORMTEXT First/Other names: FORMTEXT Gender: FORMTEXT Date of birth: FORMTEXT day month year Language abilities: please indicate in which of the Regional Committee working languages the nominee is able to function effectively (mark the relevant boxes below; leave other boxes blank) Speak Read Write English FORMCHECKBOX FORMCHECKBOX FORMCHECKBOX French FORMCHECKBOX FORMCHECKBOX FORMCHECKBOX German FORMCHECKBOX FORMCHECKBOX FORMCHECKBOX Russian FORMCHECKBOX FORMCHECKBOX FORMCHECKBOX Professional education: name the most important professional degrees gained (up to 5), most recent first Year FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT Professional career: list current post first, followed by up to 4 of the most important positions held (please give priority to senior positions in the national health administration close to the political decision-making level) Year (start – end) FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT International experience (please complete the following 3 items): 1) Participation as a member of a national delegation in the governing bodies of WHO or other international/supranational organizations (up to 8 examples), in chronological order, most recent first Year (start – end) FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT 2) Experience as chairperson of a governing body or international negotiating body (up to 8 examples), in chronological order, most recent first (please provide details of the body, meeting and year or session) Year (start – end) FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT 3) Work in international organizations as an official or independent expert (up to 8 examples), in chronological order, most recent first (please provide details on the organization, position taken and period of service) Year (start – end) FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT Proven ability to coordinate, collaborate and communicate at national and international level (up to 8 examples), in chronological order, most recent first (please provide details of coordination of national or international high-level technical or political programmes and other relevant experiences) Year (start – end) FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT FORMTEXT Title, name and position of person making the nomination FORMTEXT Title (Mr, Ms, Dr, Pr), name (first and last) and position Saatja: "EURO Governance" <[email protected]> Saaja: "EURO Governance" <[email protected]> Teema: WHO/Europe Further extension letter nominations and elections 2024 Kuupäev: 2024-06-03 16:43 Please see the attached correspondence sent from the World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe. One or more attachments may be included. Veuillez vous référer à la correspondance ci-jointe du Bureau régional de l'Europe de l'Organisation mondiale de la santé. Une ou plusieurs annexes peuvent être jointes. Mit der Bitte um Kenntnisnahme der beiliegenden Korrespondenz (eine oder mehrere Anlagen), Weltgesundheitsorganisation, Regionalbüro für Europa См. прикрепленные письма от Европейского регионального бюро Всемирной организации здравоохранения (один или несколько прикрепленных файлов). Regional Governance and Languages Unit Executive Director’s Division WHO Regional Office for Europe Marmorvej 51, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark T: +45 45 33 68 51 <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] | WHO/Europe - Governance WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ WELTGESUNDHEITSORGANISATION Date: 3 June 2024 ВСЕМИРНАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ ЗДРАВООХРАНЕНИЯ REGIONAL OFFICE FOR EUROPE BUREAU RÉGIONAL DE L’EUROPE TO ALL MEMBER STATES OF THE WHO REGIONALBÜRO FÜR EUROPA ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЕ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЕ БЮРО EUROPEAN REGION Head office: UN City, Marmorvej 51, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00; Fax: +45 45 33 70 01 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.who.int/europe Dear Sir or Madam, Further extension of the deadline for submitting nominations to serve on WHO governing bodies and committees for the nomination year 2024 In my previous correspondence, dated 26 February 2024, I invited nominations to serve on WHO governing bodies and committees for the nomination year 2024. As no nominations were received for the subregional Group B of the SCRC (2 vacant seats) by the constitutional deadline of 29 April 2024, it was decided, in consultation with the members of the Thirty-first SCRC, to extend the deadline for nominations for this specific governing body and subregional grouping until Friday, 31 May 2024. As no candidatures were put forward by 31 May 2024, in consultation with the members of the Thirty-first SCRC, a second extension was decided upon for the SCRC subregional Group B. The new extension deadline is Monday, 10 June 2024. For comprehensive details regarding nomination requirements, please refer to my previous correspondence enclosed. I would like to wholeheartedly encourage Member States to consider submitting nominations. Thank you for your consideration of this important matter. Yours very truly, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge Regional Director UN City, Marmorvej 51 Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00 Email: [email protected] DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø Fax: +45 45 33 70 01 Website: http://www.euro.who.int Denmark Encls: Circular letter, 26 February 2024: Call for nominations to serve on WHO governing bodies and committees, year of nomination 2024 Curriculum vitae form for nomination for membership of the Standing Committee of the Regional Committee for Europe, year of nomination 2024 –2–