Call for Experts - One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP)

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), collectively, the Quadripartite collaboration on One Health, are seeking individuals to serve as experts on the One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP). 

Recognizing the complex and interdisciplinary challenges observed at the interface of human, animal and ecosystem health that require enhanced coordination and collaboration among sectors and agencies, nationally and internationally, in a One Health approach, the Quadripartite established the OHHLEP in 2021 to provide them with scientific advice in their support of Governments to implement and scale up the OH approach. The focus of the OHHLEP is set out in its Terms of Reference.  

The OHHLEP has just completed its first term. The second term of OHHLEP will aim to provide advisory support to the Quadripartite in the roll out of the One Health Joint Plan of Action, a framework to integrate systems and capacity to collectively better prevent, predict, detect and respond to health threats. OHHLEP support to the Quadripartite will also include the provision of policy relevant scientific assessments on the emergence and spread of health threats arising at the human-animal-ecosystem interface, and defining OH research gaps. 

The OHHLEP is interdisciplinary, with experts who have a range of technical knowledge, skills and experience relevant to One Health. The working language of OHHLEP is English. 

Criteria 

Embedded in the One Health Joint Plan of Action is the Theory of Change, supported by three pathways, which represent the areas where the four organizations have the greatest capacity to bring about significant and sustainable change. The Quadripartite welcomes expression of interest from experts with a background in one or more of these three pathways:

Pathway 1: Policy, legislation, advocacy and financing – encompasses all aspects of policy development, political will, enabling regulatory frameworks, investment and the institutionalization of intersectoral governance. This requires expertise in, but not limited to, intersectoral governance and systems approaches; political science, international law; economics and finance; social and behavioural sciences, anthropology, ethics and gender studies.

Pathway 2: Organizational development, implementation and sectoral integration – encompasses all aspects of the implementation of One Health, including the scaling up of capacity development at regional and country level, community engagement and mobilization for action, multisectoral coordination, collaboration and communication, and the equitable integration of sectors. This requires expertise in, but not limited to, health systems policy and practice, pandemic prevention and preparedness; environmental, forestry, biodiversity, agriculture, and ecosystem sciences; food systems and their interlinkages with health.

Pathway 3: Data, evidence and knowledge – encompasses the strengthening of the scientific evidence base, knowledge translation into data for evidence, technical tools, protocols and guidelines, information and surveillance systems. This requires expertise in, but not limited to, emerging infectious diseases and zoonoses; viral diversity, surveillance and risk assessment for emerging pandemic threats; infectious disease epidemiology, informatics, modelling, prediction and foresight relevant to assessing impacts of environmental and other changes in emerging diseases and health.

For all the above disciplines, significant experience working in One Health or integrated health policies and programmes is required. 

Experts are sought from a diversity of backgrounds including academia, government, and civil society. Applications from women and (emerging) One Health youth leaders (<35 years of age) are also encouraged. If you would like to be considered as a youth representative for the panel, please indicate this in your application.

Process for selection of experts

The curriculum vitae and expression of interest of applicants will be reviewed by a panel composed of officials from the Quadripartite. In addition to scientific and technical excellence, the selection will consider adequate distribution of technical expertise, geographical representation and gender balance. The Quadripartite 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 candidate.

Selected experts will be appointed jointly by the respective Heads of the Quadripartite.

Conditions of appointment

• OHHLEP Experts must respect the impartiality and independence required by the Quadripartite. They will be required to be free of any real, potential or apparent conflicts of interest. OHHLEP Experts will have an ongoing obligation to disclose any interests, real or perceived, that may give rise to a real, potential or apparent conflict of interest.
• OHHLEP experts shall disclose engagements in any related advisory groups or panels set up by the Quadripartite or others.
• OHHELP Experts 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. 
• OHHLEP Experts are not employees or agents of the Quadripartite and shall not speak on behalf of, or represent, the Quadripartite, individually or collectively, to any third party. OHHLEP Experts may not issue any publications, statements or opinions on behalf of the OHHLEP and/or the Quadripartite without prior agreement from the Quadripartite.
• OHHLEP Experts shall be appointed for a period of two years and shall be eligible for reappointment.
• OHHLEP Experts will not be remunerated for their services in relation to the OHHELP or otherwise. However, the Quadripartite will cover any expenses related to the experts’ participation in in-person meetings of the OHHLEP. 
• OHHLEP Experts are expected to actively participate in all Panel meetings and to contribute to its outcomes and products.

Submitting your expression of interest

The online application form is designed to assist us in better understanding your profile and how it corresponds to the expertise required of the panel.

Please take a moment to review the role of an OHHLEP panel member, criteria and conditions of appointment as well as the Terms of Reference, to ensure this role aligns with your expectations and time capacity.  

To register your interest in being considered for the OHHLEP, please submit a complete application through the online form by 20 November 2023. 24:00 CET.

Please be sure to include:

• Cover letter, indicating your motivation to apply and how you satisfy the selection criteria (maximum 500 words)
• Curriculum vitae (maximum 500 words)
• Signed and completed Declaration of Interests (DOI) form

Please note that, if selected, you are required to serve the OHHLEP in a personal capacity.

Due to an expected high volume of interest, only selected individuals will be informed. If you have any questions about this Call for Experts or encounter any technical issues, please write to [email protected] well before the applicable deadline. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.