WHO call for involvement on Health Equity Analysis and Research

Call for interest to be a member of a new :
WHO SCIENTIFIC RESOURCE GROUP ON HEALTH EQUITY ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH

Department of Ethics, Equity, Trade and Human Rights
World Health Organization

Website: http://www.who.int/eth/en/

Nominate yourself or someone else by 15 May 2009: equity@who.int

“……The World Health Organization (WHO) is establishing a Scientific Resource Group (SRG) on Health Equity Analysis and Research to support WHO on its programme of work on equity and health.

This includes contribution to the development of WHO and other collaborative products or the peer-review of these products. The Scientific Resource Group (SRG) work aligns with a key strategic objective of WHO to address a broad range of determinants of health (social, economic, political, environmental, etc.) and a core value to increase social justice including health equity within and across countries.

Members will advise WHO on strategic directions, work plan content, objectives and priorities, as well as contribute to products and services in particular those relating to measurement, monitoring, evaluation, analysis and research, including:

§ Recommend indicators for the monitoring of broader determinants of health and health inequalities, within and across countries; recommend indicators and measurement approaches to enhance global accountability and national monitoring efforts in this area
§ Produce or endorse tools and methods to support measurement and evaluation of status and trends in equity and health, drawing on multiple disciplinary perspectives
§ Recommend research and research synthesis methods to evaluate policies and interventions from an equity perspective and support global research activities in this area that serve to increase global evidence on what to do, and strengthen capacities and extend collaborations across low-, middle- and high-income countries involving a wide range of knowledge producers and users
§ Produce key analysis and reports addressing equity and health, that clarify analytical methods, revise and apply norms and standards as well as peer-reviewed articles or practical guidelines for wider dissemination.

The members of the Scientific Resource Group (SRG) will work primarily through electronic communications (e.g. email, facsimile, telephone or video conferences) to exchange information, circulate documentation and maintain contact.

Expected Qualifications

Up to 25 members will be selected on the basis of their knowledge and expertise on equity and health. The group will include both established experts as well as promising leaders in relation to measurement, monitoring and analysis, and research methods. Experts from research and training institutions, universities, ministries, other institutes, governmental and non-governmental, as well as from other UN organizations, development banks, etc. are sought to participate in this group. Individuals from low- and middle-income countries and women are especially encouraged to apply.

Commitment

A two year commitment, renewable, is sought. A base advisory role is expected to range from 6 to 12 working days per year. This includes the tasks of reviewing documents, preparing for discussions, completing written comments, and participation in eventual meetings. Additional working days to contribute to products and services will be mutually agreed upon and contractual arrangements, as appropriate, will be made with each Scientific Resource Group (SRG) member and in consultation with its chair, Professor Cesar G. Victora, President Elect of the International Epidemiological Association.

Nomination Process
Please nominate yourself or someone else by 15 May 2009, by sending an expression of interest by email to equity@who.int that includes the nominee's name, full contact information including email and telephones, and optionally, a couple of sentences on why the nominee should participate in the group and noting no conflict of interest to advise WHO. All nominees will be contacted on a rolling basis with selection completed by end June 2009.

Submitted by: Ritu Sadana, Coordinator ai, Equity Analysis and Research
Department of Ethics, Equity, Trade and Human Rights
World Health Organization
20, avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland