The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking experts to serve as members of the Schistosomiasis Elimination Review Group (“the Group”). This Call provides information about the Group’s mandate, required expertise, and the application and selection processes.
Background
WHO estimates that in 2024 globally 253.7 million people needed preventive chemotherapy for schistosomiasis. Coverage has expanded significantly in the past decade, reaching about 60% of children living in areas requiring treatment.
The 2030 targets for schistosomiasis set out in the Road map for neglected tropical diseases are to eliminate the disease as a public health problem (EPHP) in all endemic countries and to eliminate transmission in some. EPHP, related to both infection and disease, is defined by the achievement of measurable targets set by WHO in relation to a specific disease. The complete interruption of transmission was also set as a target for selected countries.
In 2012, the Sixty-fifth World Health Assembly adopted resolution WHA65.21 on the elimination of schistosomiasis, noting the progress made in control of schistosomiasis and urging Members States to intensify control towards its elimination. WHO was requested to prepare guidance for Member States in order to determine when to initiate elimination programmes and to provide tools for documenting progress.
In response to WHA65.21, the WHO Technical Advisory Group for Schistosomiasis and Soil-Transmitted Helminths met on 20 June 2025 to validate the global criteria and process for validation and verification of schistosomiasis elimination and endorse the manual on the process for certification. Technical advice to WHO is therefore needed to support countries in the preparation and review of country dossiers for acknowledgement of schistosomiasis elimination.
Functions of the Group
As an advisory body to WHO on schistosomiasis elimination, the Group will:
- Provide independent evaluation and advice to WHO on whether a country could be acknowledged as having eliminated schistosomiasis based on WHO criteria for EPHP or interruption of transmission, or if acknowledgement should be postponed. The Group shall conduct the following activities:
- Evaluate the country documentation and national elimination reports submitted to WHO;
- Conduct country assessments and missions when required to corroborate the findings in the national elimination report, prepare a final evaluation report and submit it to WHO;
- Provide written justification of the decision made in the final evaluation report.
- Provide recommendations to the country:
- in the case of validation for EPHP, recommendations should focus on post-validation surveillance activities as well as strategies and activities towards sustainability and interrupting transmission;
- in the case of verification for interruption of transmission, recommendations should focus on surveillance and prevention of reintroduction of transmission.
- Review the data from countries that are acknowledged as having eliminated schistosomiasis and advise WHO whether acknowledgement should be revoked based on the WHO criteria.
- Advise WHO on any update of the elimination criteria and operating procedures when necessary, and support WHO to resolve bottlenecks for schistosomiasis elimination.
Operations of the Group
The Group will normally meet at least once each year; however, WHO may convene additional meetings either in person (at WHO headquarters or another location, as determined by WHO) or virtually, via video or teleconference. It may decide to establish smaller teams (subgroups) to work on country dossiers.
Expressions of interest
The Group will comprise approximately 18 members and be multidisciplinary, reflecting a range of technical knowledge, skills and experience, as detailed below.
WHO welcomes expressions of interest from the following individuals.
Scientists and health care professionals with expertise in:
- parasitology and epidemiology of schistosomiasis;
- implementation and management of schistosomiasis control and elimination programmes;
- health systems, programme delivery and integration;
- preventive public health and epidemiological assessment of schistosomiasis;
- monitoring, evaluation and surveillance, surveys and operational research on schistosomiasis;
- clinical management of morbidity due to schistosomiasis;
- national health laboratory systems and diagnostics;
- social and behavioural science;
- snail and environmental control of schistosomiasis; and
- zoonotic transmission of schistosomiasis and One Health;
How to submit expressions of interest
To express your interest in being considered for the Group, please submit the following documents by [2 February 2026 CET] to [email protected] using the subject line “Expression of interest for the Schistosomiasis Elimination Review Group”:
- 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; and
- A signed and completed Declaration of Interests form for WHO Experts, available at https://www.who.int/about/ethics/declarations-of-interest.
Important information about the selection processes and conditions of appointment
Members of WHO advisory groups must be free of any real, potential or apparent conflicts of interest. To this end, applicants are required to sign and complete the above-mentioned WHO Declaration of Interests for WHO Experts form. The selection as a member of an advisory group is, among 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 members of WHO advisory groups must 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://www.who.int/about/ethics/declarations-of-interest). 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, virtual 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 advisory group.
The selection of members of advisory groups 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 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 advisory group will be subject to the proposed member returning to WHO the countersigned copy of these two documents.
Members of WHO advisory groups will not be remunerated for their services. Travel and accommodation expenses of members to participate in advisory group meetings or missions 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 [email protected] mentioning in subject “Schistosomiasis Elimination Review Group” well before the application deadline.