Background
The WHO Health and Migration Programme (PHM) is currently in the process of developing the first WHO global research agenda on health and migration. To support this, a series of technical consultations are being held from November to December 2022, culminating in a final research prioritization session where priority research themes will be decided.
The research agenda setting is a global exercise that initiates the process of defining global research priorities in health and migration. Through concurrent formation of a research network and inter-regional mechanisms for discussion, it will support an ongoing, iterative process which will reflect emerging research priorities in health and migration.
The main objectives are to:
- promote research on health and migration through setting global research priorities to serve as a platform for further regional, country and migration context specific research priority setting and research activities;
- strengthen knowledge production and effective development of research on health and migration;
- build research capacity on health and migration and ensure translation of knowledge into policy and implementation.
The expert consultations will be the start of a further research agenda setting, engaging at global, regional and country levels over the next few years. In addition, these technical consultations with academia, civil society, and WHO regional offices and headquarters, will also inform the next steps of the WHO Global Action Plan on promoting the health of refugees and migrants.
Purpose
The purpose of this open call is to invite non-state actors and civil society organizations to attend one to two 3-hour online technical consultations as part of the WHO Global Research Agenda Setting on Health and Migration. The consultations will aim to identify research gaps and opportunities globally in health and migration, and subsequently in later consultations determine global research priorities. More specifically we would be asking your organization to reflect on what areas in health and migration you need more evidence for and what research areas would benefit your organization as knowledge users. Part of the consultation will be structured around the WHO triple billion themes of: universal health coverage, healthier populations and health emergencies, as they relate to migration and displacement. The intention is to engage non-state actor and civil society organizations across all regions and countries who work on improving migrant and refugee health.
Submissions
Submissions are being sought from organizations working in health and migration (with migrants and/or displaced populations) who are non-state actors, including the following: non-governmental organizations (NGOs) at both local, national or international level; civil society groups; faith-based organizations; professional organizations. Non-state Actors who are already in official relations with WHO for a specific agreement would still need to apply through this open call process. Priority will be given to those organizations who are led by migrants or refugees, have refugees or migrants within their governance structure, or who have staff who identify as refugees or migrants.
To express your interest, please fill out this online survey. The application process will close at midnight Geneva time (CET) on 1st November 2022.
In order to finalize your application, the following disclosure forms must also be filled in, downloaded and then submitted via email to healthmigration@who.int:
Note: A submission will be considered complete after you have submitted the online survey and emailed the completed tobacco and arms disclosure forms, otherwise your submission is incomplete and will not be reviewed by the team.
Selection process
Phase 1: Selection of civil societies based on survey submissions
A maximum of 30 non-state actors distributed across all WHO regions will be chosen to participate in the technical consultations as part of the global research agenda. Selected organizations will be identified based on their contributions and knowledge on the subject matter and with special attention to geographic distribution, migrant group representation, diversity and organizational area of expertise.
Phase 2: Invitation process
A due diligence process will be conducted for shortlisted potential participants. It may be that either the WHO technical team or the ethics department reaches out to the entity’s focal point for clarification on certain matters after review of your submission. Each approved entity will be formally invited to the technical consultation, and will be asked to nominate a representative to attend the technical consultation in November 2022. A full agenda and pre-reading material will also be circulated prior. The nominated representative must be knowledgeable about: health needs expressed by refugees and migrants or the challenges and opportunities in evidence and research in the field in line with the three thematic areas that will be discussed. The organization's representative will share their organizational views on the day of the event.
Eligibility criteria
Submissions will be assessed based on the following:
- The Non-State actor must be a legally established entity, and not an individual.
- The entity should not be a for-profit organization and/or commercial in nature, purpose and/or its activities.
- The entity, if a membership organization, should have the authority to speak for its members and have a representative structure.
- The entity is required to provide information on its organization including signing the tobacco-arms disclosure statement.
- The entity has been working actively in the field of health and migration for at least 5 years, at the national, regional and/or international level.
Participation of Non-State Actors in this technical consultation is governed by the following principles:
- Due diligence and risk assessment will be performed on all participants (non-State actors) without prejudice to the type of Non-State Actor.
- The participant shall not use the name and/or emblem of WHO, or any abbreviation thereof, in relation to its business or activities, or otherwise.
- The participation does not imply any endorsement by WHO of the Non-State Actor’s name, brand, product, views or activity.
- The Non-State Actor should not seek promotion from the fact that they have participated in this consultation (no press releases, nor co-branding) nor use this participation, for promotional and/or commercial purposes.
- The views expressed in the consultation are those of the participants and do not necessarily represent the stated views or policies of WHO.
- WHO accepts no responsibility whatsoever for any inaccurate advice or information that is provided by non-State actors participating in the consultation.
Contact
For further information or questions, please contact the Health and Migration Programme team at healthmigration@who.int