The WHO Global Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme (WHO/NTD) manages a diverse portfolio of more than 20 diseases, each with its own unique epidemiology and programmatic challenges. The past decade has seen significant progress in the battle against these diseases.
Ending the neglect to attain the Sustainable Development Goals: a road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021−2030 (“the road map”) was prepared through an extensive global consultation, pursuant to decision EB146(9) of the Executive Board at its 146th session in February 2020, which culminated in the endorsement of the document by the Seventy-third World Health Assembly in November 2020. The road map is supported by several companion documents including a framework for monitoring and evaluating progress against the targets set for 2030 (“the M&E framework”).
The M&E framework aims to provide guidance on mainstreaming the monitoring and evaluation of NTDs within health information systems and emphasizes that monitoring and evaluation are integral components of interventions against NTDs. It presents a set of standardized indicators that will enable comparability and greater accountability among stakeholders, starting at country level.
The WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Neglected Tropical Diseases (STAG-NTD) Working Group on Monitoring, Evaluation and Research is supporting WHO/NTD to implement the M&E framework. This working group’s tenure during 2024–2026 will focus on:
- Fostering technical collaboration in support of WHO’s normative and core functions and its health systems’ strengthening approach to monitoring and evaluation for programmes, data governance and leadership; mainstreaming NTD data into global and national systems; and contributing to the development of disease-specific monitoring and evaluation frameworks, innovation, tools, guidance and training;
- Tracking the road map indicators, as described in the M&E framework;
- Developing evidence-based key messages to inform policy, innovation, tool development, advocacy and communication for high-level meetings, beneficiary communities and civic society.
WHO/NTD is issuing this call for nominations for new members with relevant expertise and all WHO regions to serve on this working group for the period 2024–2026. Members are expected to provide WHO/NTD and STAG-NTD with high-quality, evidence-based advice on monitoring and evaluation needs and identify associated research priorities. Progress reports and outputs will be communicated via the WHO/NTD website.
Interested individuals are invited to submit their expression of interest and application materials (curriculum vitae, covering letter and completed declaration of interest forms) by email to neglected.diseases@who.int before 12 March 2024.