Call for Delegation 148th WHO EB Meeting

Dear IFMSA members,
We are opening the call for the IFMSA delegation to the 148th Executive Board Meeting of the World Health Organization, which will take place between the 1st of February and the 9th of February 2021. This email will inform you about all the procedures to apply to be a member of the delegation, so please read carefully till the end! 

What is the 148th Executive Board Meeting of the World Health Organization?

The Executive Board of the WHO is composed of 34 technically qualified members elected for three-year terms. Attended by delegations from 194 Member States and some recognized international NGOs and other partners, the EB Meeting is the crucial moment where Member States define priorities for the next World Health Assembly (74th WHA – held in May 2021), and its agenda is agreed upon. This meeting is a great opportunity for the IFMSA to meet with important stakeholders in the WHO and also other organizations who usually attend. A provisional agenda for the meeting can be found here, which outlines the topics that will be discussed. 

For more information about the meeting click here.

Dates of the conference:

The WHO Executive Board Meeting is a different length every year. This year it is scheduled to be 9-days long, starting on the 1st of February and ending on the 9th of February 2021. Delegates are expected to attend the full length of the meeting.

Objectives of IFMSA’s participation in the Executive Board Meeting:

1. Deliver statements to outline the IFMSA position on a number of global health topics to the Executive Board, Member States, and other Non-State Actors;
2. Meet with key WHO partners;
3. Meet with other Non-State Actors and partners;
4. Follow the agenda in preparation for the 73rd World Health Assembly, to maximize our advocacy efforts and develop an appropriate PreWHA program;
5. Represent youth voices in the global health sphere and advocate for meaningful youth participation in topics relevant to IFMSA’s work.

Selection Criteria:

The following criteria will be taken into account while evaluating your application:

• Experience in the topic of the meeting – please note that as this is a broad meeting that covers many global health topics, it is expected that applicants will have read the provisional agenda for the meeting and can identify particular topics that they have experience and/or interest in;
  • In the Google Form question relating to the ‘challenges and opportunities’ relating to the topics addressed in the meeting, applicants should choose one agenda item to discuss.
• Motivation for participation;
• Understanding of IFMSA policy work and IFMSA’s external affairs efforts;
• Potential empowerment, expected outcomes, and follow up plans after the meeting, including in sharing knowledge with IFMSA delegates to the World Health Assembly;
• Regional representation and gender balance will be taken into account.

However, we also encourage emerging members who are committed to learning, gaining new skills, and participate in IFMSA’s activities even beyond the conference.

There will be 11 people in IFMSA delegation – the IFMSA Liaison Officer to the WHO (head of delegation), the IFMSA Vice-President for External Affairs, and 9 selected delegates.

How can you apply?

• Fill in the Application Form – this is an online form that also contains the Candidature Form which needs to be signed and stamped by your respective NMO President in order for the application to be valid.
• Please fill out and upload the Candidature Form correctly, make sure to check with this filled out example. 
• The Application Form with Candidature Form needs to be completed/sent before the 7th of December 2020, 23:59 GMT.
• In case of one document missing, the application will be considered invalid.

Accepted applicants will receive online preparation as soon as the results are released. IFMSA commits to train, brief, and prepare all delegates to the meeting; and to smoothly coordinate the delegation during the meeting. 

In case of any questions please do not hesitate to email me at [email protected].

I am very much looking forward to reading your applications! 

Warm hugs,

Iris, Liaison Officier to the World Health Organization