CALL FOR NOMINATIONS - Deadline for nominations: 24th October, 2025 11:59 PM EA-Time
Gavi Civil Society Constituency Representative to World Health Organization Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) – Term beginning 1st January, 2026.
The call for nominations is open until 24th October, 2025, 11:59 pm East Africa Time. Please submit your nomination in full to [email protected]. Scroll down to Chapters for full details on how to apply.
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is a public-private partnership launched in 2000. It comprises partners including UNICEF, WHO, the Gates Foundation, the World Bank, developing country governments, donor country governments, the vaccine industry, civil society groups, research and technical health institutions.
Civil Society is one of the largest and most diverse constituencies within Gavi. CSOs include nongovernmental organisations, community-based groups, faith-based organisations, some academic and technical institutions and professional organisations including pediatric societies. As a public-private partnership, Gavi’s engagement with civil society should reflect their major roles in global immunisation and child health and encourage the further development and inclusion of CSOs within Gavi’s governance structures.
Gavi supports a robust Civil Society Constituency (The Constituency) for advice on its policies and practices, it supports the implementation of Gavi’s activities and ensures that the views of civil society are heard and engaged throughout the Alliance’s business. For more information, visit Home – Gavi CSO Constituency (gavi-csos.org).
The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization was established by the Director-General of the World Health Organization in 1999 to provide guidance on the work of WHO. SAGE is the principal advisory group to WHO for vaccines and immunization. It is charged with advising WHO on overall global policies and strategies, ranging from vaccines and technology, research and development, to delivery of immunization and its linkages with other health interventions. SAGE is concerned not just with childhood vaccines and immunization, but all vaccine-preventable diseases.
SAGE meets at least twice a year, with working groups established for detailed review of specific topics prior to discussion by the full group. Priorities of work and meeting agendas are developed by the Group in consultation with WHO. More information on SAGE’s mandate is available here.
The Constituency is recruiting a SAGE representative to take up this role from 1st January 2026. In accordance with established principles of membership to the Constituency, membership is to the Organization, and not the individual member. Selection will be based on the priority the organization gives to vaccination and child health issues, available time, technical expertise, and representation of the broad and diverse civil society spectrum.
The successful member is expected to serve for a non-renewable three-year term.
Chapters
Submitting a Nomination
Upon appointment, individuals will be required to abide by the Gavi CSO Constituency governance documents and Gavi’s Ethics, Risk and Compliance Charter.
Interested Organisations and persons nominated to represent the Organisations should first carefully read the following documents:
- General information about SAGE available here: Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE)
- Gavi CSO Constituency Charter, available here: GAVI-CSO-SC-Charter_Final_December2022.pdf
Qualifications & Profile Sought
Given the technical nature of SAGE, the position is suitable for scientists, researchers, healthcare professionals, and public health professionals of highest credentials with expertise in some of the areas listed below. Expertise in several disciplines, as well as international work experience, are preferred.
- Infectious disease epidemiology, public health, immunology or vaccinology
- Clinical practice (in particular infectious diseases, pediatrics, internal medicine, geriatrics, obstetrics and maternal health)
- Vaccine regulation
- Immunization programme management, vaccine delivery, immunization and health systems
- Vaccine research and development, clinical trials, mathematical modeling, ethics, health communication, health economics, and vaccine safety
Nominees must have experience in issues that are a priority for the current immunisation agenda globally. The organizational representative serving on SAGE must have authority to represent the organisation. Where the organisation is part of a larger body of associated organisations, the nominee must have permission to speak on behalf of the larger entity.
The representative must also have their organization’s support and approval to commit a minimum of 25% of their time to the work of the Gavi CSO Constituency. The SAGE member is expected to be actively and meaningfully engaged throughout their tenure.
Because the working language of the Gavi CSO Constituency is English, all nominees must have a strong command of English, both spoken and written. Additional language skills, such as French, Spanish, Arabic or Portuguese are considered as real assets.
Application Details
The call for nominations is open until 24th October, 2025, 11:59 pm East Africa Time. Please submit your nomination in full to [email protected]. We will acknowledge receipt of nomination on or shortly after 24th October, 2025.
Nominations must be:
- In English
- In Word/PDF format.
- If possible, we would like to request that all documents be included into one Word/PDF document.
And should include:
- Organizational information (headquarters, branch offices, key areas of work related to
immunisation and health system strengthening, contact person submitting the
organizational nomination). - Brief CV or biography of the individual who would represent the organization.
- A personal statement from the nominee covering reason for interest, previous involvement
in immunisation and organizational resources to be leveraged. - Statement from organisation that they are prepared to support the representative for Gavi
CSO constituency work at a minimum of 25% time. - Proof of registration as a non-profit, non-political and development organization.
- Confirmation of membership/willingness to join Gavi CSO Constituency.
Nominations received after 24th October, 2025 at 11:59PM East Africa Time will not be considered.
Results will be announced via the Gavi CSO Constituency’s website.
Kind regards on behalf of the Gavi CSO Constituency.