Qualifications and Selection of the Regional Director

Abstract

1. One responsibility of the fifty-fourth session of the Regional Committee for Africa, whichwill meet in 2004, will be to nominate a candidate for the post of Regional Director. The fortyeighthsession of the Regional Committee in 1998 decided by resolution AFR/RC48/R7 toestablish for the first time a regional search committee to assist the Regional Committee in thenomination process at its forty-ninth session.2. Resolution AFR/RC48/R7 adopted qualifications and criteria for selection and appointmentof the Regional Director applicable to that nomination, which included having an understandingand commitment to the WHO mission; leadership and managerial abilities; professional technicalqualifications; cultural, social and political sensitivity; and medical fitness.3. The Regional Committee is requested to consider whether or not it wishes to form a searchcommittee for the upcoming nomination of Regional Director at the fifty-fourth session next year.If so, it could use the same criteria for selection and appointment, as well as the same terms ofreference, as were adopted in AFR/RC48/R7. The search committee would operate under theexisting Rules of Procedure of the Regional Committee, especially Rule 52. If it decides toestablish a search committee, the Regional Committee is also requested to determine its size andcomposition as there are cost implications in this nomination process.