Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction: Membership of the Policy and Coordination Committee

REGIONAL COMMITTEE WPR/RC74/11 Seventy-fourth session Manila, Philippines 14 July 2023 16–20 October 2023 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH Provisional agenda item 17 SPECIAL PROGRAMME OF RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH TRAINING IN HUMAN REPRODUCTION: MEMBERSHIP OF THE POLICY AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE The Policy and Coordination Committee is the governing body of the Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction. It presently has 34 members in four categories of membership. Category 2 is composed of 14 Member States elected by WHO regional committees for three-year terms. Under this category, the Western Pacific Region has been allocated three seats. Currently, Malaysia, Mongolia, and Tonga represent the Region on the Committee. The term of office of Malaysia expires on 31 December 2023. The Regional Committee is therefore requested to elect one Member State to represent the Region under Category 2 for a three-year term from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2026. W O R L D H E A L T H ORGANIZATION ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ REGIONAL OFFICE FOR THE WESTERN PACIFIC BUREAU RÉGIONAL DU PACIFIQUE OCCIDENTAL WPR/RC74/11 page 2 1. CURRENT SITUATION The Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction is a global programme of international technical cooperation initiated by WHO to promote, coordinate, support, conduct and evaluate research in human reproduction, with particular reference to the needs of developing countries. The Policy and Coordination Committee (PCC) is the governing body of the programme. It coordinates the interests and responsibilities of the parties cooperating in the programme and is responsible for reviewing and deciding upon the planning and execution of the programme. The structure and functions of the PCC are defined in Annex 1. The Committee has 34 members in four categories of membership: (1) Category 1 is composed of 11 government representatives from the countries that were the largest financial contributors to the Special Programme in the previous biennium. (2) Category 2 is composed of 14 government representatives from Member States elected by WHO regional committees for three-year terms, according to population distribution and regional needs. In electing members, regional committees are asked to consider the country’s financial and/or technical support to the Special Programme as well as its interest in the development of sexual and reproductive health research and services, as demonstrated by national policies and programmes. The Western Pacific Region has been allocated three seats. (3) Category 3 is composed of two members elected by the PCC for three-year terms from the remaining cooperating parties. (4) Category 4 is composed of the cosponsors of the Special Programme, the International Planned Parenthood Federation and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, which are permanent members. Members of the Committee under categories 2 and 3 may be re-elected. WPR/RC74/11 page 3 The status, in 2023, of Member States from the Western Pacific Region, elected by the Regional Committee under Category 2 is as follows: Member Year elected Term of office Malaysia 2020 2021–2023 Tonga 2021 2022–2024 Mongolia 2022 2023-2025 The participation of Member States from the Western Pacific Region under Category 2, from 1986 onwards, is shown in Annex 2. 2. ISSUES The term of Malaysia will expire on 31 December 2023. In order to fill the vacancy under Category 2, effective 1 January 2024, the Regional Committee for the Western Pacific must elect at its seventy-fourth session one Member State to serve a three-year term from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2026. 3. ACTIONS PROPOSED The Regional Committee for the Western Pacific is requested to elect one Member State under Category 2 for a three-year term from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2026. WPR/RC74/11 page 4 WPR/RC74/11 page 5 ANNEX 1 POLICY AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE1 The Policy and Coordination Committee (PCC) is the governing body of the Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction.1 2.1 Functions The PCC shall, for the purpose of coordinating the interests and responsibilities of the parties cooperating in the Special Programme, have the following functions: 2.1.1 To review and decide upon the planning and execution of the Special Programme. For this purpose, it will keep itself informed of all aspects of the development of the Special Programme and consider reports and recommendations submitted by the Standing Committee referred to in Section 3 of this Memorandum (hereinafter called the Standing Committee), the Executing Agency and the Scientific and Technical Advisory Group referred to in Section 4 of this Memorandum (hereinafter called STAG). 2.1.2 To review and approve the plan of action and budget for the coming financial period prepared by the Executing Agency and reviewed by STAG and the Standing Committee. 2.1.3 To review the proposals of the Standing Committee and approve arrangements for the financing of the Special Programme. 2.1.4 To review proposed longer-term plans of action and their financial implications. 2.1.5 To review the annual financial statements submitted by the Executing Agency, and the audit report thereon submitted by the External Auditor of the Executing Agency. 2.1.6 To review periodic reports that will evaluate the progress of the Special Programme towards the achievement of its objectives. 2.1.7 To review and endorse the selection of members of STAG by the Executing Agency in consultation with the Standing Committee. _________________________ 1 The following is an excerpt from the Memorandum on the Administrative Structure of the Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (Document HRP/1988/1 rev. 2012). WPR/RC74/11 page 6 Annex 1 2.1.8 To consider such other matters relating to the Special Programme as may be referred to it by any Cooperating Party. 2.2 Membership The PCC shall consist of 34 members from among the Cooperating Parties, as follows: 2.2.1 Largest financial contributors: 11 government representatives from the countries that were the largest financial contributors to the Special Programme in the previous biennium. 2.2.2 Countries elected by the WHO regional committees: 14 government representatives from Member States elected by WHO regional committees for three-year terms according to population distribution and regional needs, distributed as follows: Africa 4 Americas 2 South-East Asia 3 Europe 1 Eastern Mediterranean 1 Western Pacific 3 In these elections due account should be taken of a country’s financial and/or technical support to the Special Programme and its interest in the fields of family planning, research and development and in human reproduction and fertility regulation, as demonstrated by national policies and programmes. 2.2.3 Other interested Cooperating Parties: two members elected by the PCC for three-year terms from the remaining Cooperating Parties. 2.2.4 Permanent members: the Cosponsors of the Special Programme, the International Planned Parenthood Federation and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. Members of the PCC in categories 2.2.2 and 2.2.3 may be re-elected. WPR/RC74/11 page 7 Annex 1 2.3 Observers Other Cooperating Parties may be represented as observers with the approval of the Executing Agency after consultation with the Standing Committee. Observers attend sessions of the PCC at their own expense. 2.4 Operation 2.4.1 The PCC shall meet at least once a year, and in extraordinary sessions, if required, subject to the agreement of the majority of its members. The Executing Agency shall provide the secretariat. 2.4.2 The PCC shall elect each year from among its members, a chairman, a vice-chairman and a rapporteur. 2.4.3 The Chairman shall: • convene and preside over sessions of the PCC; • undertake such additional duties as may be assigned by the PCC. 2.4.4 Subject to any special arrangements that may be decided upon by the PCC, members of the PCC shall make their own arrangements to cover the expenses incurred in attending sessions of the PCC. 2.5 Procedures 2.5.1 In its proceedings the PCC shall be guided mutatis mutandis by the Rules of Procedure of the World Health Assembly. 2.5.2 In consultation with the Chairman, the secretariat shall prepare an annotated provisional agenda for each session. 2.5.3 A report, prepared by the Rapporteur with the assistance of the secretariat, shall be circulated as soon as possible after the conclusion of the session for the approval of participants. WPR/RC74/11 page 8 WPR/RC74/11 page 9 ANNEX 2 PCC CATEGORY 2 MEMBERS, WESTERN PACIFIC REGION 1986 ONWARDS Country Year elected Term of office Brunei Darussalam 2013 1 January 2014–31 December 2016 Cambodia 2000 1 January 2001–31 December 2002 China* 1999 1 January 2000–31 December 2000 Fiji 1992 2002 2016 1 January 1993–31 December 1995 1 January 2003–31 December 2005 1 January 2017–31 December 2019 Japan 1995 2008 2019 1 January 1996–31 December 1998 1 January 2009–31 December 2011 1 January 2020–31 December 2022 Lao People’s Democratic Republic 2003 2012 1 January 2004–31 December 2006 1 January 2013–31 December 2015 Malaysia 1998 2004 2010 2020 1 January 1999–31 December 2001 1 January 2005–31 December 2007 1 January 2011–31 December 2013 1 January 2021–31 December 2023 Mongolia** 2007 2022 1 January 2008–31 December 2010 1 January 2023–31 December 2025 New Zealand 1994 1 January 1995–31 December 1997 Papua New Guinea 1990 2000 2015 1 January 1991–31 December 1993 1 January 2001–31 December 2003 1 January 2016–31 December 2018 Philippines 1987 1993 2009 2017 1 January 1988–31 December 1990 1 January 1994–31 December 1996 1 January 2010–31 December 2012 1 January 2018–31 December 2020 Republic of Korea 1986 1997 2006 2014 September 1986–31 December 1987 1 January 1998–31 December 2000 1 January 2007–31 December 2009 1 January 2015–31 December 2017 Singapore 1986 1989 1996 2005 September 1986–31 December 1988 1 January 1990–31 December 1992 1 January 1997–31 December 1999 1 January 2006–31 December 2008 Solomon Islands 2018 1 January 2019–31 December 2021 Tonga 1988 2021 1 January 1989–31 December 1991 1 January 1992–31 December 2024 Viet Nam 1986 1986 1991 2001 2011 September 1986–31 December 1986 1 January 1987–31 December 1989 1 January 1992–31 December 1994 1 January 2002–31 December 2004 1 January 2012–31 December 2014 * China, in Category 1 membership ** Mongolia, elected to Category 3 membership, for the term 2015–2017