Frequently asked questions

1. What is new this time?

Following the appointment of the Director-General in 2017, some adjustments were made to the process for the nomination and appointment of the Director-General. Key innovations are as follows:

• Proposals received by Member States will be dispatched to all Members after the closure of the last Regional Committee session prior to the session of the Board at which the nomination will take place, and in any event at least 10 weeks before the date fixed for the opening of the session. (See question II.4)
• In the event that more than one candidate is proposed, Member States and candidates will have the opportunity to interact in the framework of two candidates’ forums (rather than the one forum held last time). The first is to be held prior to the Executive Board session at which the nomination will take place; and the second to be held prior to the Health Assembly session at which the appointment will take place. The candidates’ forums will not be convened if there is only one candidate. (See questions III.3 through III.8)
• To ensure full transparency and mutual confidence among Member States, Member States and candidates should disclose their campaign activities as well as any grants or aid funding to other Member States in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Conduct for the Election of the Director-General of the World Health Organization (“the Code of Conduct”). (See questions II.11 and II.12)
• The contract of the next Director-General will begin in mid-August of the year of appointment (i.e. 2022), and the transition period between the appointment by the Health Assembly in May 2022 and her or his taking office will therefore be lengthened. (See question IV.16)

1. When will the overall election process begin?

   The election process started in April 2021 when the Director-General informed all WHO Member States that they may propose persons for the post of Director-General.
   

2. What did the communication sent by the Director-General in April 2021 look like?

   The Director-General informed Member States that they may propose persons for the post of Director-General. The communication included:

   • The standard form for curriculum vitae to be used by the candidates;
   • A reminder concerning the need to pledge to observe the Code of Conduct;
   • A notice concerning the web forum ;
   • A notice concerning posting of information about candidates on the WHO website.
3.  What is the deadline for submitting proposals ?

   The deadline for submitting proposals for the post of Director-General is 23 September 2021.

4. When will the Secretariat officially announce the list of candidates?

   The Secretariat will publicly release the names of candidates at the beginning of November 2021, i.e. after the closure of the last Regional Committee session prior to the session of the Board at which the nomination will take place.   

5. When will proposals received by the Secretariat be made available to Member States?

   In accordance with Rule 62 of the Rules of Procedure of the Executive Board, all proposals, curricula vitae and supporting information will be translated into all WHO official languages and dispatched to all Member States at the beginning of November 2021, i.e. after the closure of the last Regional Committee session prior to the 150th session of the Board at which the nomination will take place.  
   

6. Do candidates have to be nationals of the Member State proposing their candidature?

   Persons proposed for the post of Director-General are not required to be nationals of the Member State proposing them. 

7. Can a Member State propose the name of more than one person for the post of Director-General?

   Both the Rules of Procedure of the Executive Board and the Code of Conduct envisage the possibility of a Member State proposing more than one person for the post of Director-General.
   

8. Can a Member State propose the name of a WHO staff member for the post of Director-General?

   Member States may propose a WHO staff member for the post of Director-General. The Code of Conduct expressly envisages this possibility.
   

9. Do WHO staff members proposed for the post of Director-General have to abide by specific obligations?

   WHO staff members proposed for the post of Director-General are subject to the obligations contained in the WHO Constitution, the Staff Regulations and Rules, the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, the Standards of Conduct for the International Civil Service as well as any other relevant guidance issued by the Director-General. In particular, they are required to observe the highest standard of ethical conduct, strive to avoid any appearance of impropriety and ensure a clear separation between campaign activities and service for WHO.
   

10. Will WHO staff members proposed for the post of Director-General continue to perform their assignment at WHO?

    Internal candidates will be requested, as on previous occasions, to exhaust their accrued annual leave, beginning on the date of the announcement of names of candidates by the Secretariat or sooner if their candidature is made public by the proposing Member State(s). Once the accrued annual leave is exhausted, internal candidates will be placed on special leave with half pay until the closure of the 150th session of the Executive Board in January 2022. If one or more internal candidates are nominated by the Board, they will be placed, after closure of the Board’s session, on special leave with full pay until the closure of the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly in May 2022.
    

    As on previous occasions, WHO staff members who are elected officials will not be required to take annual or special leave in view of their status and functions.
    

11. What is the Code of Conduct and to whom does it apply?

    The Code of Conduct, which was adopted by the Health Assembly in 2013 through resolution WHA66.18 and was amended in 2020 through decision WHA73(27), is a political understanding setting out appropriate practices that Member States, candidates and the WHO Secretariat should follow throughout during the election process. The Code of Conduct aims to promote an open, fair, equitable and transparent process for the election of the Director-General by setting out a number of general and specific requirements.
    

12. Should Member States and/or candidates disclose their campaign activities?

    Yes, they should. The Code of Conduct provides that “[a]ll Member States and candidates should promptly disclose their campaign activities (for example, hosting of meetings, workshops and visits), together with the amount and source of all funding for campaign activities, and communicate them to the Secretariat. Information so disclosed will be posted on a dedicated page of the WHO website.”.

13. Should Member States proposing candidates disclose grants or aid funding they have made in the last few years?

    The Code of Conduct provides that “Member States proposing persons for the post of Director-General should promptly disclose grants or  aid funding to other Member States during the campaign period and the previous two years in order to ensure full transparency and mutual confidence among Member States.”.
    

14. Will travel by candidates to Member States be subject to any limitations?

    The Code of Conduct provides that “[c]andidates, whether internal or external, should not combine their official travel with campaigning activities. Electoral promotion or propaganda under the guise of technical meetings or similar events should be avoided”. The Code of Conduct further provides that “[i]t is understood, however, that candidates for the post of Director-General on official travel may participate in the web forum, the candidates’ forums and in campaign activities on the margins of regional committee sessions.”.  

1. Will the curricula vitae of the candidates and other information be made publicly available?

   The Secretariat will post on the WHO website the statements by which proposing Member States and candidates pledge to observe the provisions of the Code of Conduct and information on all candidates, including their curricula vitae and other particulars of their qualifications and experience as received by Member States, as well as their contact information. The website will also provide links to individual websites of candidates, if any and upon request. Each candidate is however responsible for setting up and financing her or his own website.
   

2. How will electoral campaign activities at Regional Committee sessions be conducted ?

   As indicated in document EB148/38, prospective candidate(s) may be invited to attend Regional Committee sessions upon request of the proposing Member State(s) to the Regional Directors concerned.

   The following guidance should be observed:
   
   • it is not expected that campaigning will take place as part of the regional committees’ official programmes and, in particular, prospective candidate(s) and Member States will not be given speaking time during official meetings to promote a candidacy;
   • prospective candidate(s) and Member States may themselves hold campaign events in the margins of regional committees. These may consist of meetings organized by, or in support of, individual prospective candidates, or of meetings organized by Member States or groups of Member States to hear from several prospective candidates. Such events should take place during breaks in the official programmes, or before or after official meetings of the regional committees; 
   • given that regional committee sessions will take place before the official announcement of names of candidates for the post of Director-General, it is envisaged that neither will prospective candidate(s) officially present candidatures to any of the regional committees nor will the Secretariat organize any events for prospective candidates in the margins of regional committee meetings;
   • Regional Directors will inform Members of regional committees in advance if any prospective candidates have been invited to observe the proceedings and, if so, that campaign activities are likely to take place in the margins of the committees’ meetings; and
   • in order to ensure equal treatment and fairness, to the extent that opportunities are provided for campaign activities, these opportunities must be open to all prospective candidates on a similar basis.

   Furthermore, depending on the availability of the venue of the regional committee session, the relevant Regional Office may provide, on an equal basis, office space or any other facilities to prospective candidate(s).

3. What is the difference between the web forum and the candidates’ forums?

   The web forum is an electronic platform through which Member States will have the opportunity, over a period of time of around two weeks, to interact with candidates through a question and answer format.
   

   The candidates’ forums are live platforms for candidates to make themselves and their vision known to Member States, on an equal basis. Candidates’ forums will be open to Member States and Associate Members. The first candidates’ forum will consist of interviews with the candidates whereas the second candidates’ forum will consist of a more interactive panel discussion between the candidates and Member States and Associate Members attending the forum. 

   Neither the web forum nor the candidates’ forums will be held if there is only one candidate for the post of Director-General.
   

4. When and for how long will the web forum and the candidates’ forums take place?

   If there is more than one candidate, the web forum will be opened on the WHO website for around two weeks starting at the end of November 2021.  
   

   Again, if there is more than one candidate, the first and second candidates’ forums will be held starting on 22 November 2021 and 16 March 2022, respectively. Their exact duration will be determined by the Officers of the Board depending on the number of candidates but will in any event not exceed three days. 

5. How will the first candidates’ forum be conducted?

   The first candidates’ forum will consist of interviews with the candidates. Each candidate will make a presentation of a maximum of 10 minutes, which will be followed by a question-and-answer session so that the overall duration of each interview will be 60 minutes. The order of the interviews will be determined by lot. The detailed arrangements for the interviews to be conducted at the first candidates’ forum were decided by the Board at its 149th session and are contained in the Annex to decision EB149(4).
   

6. How will the second candidates’ forum be conducted ?

   The second candidates’ forum will consist of a more interactive panel discussion between the candidates and Member States and Associate Members attending the forum. The Board at its 150th session will consider specific arrangements for the second candidates’ forum.

7. Will the candidates’ forums be conducted in person or virtually?

   It is envisaged that the candidates’ forums will be held in person. If circumstances preclude the holding of the candidates’ forums as envisaged, contingency arrangements will be adopted. In this regard, please see question IV.18.

8. Can the public participate in the candidates’ forums?

   The candidates’ forums will be broadcast by the Secretariat through a link on the WHO website accessible to the public. Active participation in the candidates’ forums will be limited to Member States (and, where applicable, regional economic integration organizations) and Associate Members. 

9. Will candidates participating in the candidates’ forums be offered travel support?

   Financial travel support, consisting of an economy-class airline ticket and a per diem for the time necessary for the interview, will be provided to all candidates participating in the candidates’ forums (decision WHA74(21)).
   

10. Is a medical exam required and when is it required?

    After the expiry of the deadline for candidatures and pursuant to resolution EB120.R19, the Director-General will request candidates to undergo a medical examination and to have a completed WHO medical examination form brought to the attention of the Director, WHO Health and Medical Services in order to ensure that candidates nominated have the good physical condition required of all staff members of WHO. The Director, Health and Medical Services, in turn shall report to the Chair of the Executive Board whether the candidates appear to enjoy the good physical condition required of all staff members of WHO, and the Chair shall inform the Board accordingly.

1. Will the nomination and appointment by the Board and Health Assembly take place in person?

   It is envisaged that the 150th session of the Board and the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly, at which the nomination and appointment will take place, respectively, will be held in person. If circumstances preclude the holding of these sessions as envisaged, contingency arrangements will be adopted. In this regard, please see question IV.18.

2. Will candidates be allowed to attend meetings of the Executive Board and Health Assembly at which the nomination and appointment, respectively, will take place?
   

   The Code of Conduct provides that candidates should not attend those meetings of the Executive Board and Health Assembly at which the actual vote for nomination and appointment of the Director-General is conducted, even if they form part of the delegation of a Member State. This approach is in line with the consistent practice that was followed in previous elections. 

   However, candidates will be interviewed by the Executive Board, prior to the vote for the nomination. Candidates will also address the Health Assembly prior to the vote for the appointment of the Director-General (please see question 10).
   

3. Will candidates be offered travel support to attend the 150th session of the Executive Board at which the nomination will take place?

   The Secretariat will provide travel support to the candidates who will be interviewed at the 150th session of the Executive Board, in January 2022.
   

4. What is the “initial screening” of candidates?

   The “initial screening” is the first step of the nomination phase that will take place at the 150th session of the Board in January 2022. The purpose of the initial screening is to determine whether there is consensus on one or more candidates not meeting the criteria approved by the Health Assembly in resolution WHA65.15, in light of the curricula vitae and other supporting information provided by the proposing Member States.
   

5. How will the Board draw up a short list of candidates?

   If there are more than five candidates, the Board will have to short list five candidates. In accordance with decision EB100(7), the Board will draw up a short list of five candidates through successive ballots, during which members of the Board must vote for five candidates. Votes cast for more or fewer than five names will be considered as null and void. Candidates with the lowest number of votes, as well as candidates receiving less than 10% of the ballots cast will be eliminated until there are only five candidates remaining.
   

6. How many candidates will the Board nominate for consideration by the Health Assembly?

   The Board will nominate up to three candidates, from among those candidates on the short-list, for consideration by the Health Assembly. In exceptional circumstances where the nomination of three candidates is not practicable, such as where there are only one or two candidates, the Board may decide to nominate fewer than three candidates. 

7. Who will be entitled to vote for the nomination of  candidates at the 150th session of the Board?

   The 34 Members of the Board will be entitled to vote for the nomination of candidates for the post of Director-General.

8. Against which criteria will candidates be assessed by the Board?

   In accordance with resolution WHA65.15 the candidates nominated by the Board should fulfil the following criteria, while underscoring the paramount importance of professional qualifications and integrity and the need to pay due regard to equitable geographical representation, as well as gender balance:
   

a) A strong technical background in a health field, including experience in public health;

b) Exposure to and extensive experience in international health;

c) Demonstrable leadership skills and experience;

d) Excellent communication and advocacy skills;

e) Demonstrable competence in organizational management;

f) Sensitivity to cultural, social and political differences;

g) Strong commitment to the mission and objectives of WHO;

h) Good health conditions required of all staff members of the Organization;

i) Sufficient skill in at least one of the official working languages of the Executive Board and the Health Assembly.

9. What kind of support will the Secretariat offer to candidates nominated by the Board ?

   In order to enable all candidates nominated by the Board to have access to appropriate information to support their candidacy, the Secretariat will make available to all candidates, on an equal basis, any information that may have been requested in the context of the election by one of the candidates.

10. Will candidates nominated by the Board address the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly?

    The Seventy-fourth World Health Assembly decided that, in respect of the present and subsequent elections, candidates nominated by the Board for the post of Director-General shall address the Health Assembly before the vote for appointment of the Director-General, on the understanding that:

    (a) statements shall be limited to 15 minutes each;

    (b) the order of the statements shall be decided by lot;

    (c) there shall be no questions and answers after the statements;

    (d) statements shall be webcast on the WHO web site in all WHO official languages.

    The above shall not apply if there is only one candidate. 

11. Who will be entitled to vote for the appointment of the Director-General at the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly?

    All Member States will be entitled to vote for the appointment of the Director-General at the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly with the exception of those Member States whose voting rights are at that time suspended in accordance with Article 7 of the WHO Constitution (see also question n. IV.12).

12. What if the voting rights of a Member State have been suspended?

    Member States whose voting rights have been suspended in accordance with Article 7 of the WHO Constitution will not be entitled to vote for the appointment of the Director-General at the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly. The suspension of voting rights does not apply to the Executive Board. All Members of the Board will therefore be entitled to vote for the nomination of candidates.

13. What is the majority required to be appointed by the Health Assembly?

    The Director-General shall be appointed by a clear and strong majority. This is defined in the Rules as Procedure of the Health Assembly as amounting to a two-thirds majority or more of the Members present and voting in the first two ballots; a majority of WHO Member States or more in the third ballot; and a majority or more of the Members present and voting in the fourth ballot. A slightly different procedure will apply if the Board nominates fewer than three persons.
    

14. What happens if a Member State cannot attend the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly in May 2022?

    If a Member State is not represented at the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly in May 2022, that Member State will not take part to the vote and will be recorded as “absent”.

15. What happens if a Member State is absent during one of the rounds of voting?

    If a Member State is absent during one of the rounds of voting, that Member State will be recorded as “absent” and will therefore not be counted among the “Members present and voting” during that round of voting. A Member State absent from one of the rounds of voting is not precluded from voting in the other rounds of voting.

16. What happens if a Member State wishes to explain its vote after the results have been announced?

    Explanations of vote are, in principle, incompatible with the nature of a secret ballot. Delegations are therefore invited to refrain from providing explanations of vote after voting has been completed.

17. When will the term of Director-General elected in May 2022 begin?

    In accordance with resolution WHA73.6, the current contract of the incumbent Director-General will end on 15 August 2022. The term of the Director-General elected at the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly will begin on 16 August 2022.

18. How would a transitional period following the Seventy-fifth session of the World Health Assembly in May 2022 be managed?

    The Secretariat would provide all appropriate support as may be required to the Director-General appointed by the Health Assembly in May 2022 in advance of the term of office beginning in August 2022.

19. What if circumstances preclude the holding of the 150th session of the Board and/or the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly in person?

    Regarding the 150th session of the Board : The nomination of candidates for the position of Director-General would take place in accordance with the contingency arrangements decided by the Executive Board, through a written silence procedure, based on a proposal by the Officers of the Board, following consultation with all Member States (decision EB149(5)).  

    Regarding the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly : The appointment of the Director-General would take place in accordance with the contingency arrangements decided by the Executive Board, through a written silence procedure, based on a proposal by the Officers of the Board, following consultation with all Member States (decision WHA74(22)).