Background
The Health Security Interface Technical Advisory Group (HSI-TAG), in the Emergency Program of the World Health Organization (WHE) was first established in 2019. Reflecting the needs of the organization, the terms of reference of HSI TAG were updated (August 2022) and a new set of members were appointed by an open selection process (September 2022) as part of formalization procedure set by the Organization.
The HSI-TAG provides independent advice to the WHO related to strategic priorities and plans of action on specific topics relating to the health security interface. HSI-TAG members have expertise in a range of areas including, but not limited to, the following:
• Public health intelligence;
• Chemical and biological, preparedness & readiness;
• Civil military relations;
• Risk communications;
• Misinformation/disinformation;
• Biosafety and biosecurity;
• National and international policy, regulation and guidance.
The composition of the HSI-TAG fully respects geographic and gender diversity. The members serve in their personal capacities to represent the broad range of disciplines relevant to the health security interface. In its capacity as an advisory body to WHO, the HSI-TAG has the following functions:
• To identify gaps, vulnerabilities, challenges, and opportunities within the Health Security Interface (HSI),
• To provide WHO with the technical and scientific advice relevant to the HSI and the work of the Biosecurity and Health Security Protection (BSP) unit,
• To advise WHO on a platform for information sharing, with the WHO’s international and other partners from health and security sectors.
The Biosafety and Health Security Protection (BSP) Unit in the Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention (EPP) Department provides Secretariat function to the HSI-TAG and works closely on issues including the establishment of a WHO mechanism for responding to potential deliberate biological threats;
Health Security Interface Technical Advisory Group (HSI-TAG)
Concept Note
developing technical materials to support Member States aimed at improving preparedness/readiness for chemical & biological deliberate events as well as emerging threats e.g. dual use research of concern, cyber threats or disinformation; building Member States’ capacity through the Joint External Evaluation Process aimed at biosecurity and prepare for/respond to deliberate events; improving specific and ad hoc Public Health intelligence as a tool for timely detecting and strengthening response and mitigation measures to deliberate events; and participating in simulation exercises (SimEx) that improve the response of WHO and Member States to deliberate events.
Its annual in-person meeting is planned to take place on 6-7 July 2023.
Objectives of the meeting
This meeting provides the opportunity for the TAG members to discuss the current landscape and future development of projects related to HSI and to provide technical advice and assistance to WHO. Its purposes include:
1. Advance the work of HSI-TAG by meeting in-person to review the progress of key working groups and facilitate more in-depth and extensive discussions on these initiatives, 2. Meet with WHO HQ and Regional Office focal points to discuss the perspectives and priorities of regions, and to identify unmet Member States needs related to preparing for and responding to deliberate threats,
3. Discuss and develop consensus on strategy for the second half of 2023 and priority actions for the HSI-TAG.
4. HSI Strategies and priority projects/deliverables for the next biennium (2024-25) reviewed, discussed and endorsed by HSI-TAG.
Expected outcomes:
Structured discussion will allow us to capture the next steps, and to prioritize them.
• A meeting report encompassing
o Progress of HSI thematic working groups across the range of its efforts,
o Definition of HSI,
o Identification of new areas of work if Member States express additional unmet needs related to preparing for and responding to deliberate event.
• 2024-25 HSI strategy endorsed.
Participants
• HSI-TAG members,
• WHO Secretariat (HQ and Regional Office).
