WHO Regional Director for Africa Candidates Forum Scheduled for 2025

A virtual forum for the election of the new WHO Regional Director for Africa will occur on April 2, 2025. Presided by Minister Louise Mapleh Kpoto, the forum aims to enhance transparency. Four candidates will present their visions, and Member States can engage with questions. The event will be livestreamed in three languages.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is set to conduct a virtual candidates’ forum on April 2, 2025, from 09:30 to 16:00 Brazzaville time, as part of the election process for the new Regional Director for Africa. This forum aims to enhance the transparency of the electoral process, having been approved by WHO Member States in the region. It will be presided over by Honourable Louise Mapleh Kpoto, Minister of Health and Social Welfare of Liberia and current First Vice-Chairperson of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa.

The forum will provide a platform for candidates to showcase their qualifications and present their visions for the future of WHO’s initiatives within the African Region. The candidates include: Dr Michel N’da Konan Yao from Cote d’Ivoire, Dr Mohamed Lamine Dramé from Guinea, Professor Janabi Mohamed Yakub from the United Republic of Tanzania, and Professor Moustafa Mijiyawa from Togo. Each candidate will have a maximum of 20 minutes for their presentation.

Member States are invited to engage with the candidates by submitting questions prior to the forum. Interested Member States must indicate the candidate to whom they wish to direct their question by March 26, 2025, at 17:00 Brazzaville time, via email to the Regional Office. Questions will be randomly selected during the forum to ensure a fair opportunity for inquiry.

A strict timekeeping protocol will be employed during the proceedings. Each Member State will have one minute to pose a single question, while candidates will be allotted three minutes for their responses. The interview segment for each candidate is designed to last 40 minutes, allowing candidates to finish their answers if time elapses during a question.

The event will be broadcast in English, French, and Portuguese across WHO’s Regional Office for Africa’s social media channels and website, ensuring wide accessibility for all stakeholders involved in the electoral process.

The upcoming candidates’ forum for the election of the new WHO Regional Director for Africa promises to provide an essential opportunity for transparency and engagement among Member States. With a diverse group of candidates, the forum fosters an environment where their visions and qualifications can be thoroughly evaluated. This structured approach aims to respect the time of all participants while promoting an informed selection process.

Original Source: www.afro.who.int