Background

The Pandemic Fund is seeking experts to serve on its Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) for the 2027–2028 term. 

The COVID-19 pandemic cost millions of lives, caused trillions of dollars in economic losses, and reversed years of progress in health, poverty reduction, and economic development, especially in the world’s most vulnerable countries and communities. It also exposed decades of underinvestment in pandemic preparedness and the absence of a dedicated financing mechanism to help countries prevent outbreaks from becoming global crises.

The Pandemic Fund was established in 2022 to help close this gap and break the cycle of panic and neglect. It is the only multilateral financing mechanism dedicated exclusively to strengthening pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR) in low- and middle-income countries. The Fund brings together sovereign contributors, sovereign co-investors, philanthropies, civil society organizations, and Implementing Entities (IEs), including multilateral development banks, UN agencies, global health initiatives, and other specialized organizations.

The governing and administrative bodies of the Pandemic Fund are (i) the Governing Board, (ii) the Technical Advisory Panel (TAP), (iii) the Secretariat, and (iv) the Trustee. The IEs support the implementation of Pandemic Fund-funded projects and activities and have direct technical and fiduciary oversight of programs.

The World Bank Group serves as Trustee and hosts the Fund’s Secretariat.

As set out in the Pandemic Fund Governance Framework and the Terms of Reference for the TAP, the TAP provides independent advice to the Governing Board (the “Board”) on critical gaps and funding priorities in pandemic PPR, including priorities identified in the Fund’s Medium-Term Strategic Plan (2024–2029) and calls for proposals. The TAP also evaluates funding proposals and provides evidence-based recommendations to the Board. Through these functions, the TAP supports investments that strengthen PPR capacities under the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) and other internationally endorsed legal frameworks, consistent with a One Health approach.
 

2. Expertise and Key Qualifications

Collectively, TAP experts should bring diverse expertise across the scientific, programmatic, operational, systems, financing, governance, and structural dimensions of pandemic PPR. This expertise should enable the TAP to evaluate funding proposals, assess their contribution to resilient systems, and consider risks and capacities across human, animal, and environmental health.
 

2.1 Expertise

Relevant expertise may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following areas:

i. Health & PPR Technical Expertise

  • Integrated disease, pathogen, and event-based surveillance across human, animal, wildlife, and environmental systems.

  • Laboratory and diagnostic systems across human, animal, environmental, and other relevant sectors, including laboratory networks, biosafety, and biosecurity.

  • Workforce capacities across relevant sectors, including public health, clinical, veterinary, animal health, environmental health, wildlife, laboratory, epidemiological, and community-based workforces.

  • Emergency preparedness, management, and response, including multisectoral preparedness and coordination.

  • Infection prevention and control, and other measures to prevent and reduce pathogen transmission within and across relevant sectors.

  • Risk communication, community engagement, and leadership, including approaches that address the social, behavioral, and community dimensions of PPR.

  • Zoonotic and emerging infectious diseases and One Health approaches, including animal health and veterinary sciences, wildlife health and ecology, environmental health and sciences, agriculture and food systems, ecosystem health, and risks at the human-animal-environment interface — including the ability to assess interdependencies among human, animal, wildlife, agricultural, and environmental systems.

  • Medical and other relevant countermeasures, including their research, development, manufacturing, procurement, deployment, and access.

  • Deep and current knowledge of relevant scientific evidence, international standards, normative guidance, emerging approaches, good practices, and technologies related to the above.

ii. Health Economics & Financial Expertise 

  • Economics and development financing for health, including cost-benefit analysis, value for money, absorption capacity, financial sustainability, innovative financing approaches and mechanisms, partnerships, and strategic investments for health across sectors relevant to PPR.

iii. Policy, Governance, & Institutional Capacity 

  • Governance and institutional capacity strengthening for public health, and multisectoral coordination structures, including infrastructure and public policies such as health system strengthening, National Public Health Institutes, and Public Health Emergency Operations Centers.

  • The ability to assess funding applications against the key cross-cutting themes identified in the Pandemic Fund’s Medium-term Strategic Plan, ensuring whole-of-government, whole-of-society inclusive PPR design and implementation that safeguards vulnerable populations.

iii. Program Design, Management, & Implementation 

  • Extensive experience developing, implementing, managing, or reviewing pandemic PPR programs in low-income and/or middle-income countries/regions, including the assessment of programmatic plans, funding proposals, and related documentation.

  • Monitoring and evaluation expertise, including assessing the expected results and impacts of funding proposals and evaluating program performance, preferably in pandemic PPR contexts.

  • Proven ability to assess and prioritize the appropriate mix of interventions and choices for maximum impact, and program quality, effectiveness, and efficiency.

  • Practical experience working on PPR in one or more low-income and/or middle-income countries and regions, including with governments, civil society, communities, and other partners, is preferred.
     

2.2 Individual Qualifications and Competencies

  • Deep expertise and knowledge of relevant evidence and good practices in one or more of the above areas.

  • Proven ability to analyze complex information, exercise sound judgment, and formulate evidence-based recommendations.

  • Excellent written and spoken English, including the ability to synthesize complex concepts and clearly communicate review findings, results, and lessons learned. Proficiency in another official language of the World Bank is an advantage.

  • Demonstrated professional integrity, impartiality, and ability to work effectively with colleagues from diverse disciplines, sectors, regions, and backgrounds.

  • Availability to meet the expected level of effort and participate in virtual and in-person meetings, proposal reviews, and other TAP activities throughout the appointment.

 
3. Deliverables
  1. Review Funding Proposals: Conduct qualitative and quantitative reviews of funding proposals submitted through the Pandemic Fund’s calls for proposals; prepare individual assessments; and contribute to consensus-based recommendations for the Board’s consideration. 
     
  2. Participate in Technical Working Groups: Contribute expertise and participate actively in working groups on PPR issues at the Board’s request.
     
  3. Advise on Project Changes: Review proposed changes to approved projects and provide technical advice on whether the changes remain aligned with the Fund’s objective and the approved project design and results. 
     
  4. Attend Meetings and Calls: Participate in virtual and in-person TAP meetings and calls concerning proposals, funded projects, and other matters within the TAP Terms of Reference.
     
4. Duration

The TAP expert appointment will be for a two-year period, from January 1, 2027, to December 31, 2028, with an estimated level of effort of approximately 25 working days per year.

Selected experts will be compensated for approved days worked, in accordance with the applicable terms and rates established for TAP appointments. We will provide further details to selected candidates as part of the appointment process.

Selected experts will serve in their individual technical capacity, independently of their employers, governments, or any other entities. They must comply with applicable conflict-of-interest, confidentiality, and other policies governing TAP service.
 

5. Submitting an expression of interest:    

To be considered for the Pandemic Fund TAP, applicants must complete the online application and submit the required information and curriculum vitae through Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) Expert Application Form – Fill out form. Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (UTC−4) on Friday, 18th September 2026.  We will not accept applications submitted by email.

Applicants should be prepared to provide information demonstrating how their experience and qualifications meet the selection criteria. 

For further information on the purpose, structure, and functioning of the TAP, as well as the selection process and conditions of appointment, please refer to the Terms of Reference for the TAP.

If you have any questions about this Call for Experts, please write to the_pandemic_fund@worldbank.org  well before the deadline.

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.