The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking to engage experts to serve as members of the Technical Advisory Group on Maternal Mortality and Maternal Cause of Death Estimation.
The Technical Advisory Group on Maternal Mortality and Maternal Cause of Death Estimation (the “TAG”) acts as an advisory body to WHO in the field of maternal mortality measurement and maternal cause of death measurement. The TAG provides guidance in relation to on-going methodological improvements and strategies for reporting and enhancing country level reporting.
The TAG on Maternal Mortality and Maternal Cause of Death Estimation will be multidisciplinary, with members who have a range of technical knowledge, skills and experience relevant to maternal mortality and morbidity measurement.
WHO expects expressions of interest from expert scientists, healthcare professionals, health management information systems and data specialists with expertise in the following areas epidemiology, biostatistics, data science, modelling of health estimates; maternal health, obstetrics and gynecology, midwifery, reproductive health.
Other areas include, monitoring and measurement within health systems; and censuses, civil registration and vital statistics, health and demographic surveillance systems, maternal death review, verbal autopsy, other surveillance systems, as relates to mortality and cause of death data.
In its capacity as an advisory body to WHO, the TAG has the following functions, to provide independent evaluation of the scientific, technical and strategic aspects relating to maternal mortality and maternal cause of death measurement and estimation methods;
The TAG will recommend priorities relating to the development of a research agenda to address maternal mortality measurement challenges required for global monitoring purposes;
It will also advise on linkages with related advisory groups, including those working on the measurement and estimation of perinatal, neonatal, and infant mortality.
Furthermore, the TAGwill advise on strategies to promote linkages to broader strategies to strengthen national statistics systems as relates to maternal mortality measurement, including civil registration and vital statistics, standardized coding and classification according to the rules of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) framework; and to advise on strategies in relation to the effective dissemination and use of the maternal mortality estimates and related products.
The TAG shall normally be expected meet at least once per year, either in-person or virtually at WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, usually for 2-3 days each time. Meetings may be convened in other locations if determined by WHO. Additional meetings and/or interim teleconferences may be required of members where input is requested on specific issues.
Active participation is expected from all TAG members, including in working subgroups, teleconferences and interaction via e-mail. TAG members may be requested to review meeting documentation in advance of TAG meetings.
The working language of the TAG will be English
Applicants who wish to be considered for the TAG on Maternal Mortality and Maternal Cause of Death Estimation, are requested to submit the following documents, a cover letter, indicating motivation to apply and how expertise meets the criteria earlier stated.
Applicants are also to submit curriculum vitae; one example of a work product or report in the relevant area; and a signed and completed Declaration of Interests (DOI) form for WHO Experts (available for download).
Applications are to be forwarded to maternalestimates@who.int using the subject line “Expression of interest for the TAG on Maternal Mortality and Maternal Cause of Death Estimation”: Applicants are advised not to use the letterhead or other identification of there employers.The deadline for submission of applications is October 15, 2025.
All expression of interests will be reviewed by WHO, and due to an expected high volume of interest, only selected individuals will be contacted.
Background
WHO is the leading agency of the United Nations (UN) Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), a UN initiative comprising WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, the World Bank Group and the UNDESA/Population Division. The MMEIG has the function to update the inter-agency estimates of maternal mortality. The MMEIG contributes to monitoring progress towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3 – “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages” by producing estimates of the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) (target 3.1.1)
