The International Medical Advisory Panel (IMAP) is looking for 2-3 new members to join the Panel. The IMAP is a body of medical scientists and experts in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and other relevant fields with a mandate to formulate and disseminate recommendations to the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and other stakeholders regarding best practices in SRHR, based on the best available evidence. The IMAP recommendations are usually published as IMAP statements that address relevant issues in all aspects of SRHR, including systems strengthening, biomedical, programmatic, training and other service delivery issues. The Panel gives advice to the IPPF Director Leadership Team (DLT), the Board of Trustees (through the Committee - Strategy, Investment and Policy) and to IPPF Member Associations. The Panel works within the scope of IPPF’s Strategic Framework –in support of IPPF’s mission to lead a locally-owned, globally connected civil society movement that provides and enables services, and champions sexual and reproductive health and rights for all, especially the underserved.[1]
Roles and Responsibilities of IMAP members
The Panel gives medical and technical advice to IPPF’s Director Leadership Team (DLT), Board of Trustees (through its Committee - Strategy, Investment and Policy) and IPPF Member Associations, and its advice is widely followed by other organizations in the field. IMAP’s main functions are:
- To review and endorse IPPF clinical and technical guidelines developed and updated by the Secretariat.
- To identify and respond to priority sexual and reproductive health and rights issues based on new scientific evidence in consultation with the IPPF Secretariat.
- To support IPPF Secretariat to identify specialist expertise for certain priority areas as needed, where it is not available within the Panel.
- To act as international reviewers of IMAP’s recommendations, representing IPPF at international meetings, and to assist the IPPF Secretariat in developing appropriate responses to critical issues.
- To participate in at least one annual IMAP meeting (face-to-face when possible), in addition to shorter video or tele-conference meetings (about three a year).
- To support IPPF to maintain its medical and programmatic leadership in SRHR .
Desired qualifications and areas of expertise in IMAP members
The IMAP is looking to add 2-3 new members to the panel to replace the current members whose tenure has ended.
As per the IMAP terms of reference, the Panel members are expected to be sexual and reproductive health and rights professionals with international expertise and scientific competence. The Panel strives to ensure equitable gender and geographic balance in addition to credibility and scientific reputation– with a lens to operating in low resource settings.
IMAP members serve a maximum of two terms (three years each) subject to endorsement from both IMAP members and IPPF. Renewal of membership will be made by the IPPF Director General in consultation with the Chair of IMAP and the Board of Trustees will be informed accordingly.
The criteria of selection of new members are:
- Essential Criteria
- Medical and technical expertise in SRHR, including systems strengthening, biomedical, programmatic, training, and other service delivery issues
- International expertise
- Experience operating in low resource settings
- Ability to participate in video and teleconferences at least three times a year and in one face-to-face meeting annually
- Desirable Criteria
- Experience reviewing medical standards and guidelines
- Experience reviewing or providing guidance on prioritizing sexual and reproductive health and rights issues
- Experience in monitoring and consolidating new scientific evidence, and developing statements, guidelines, and recommendations
- Experience in developing appropriate responses to critical issues
- Ability to represent IPPF at international meetings
Overarching considerations to ensure the diversity, geographic balance of the panel and coverage of the IMAP areas of expertise:
- Representation from across regions to reflect IPPF’s global presence, particularly from low-middle income countries. For this call, we are seeking professionals working in Latin America and in Asia.
- Demonstrated experience on one or more of the IMAP key areas of expertise: including sexual and reproductive health in humanitarian settings, abortion, maternal and child health, sexual and gender-based violence . Knowledge of IPPF Member Associations is desirable.
For this call for new members to join the existing panel we encourage early career professionals to apply.
If you meet these criteria and areas of expertise, please send a letter of interest and your CV to Nihal Said at [email protected] by 28 November 2024. We strongly encourage applications from low- and middle-income countries and those with extensive experience in providing health and social care, programmes, and research in low- resource settings.
**All members shall serve on the panel in a voluntary status without compensation. Members of the Panel shall be entitled to receive reimbursement for travel expenses and per diem when invited to attend by IPPF to in-person meetings, in accordance with IPPF Travel Policy and Regulations.
[1] Extracted from the 2015 TORs for IMAP