Following the sad passing of Regional Director-elect, Dr Faustine Ndugulile in November 2024, the WHO Regional Committee for Africa held a special session virtually on 14 January 2025 to decide on the procedure of the election of the next Regional Director.
The Committee decided on an accelerated procedure to nominate and appoint the next Regional Director. Member States were invited to submit names of candidates for the post of Regional Director by 28 February 2025. Thereafter a virtual live candidates’ forum will be held on 2 April 2025.
Any Member State of the Region may propose a candidate for the post of Regional Director. The Regional Director is elected by secret ballot at a private meeting of the Regional Committee.
An in-person special session of the Regional Committee for Africa will be convened on 18 May 2025 in Geneva to nominate the next Regional Director.
The Regional Director is appointed by the WHO Executive Board in agreement with the WHO Regional Committee for Africa. The appointment of a Regional Director is for 5 years, and he or she is eligible for reappointment once only.
Background documents:
- Rules of Procedure of the Regional Committee for Africa
- WHO Constitution (Article 52)
- Executive Board Rules of Procedure (Rule 56)
- Code of Conduct for the nomination of the Regional Director