In response to the World Health Assembly resolution (WHA66.22), the Regional Office invites submissions on possible demonstration projects on health research and development. The call for proposals is open to all sectors; including (but not limited to) civil society, academic and research centres, the private sector, nongovernmental organizations and researchers. Health research and development demonstration projects aim to address identified gaps that disproportionately affect developing countries, particularly the poor, and for which immediate action can be taken.

In November, the WHO Regional Office will organize a meeting of experts to review and select a maximum of four projects from the ones received. These short-listed projects will be further assessed during a global technical consultative meeting of experts and Member States planned for 3–5 December 2013 at WHO headquarters in Geneva, with the objective of proposing a priority list of a few projects for consideration by Member States. A report of the 3–5 December meeting, as well as description of the priority projects will be submitted by the WHO secretariat for consideration by the 134th WHO Executive Board; 20–25 January 2014) and the 67th World Health Assembly in May 2014.

The selection of demonstration projects will be based primarily on the following considerations:

 1.       addressing research and development gaps related to discovery, development and/or delivery of health technologies for diseases that disproportionally affect developing countries, particularly the poor, and for which immediate action can be taken;

2.       utilization of collaborative approaches, including open-knowledge approaches, for research and development coordination;

3.       promotion of the de-linkage of the cost of research and development from product price; and

4.       proposing and fostering innovative financing mechanisms, including innovative, sustainable and pooled funding;

For example, the projects may include diagnostic tools for infectious diseases, and antibiotics and other anti-infective agents, among others.

The deadline for submission of demonstration projects is 31 October 2013 : Interested parties may send their proposals (using the below template) to  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  

Standard_Template_for_Candidate_Demonstration_Project

Any proposals received after this date will not be considered.