The SAGE/MPAG WG will be expected to formulate critical questions, as outlined below, for which an in-depth review of evidence is needed to address its workplan. With the support of Secretariat, this Working Group will perform or coordinate, a systematic assessment of the evidence in accordance with the SAGE process for evidence–review and development of recommendations.

In its capacity as an advisory body to WHO, the SAGE/MPAG WG shall have the following functions:

1. (i) Preparation of SAGE and MPAG deliberations and background materials on malaria vaccines by reviewing the evidence, as it becomes available, and by providing evidence-based information and/or options for guidance or strategy recommendations. This SAGE/MPAG Working Group is tasked to work on specific issues related to malaria vaccines and address critical questions on behalf of SAGE and MPAG; and
2. (ii) Provision of technical advice and recommendations for the duration of the Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme (MVIP) to WHO. 
   

1. The SAGE/MPAG WG shall have up to 15 members, who shall serve in their personal capacities to represent the following disciplines: malaria vaccines, including public health and epidemiology, malaria in Africa, vaccine safety, implementation research, clinical trials, statistics, immunization programmes, vaccine policy and implementation. In the selection of SAGE/MPAG WG members, consideration shall be given to attaining an adequate distribution of technical expertise, geographical representation and gender balance. 
2. Members of the SAGE/MPAG WG shall be selected and appointed by WHO following an open call for experts. Suitable individuals who expressed interest to past open calls for other advisory groups (such as SAGE and MPAG) may also be considered. The Chairperson, and Co-Chariperson’s functions include the following:

-       to chair the meeting of the SAGE/MPAG WG;

-       to liaise with the WHO Secretariat between meetings;

-       to present SAGE/MPAG WG outcomes and recommendations to SAGE and MPAG, and represent the views of the SAGE/MPAG WG at relevant meetings.

In appointing the Chairperson and Co-Chairperson, consideration shall be given to gender and geographical representation.

3. Members of SAGE/MPAG WG shall be appointed to serve for a period of up to 3 years and shall be eligible for reappointment. Their appointment and/or designation as Chairperson and Co-Chairperson is terminated when the SAGE/MPAG WG is closed after completion of its mandate (see section I. Functions) and may be terminated at any time by WHO if WHO's interest so requires or, as otherwise specified in these terms of reference or letters of appointment. Where a member’s appointment is terminated, WHO may decide to appoint a replacement member.
4. SAGE/MPAG  WG members must respect the impartiality and independence required of WHO. In performing their work, members may not seek or accept instructions from any Government or from any authority external to the Organization. They must be free of any real, potential or apparent conflicts of interest. To this end, proposed members/members shall be required to complete a declaration of interests form and their appointment, or continuation of their appointment, shall be subject to the evaluation of completed forms by the WHO Secretariat, determining that their participation would not give rise to a real, potential or apparent conflict of interest.
5. Following a determination that a proposed member’s participation in the SAGE/MPAG  WG would not give rise to a real, potential or apparent conflict of interest, the proposed member will be sent a letter inviting them to be a member of the SAGE/MPAG WG. Their appointment to SAGE/MPAG WG is subject to WHO receiving the countersigned invitation letter and letter of agreement. Notwithstanding the requirement to complete the WHO declaration of interest form, SAGE/MPAG WG members have an ongoing obligation to inform the WHO of any interests real or perceived that may give raise to a real, potential or apparent conflict of interest.
6. As contemplated in paragraph II.4 above, WHO may, from time to time, request SAGE/MPAG WG members to complete a new declaration of interest form. This may be before a SAGE/MPAG WG meeting or any other SAGE/MPAG WG-related activity or engagement, as decided by WHO. Where WHO has made such a request, the SAGE/MPAG  WG member’s participation in the SAGE/MPAG WG activity or engagement is subject to a determination that their participation would not give rise to a real, potential or apparent conflict of interest.
7. Where a SAGE/MPAG  WG member is invited by WHO to travel to an in-person SAGE/MPAG  WG meeting, WHO shall, subject to any conflict of interest determination as set out in paragraph II.6 above, issue a letter of appointment as a temporary adviser and accompanying memorandum of agreement (together ‘Temporary Adviser Letter’). WHO shall not authorize travel by a SAGE/MPAG  WG member, until it receives a countersigned Temporary Adviser Letter.
8. SAGE/MPAG WG members do not receive any remuneration from the Organization for any work related to the SAGE/MPAG WG. However, when attending in-person meetings at the invitation of WHO, their travel cost and per diem shall be covered by WHO in accordance with the applicable WHO rules and policies.

1. The SAGE/MPAG WG accomplishes most of its work virtually via video or teleconferences. One or more SAGE/MPAG WG meetings may be held in person (at WHO headquarters in Geneva or another location, as determined by WHO).

SAGE/MPAG WG meetings may be held in open and/or closed session, as decided by the Chairperson and Co-Chairperson in consultation with WHO.

• (a)   Open sessions: Open sessions shall be convened for the sole purpose of the exchange of non-confidential information and views, and may be attended by Observers (as defined in paragraph III.3 below).

• (b)  Closed sessions: The sessions dealing with the formulation of recommendations and/or advice to WHO shall be restricted to the members of the SAGE/MPAG WG and essential WHO Secretariat staff.

2. The quorum for SAGE/MPAG WG meetings shall be two thirds of the members.
3. WHO may, at its sole discretion, invite external individuals from time to time to attend the open sessions of an advisory group, or parts thereof, as “observers”[1]. Observers may be invited either in their personal capacity, or as representatives from a governmental institution / intergovernmental organization, or from a non-State actor. WHO will request observers invited in their personal capacity to complete a confidentiality undertaking and a declaration of interests form prior to attending a session of the advisory group. Invitations to observers attending as representatives from non-State actors will be subject to WHO internal due diligence and risk assessment including conflict of interest considerations in accordance with the Framework for engagement with non-State actors (FENSA). Observers invited as representatives may also be requested to complete a confidentiality undertaking. Observers shall normally attend meetings of the SAGE/MPAG WG at their own expense and be responsible for making all arrangements in that regard.

At the invitation of the Chairperson and Co-Chairperson, observers may be asked to present their personal views and/or the policies of their organization. Observers will not participate in the process of deliberation and drafting of recommendations of the SAGE/MPAG  WG.

4. The SAGE/MPAG WG may decide to establish smaller working groups (sub-groups of SAGE/MPAG WG) to work on specific issues. Their deliberations shall take place via teleconference or video-conference. For these sub-groups, no quorum requirement will apply; the outcome of their deliberations will be submitted to the SAGE/MPAG  WG for review at one of its meetings.
5. SAGE/MPAG WG members are expected to attend meetings. If a member misses two consecutive meetings, WHO may end his/her appointment as a member of the SAGE/MPAG  WG.
6. All conclusions and recommendations from the SAGE/MPAG WG are submitted to WHO for consideration and are advisory to WHO, who retains full control over any subsequent decisions or actions regarding any proposals, policy issues or other matters considered and recommended by the SAGE/MPAG  WG. WHO uses the analysis and recommendations to inform policy development by SAGE and MPAG.
7. SAGE/MPAG WG shall normally make recommendations by consensus. If, in exceptional circumstances, a consensus on a particular issue cannot be reached, minority opinions will be reflected in the meeting report.
8. Active participation is expected from all SAGE/MPAG WG members, including in subgroups, teleconferences, and interaction over email. Members may, in advance of SAGE/MPAG WG meetings, be requested to review meeting documentation and to provide their views for consideration by the SAGE/MPAG  WG.
9. WHO shall determine the modes of communication by SAGE/MPAG WG, including between WHO and SAGE/MPAG WG members, and the SAGE/MPAG WG members among themselves.
10. SAGE/MPAG WG members shall not speak on behalf of, or represent, the SAGE/MPAG  WG or WHO to any third party.

1. Information and documentation to which members may gain access in performing SAGE/MPAG WG-related activities shall be considered as confidential and proprietary to WHO and/or parties collaborating with WHO. In addition, by counter signing the letter of appointment and the accompanying terms and conditions referred to in section II(5) above, SAGE/MPAG  WG members undertake to abide by the confidentiality obligations contained therein and also confirm that any and all rights in the work performed by them in connection with, or as a result of their SAGE/MPAG WG-related activities shall be exclusively vested in WHO.
2. SAGE/MPAG WG members and Observers shall not quote from, circulate or use SAGE/MPAG WG documents for any purpose other than in a manner consistent with their responsibilities under these Terms of Reference.
3. WHO retains full control over the publication of the reports of SAGE/MPAG WG, including deciding whether or not to publish them.