Posted on Fri, 05 Dec 2025, 13:22

Deadline on Thu, 15 Jan 2026, 23:59

Rhizoctonia theobromae (Cantharellales: Ceratobasidiaceae) has been identified by the Pest Outbreak and Alert Response Systems (POARS) as an emerging pest of global concern. See IPPC Pest Alert here.

The IPPC Secretariat invites nominations of qualified experts to participate in the Expert Working Group (EWG) on Rhizoctonia theobromae, established under the POARS initiative. As outlined in the Terms of Reference (ToRs), this EWG will bring together technical specialists from different regions and institutions to contribute to a coordinated, science-based response to this global emerging concern.

In the spirit of international collaboration, the Secretariat welcomes nominations from institutions wishing to contribute their expertise to this collective effort. NPPOs, RPPOs, research centres, and international organizations are invited to nominate experts with relevant technical experience in plant health risk management, surveillance, diagnostics, or research related to Rhizoctonia theobromae, cassava, cacao, or similar host–pathogen systems as well as transversal knowledge in capacity development, xxxx. Nominating entities should ensure that the expert can commit the necessary time to the EWG.

Expert profile

As described in the ToRs, the following criteria should be used for selecting EWG members: 

• Experience in risk management, including the provision of biosecurity advice and involvement in policy development. 
• Knowledge of the specific emerging pest(s) and/or commodity.   
• Familiarity with international and regional plant protection organisations and other government and private institutions engaged with plant protection affairs.  
• Experience in the provision of technical assistance. 
• Understanding of international phytosanitary standards and implementation resources. 

Gender balance, geographical representation, and diversity of institutional backgrounds will be taken into account.

Involvement from the experts

Participation in the EWG is ad honorem, and the nominating institution is expected to ensure that the expert has adequate time and support to contribute to the group’s work over its two-year duration. Experts are expected to participate in monthly or bi-monthly virtual meetings (approximately 1.5–2 hours each), eventually attend an in-person meeting, and contribute intermittently to drafting or reviewing technical materials. The overall commitment is estimated at 2–4 days per month, depending on the stage of the work.

Instructions for submitting nominations

The following documents must accompany each nomination sent by email to the IPPC Secretariat:

1. Nominee details and summary of expertise form - All sections should be completed, including contact details, education and professional training. The file should be named as follows: COUNTRY_SURNAME_Firstname_nominee_form.

2. Completed and signed Statement of Commitment form - this should be read carefully by each nominee and then discussed with their employer. The form should be signed by the nominee and a senior person from the organization that employs the nominee and submitted with the nomination (as a scanned image file such as PDF). NPPO and RPPO nominations are accepted only when submitted by the OCP and copied to the Head of the respective organization. The file should be named as follows: COUNTRY_SURNAME_Firstname_commitment.

3. The nominee’s Curriculum Vitae (CV) - an electronic copy of the nominee’s CV (as a word processing file such as MS Word) with the file named as follows: COUNTRY_SURNAME_Firstname_CV.

All nominations should be sent to the IPPC Secretariat ([email protected]) with a copy to [email protected] by 15 January 2026. Submissions must be sent by an IPPC Official Contact Point or an RPPO contact point.