To learn more about Santé publique France’s mission: About Us.
Santé publique France has been a signatory to the Charter of Openness to Society since December 2016.

Openness and dialogue with society—aimed, in particular, at aligning the Agency’s actions with societal changes and reducing the risk of overlooking or underestimating the concerns or specific knowledge of citizens and stakeholders regarding public health and the Agency’s missions—is one of the Agency’s founding values. Thus, since its creation in 2016, its governance structure has included the provision that: “a Steering and Dialogue Committee open to civil society must inform the new agency about the expectations of civil society” (see the Agency’s preliminary report, June 2015¹).

The Steering and Dialogue Committee’s missions² are to:

• Contribute to the quality and relevance of the Agency’s actions by providing its perspective on current and future public health issues and the societal questions they raise;

• Propose priorities within the Agency’s areas of activity and guidelines for its annual work program;

• Contribute to improving the Agency’s communication methods, particularly during health crises within the framework of the guidelines defined by the Ministry of Health, as well as the conditions for disseminating public health knowledge to various segments of the population;

• Make proposals as part of the Agency’s contribution to the public debate on public health issues by making available existing scientific knowledge and, where appropriate, clarifying the context of scientific uncertainty within which health decisions must be made.

During the 2016–2020 period, the committee formulated its proposals in various formats: guidance and dialogue notes³ (NOD) made public, presentations to the Board of Directors, position papers addressed to senior management, meetings with the Chair of the Board of Directors and senior management, and discussions with Agency teams during working groups and plenary meetings.
Its analysis of the Agency’s work program and activities, along with its proposals, complement those of the Scientific Council and its opinions.

The Steering and Dialogue Committee consists of at least ten members and no more than twenty members.

Members are appointed for a term of four years by decision of the Chair of the Board of Directors, following approval of the list of members by the Board of Directors, from among individuals selected based on their commitment to public health, their professional background, their knowledge and experience in the Agency’s areas of competence, and their motivation to contribute within a collective framework, and after reviewing their conflicts of interest, as defined by the provisions of Article L. 1451-1.

In the event of a vacancy, for any reason whatsoever, members shall be replaced under the same conditions for the remainder of the term of the person they are replacing.

The role of member of the Steering and Dialogue Committee is incompatible with membership in any other body of the Agency and with any contractual relationship with it.

The renewal of the Committee for Openness and Dialogue is part of a multi-year work plan that addresses the impact of health crises on the overall health of populations, social and regional health inequalities, the consequences of climate change on public health, as well as the opportunities offered by digital technology to achieve the objectives of protecting public health and improving health outcomes, particularly through prevention.

The Agency is therefore seeking individuals from civil society who can contribute to the committee and the agency:

• Their understanding of the public’s health concerns;

• Their knowledge of local areas, their populations, and their environments, as well as public services contributing to public health, prevention, and health promotion;

• Their understanding and knowledge of how the public perceives health risks;

• Their knowledge and experience in implementing participatory approaches;

• Their experience with “science-society” and “science-public policy” relations.

Operating Procedures

The Steering and Dialogue Committee is convened by its chair or at the request of the executive director. It meets in plenary session at least twice a year, either in person or via web conference. The Committee has internal rules of procedure that specify its operating procedures.

The Committee’s chair is elected from among its members.

The secretariat of the Steering and Dialogue Committee assists the chair in preparing agendas, drafts meeting minutes, and compiles the Committee’s annual activity report. It ensures that the Agency’s various departments are properly informed and engaged, and provides the Committee with the information at its disposal to facilitate its work.

Members of the Steering and Dialogue Committee may also be called upon to participate in events organized by Santé publique France, notably the Santé publique France Meetings, as well as in exchanges with the Scientific Council and the Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee.

Workload for members

To ensure optimal performance, the Steering and Dialogue Committee typically meets three to four times a year in plenary session (in person or remotely via web conference).

In addition to participating in plenary sessions, members may be asked to participate in working groups (approximately ten half-days per year) in person or via web conference.

Travel and subsistence expenses are reimbursed in accordance with the terms and conditions applicable to civilian government employees.

Compensation for loss of income in the case of self-employed individuals, as well as compensation for time spent attending meetings and for work performed, will be provided in accordance with the schedule established by the Board of Directors of Santé publique France.

The application package must include:

• A cover letter providing professional and personal contact information, an email address, and a cell phone number;

• A resume

• A public declaration of interests to be completed on the DPI SANTE ministerial portal, accessible via the following link: https://dpi-declaration.sante.gouv.fr/dpi-webapp/app/candidature/index

The application must be submitted by January 15, 2023, to the following address: CandidaturesCOD@santepubliquefrance.fr

Only complete applications will be considered.

As the Agency serves the health needs of everyone, at all stages of life, throughout the country, it seeks to ensure that its governing bodies, through their composition and the experience of their members, are capable of addressing all of these situations.

Candidates will be selected by a jury convened by the Agency, based on the information provided in the cover letter, the candidates’ alignment with the desired competencies, and an analysis of conflicts of interest. The jury will ensure that the essential skills required for the committee to fully carry out its duties are represented within its ranks, and that gender parity and diversity are taken into account during the selection of candidates.

Declarations of interest will be reviewed by Santé publique France’s Internal Ethics Committee.

Candidates will be informed of the outcome of the review of their application via email from the Secretariat of the Steering and Dialogue Committee following approval of the Committee’s composition by the Board of Directors (beginning in April 2023).

Members will be appointed for the remainder of the term (March 2025).