Consultant - Risk Communication

Purpose of the Consultancy

The consultant is being recruited to provide strategic communications support to the WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) in the Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO). This includes harnessing risk communication and the use of social and behavioural insights as part of supporting the implementation of the Communication for Health (C4H) approach in the context of emergencies.

Background

As outlined in the Strategic Communications Framework for WHO in the Western Pacific Region, the Asia Pacific Health Security Action Framework (APHSAF), and the WHO Emergency Response Framework, strategic communication—including risk communication—is an essential public health intervention for health emergency response. Strategic communication is one of the key operational shifts to support the For the Future vision to make the Western Pacific the safest and healthiest region. The Communication for Health (C4H) approach harnesses insights from social, behavioural and communication sciences to improve health outcomes as part of WPRO’s For the Future vision. WHO continues to play a leading role in supporting countries to respond to health emergencies, including COVID-19. This involves both promoting and building capacity in the use of social and behavioural insights in the context of health emergencies. Furthermore, this supports operationalizing the C4H approach and better integrates behavioural sciences, in line with the Behavioural Science for Better Health Impact Resolution adopted at the 76th World Health Assembly. In view of this, WHO country offices and Member States continue to seek the Regional Office for support with strategic communication and applying social and behavioural insights. This 11-month consultancy will support the risk communication activities, based in Manila, Philippines and/or remote, with travel to support the Member States of the Western Pacific Region.

Planned Timelines

Start date: 1 January 2024 End date: 30 November 2024

Deliverables

Under the supervision of the Technical Officer for Risk Communications in the WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WPR/WHE) and the Regional Emergency Director (RED), and in collaboration with the communications unit (COM) in the Office of the Regional Director for the Western Pacific (WPR/RDO), the consultant will be responsible for delivering the following:

Output 1: Support the application of behavioural science for the sustained management of COVID-19 Expected by: 30 November 2024

Deliverable 1.1: Contribute to operationalizing the COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP) 2023-2025 for communications to successfully transition from emergency response to longer term sustained COVID-19 disease management. Deliverable 1.2: Provide technical expertise for the delivery of the “Workshop for Using Social and Behavioural Insights to Support Risk Communications in the Context of Emergencies in the Western Pacific Region”, 30-31 January 2024 in Manila, the Philippines. Deliverable 1.3: Develop publications related to the external surveys implemented during COVID-19, which included collection, analysis and dissemination of data and evidence to inform COVID-19 communication interventions. Deliverable 1.4: Contribute to the development of the report for the measurement, evaluation and learning (MEL) of the WHO commissioned COVID-19 research survey.

Output 2: Support risk communication activities for emergency preparedness and response. Expected by 30 November 2024

Deliverable 2.1: Contribute to operationalizing the Asia Pacific Health Security Action Framework to support prevention, preparedness, readiness and response towards multi-hazard public health emergencies through risk communication and applying social and behavioural sciences. Deliverable 2.2: Provide technical expertise for the implementation of activities following on from COVID-19 work to apply learnings to strategic priorities of the Region, including preparations for APHSAF TAG June 2024. Deliverable 2.3: Design and implement capacity building activities to use social and behavioural insights in the context of emergencies. Deliverable 2.4: Contribute to risk communication activities in case of outbreak response, as needed. Deliverable 2.5: Provide country support for the implementation of risk communication activities as part of After Action Reviews, Joint External Evaluations and the development of National Action Plans for Health Security (NAPHS).

Other Deliverables:

Progress report (monthly); and Technical report at the end of consultancy

Qualifications, Expertise, Skills and Languages

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Essential: University degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, International Relations, Political Science, Public Health (Health Promotion), Life Sciences or a related field. Desirable: University degree in Public Health

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Essential: Minimum of five years of experience in strategic communications. The consultant should have experience of working within the UN system, with partner organizations or government agencies. Desirable: Direct experience with WHO and the Western Pacific Region is preferred. Experience of working on outbreaks and public health emergencies is preferred. Experience in International Health Regulations (2005) Monitoring and Evaluation mechanisms such as Joint External Evaluations/After Action Reviews

SKILLS / TECHNICAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential: Expert knowledge in strategic communication principles and practice Skills in data collection and analysis and formulating actionable insights Ability to identify, assess, analyse, synthesise and provide recommendations Producing results Desirable: Ability to work in a team, adapt to diverse cultural environments Maintains a high standard of personal conduct Language and level required: Essential: Expert knowledge of English Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of other Asian language skills

Location

The consultancy may be Manila-based or may be carried out remotely during WPRO working hours (Manila time)

Travel

The consultant will be expected to travel.

Remuneration and Budget (Travel costs are excluded)

a. Remuneration: Band level B (Daily wage rate USD 350 – 499) b. Living expenses: A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited based on the daily subsistence allowance of Manila. c. Expected duration of contract: 11 months

Additional Information

This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level. • Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted. • A written test may be used as a form of screening. • If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review. • For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int. • The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits workforce regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics. • The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply for WHO jobs. • Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int • An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) into practice. • WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of short-listed candidates. • WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco. • Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. • WHO shall have no responsibility for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO. • Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at [email protected]. • In case the recruitment website does not display properly, please retry by: (1) checking that you have the latest version of the browser installed (Chrome, Edge or Firefox); (ii) clearing your browser history and opening the site in a new browser (not a new tab within the same browser); or (iii) retry accessing the website using Mozilla Firefox browser or using another device. Click this ling for detailed guidance on completing job applications: Instructions for candidates