Consultant - Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE)

Contract

This is a No grade contract. More about No grade contracts.

1. Purpose of the Consultancy

To strengthen the Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) efforts in the EMR Region providing expertise in ensuring a coordinated, cohesive and strategic response to the public health emergency preparedness and response measures.

2. Background

The mission of WHO’s Health Emergencies (WHE) Programme is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations.

In the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO), the WHE’s Country Health Emergency Preparedness and International Health Regulations (CPI) is responsible for effective risk communication preparedness and response, and for increasing political, financial and public attention on and engagement in all-hazard emergency work in the EM Region. Through coordinated and collaborative approach, the Programme works to ensure that the WHO Regional Office builds ERC capacity across the Region; is the leading source of information on outbreaks and health emergencies; and develops and implements advocacy strategies and plans with links to resource mobilization.

3. Planned timelines (6 months)

Start date: 1 July 2023

End date: 14 December 2023

Part time (total of 30 working days during the 6 months)

4. Work to be performed

Under the guidance and supervision of the CPI Manager, and in coordination with WHE CPI Risk Communication team, the consultant will coordinate and provide RCCE support and activities in the EMR region.

Output 1: Build the capacity of the government counterparts and partners and provide technical guidance on the implementation of the RCCE activities for public health emergencies

Deliverable 1.1: Coordinate the production and promotion of a series of online training packages developed by the CPI workstreams to be offered on the Open WHO online platform.

Deliverable 1.2: Conduct RCCE training/TOT/orientation activities for community health workers and social mobilizers and other key actors/ influencers and stakeholders.

Deliverable 1.3: Identify and decide on collaborative opportunities for joint RCCE capacity-building development and implementation with key players in the emergency preparedness and response.

Output 2: Strengthen core capacities for health emergency preparedness, disaster risk management and the International Health Regulations (2005) in the EMR countries.

Deliverable 2.1: Coordinate and represent CPI in the global and regional RCCE inter-agency working group, ensuring active and timely exchange of information, experience, and good practices.

Deliverable 2.2: Lead the RCCE preparedness and readiness pillar during Join External Evaluation (JEE) and National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) and After Action Review and RCCE - specific country missions when needed.

5. Technical Supervision

The selected consultant will work under the supervision of:

Responsible Officer:

Dr Dalia Samhouri, Manager, CPI

Email:

[email protected]

Specific requirements

- Qualifications required:

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree) in social sciences, behavioural sciences, development sciences, communications or public health from an accredited/recognized institute.

- Experience required:

· At least 10 years of relevant experience at the national and international level at least in three of the following areas: (a) public communication; (b) emergency risk communication; (c) social science; (d) community engagement; (e) advocacy and health diplomacy; (f) public health; (g) planning; (h) monitoring and evaluation.

· A track record in achieving results and analytical thinking.

· Proven ability to strategize and present ideas and concepts evidently and consistently

· Proven ability to write technical documents in a clear and concise manner

· Work experience with WHO and/or another international public health organization.

- Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

· Thorough knowledge of health communication, community mobilization and engagement, effective use of social science-based interventions and development of targeted communication tools and channels to inform the development of RCCE action plan

· Sound understanding of the impact of emergencies and crises on social and behavioural change and experience in applying a range of social and behavioral change approaches based on the existing knowledges, beliefs, attitudes and practices of the affected community

· Sound understanding and experience in designing and implementing participatory assessments and research activities.

· Strong interpersonal, representational and organizational skills, with proven ability to facilitate and strengthen the involvement and collaboration of a broad range of internal and external partners.

· Ability to structure and coordinate meetings to ensure positive and productive outcomes

· Ability to work both independently and in a team setting.

· High sense of responsibility for timely and quality delivering.

· Ability to work under pressure with conflicting priorities.

· Interpersonal, communication, presentation and negotiation skills.

· Organizational competencies

· Computer literacy (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).

- Language requirements:

· Excellent knowledge of English, Arabic and French languages to support all EMR countries’ needs.

7. Place of assignment

Remotely

8. Medical clearance

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

9. Travel

The Consultant is expected to travel. Travel plan to be decided as needed.

All travel arrangements will be made by WHO – WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance.

Visas requirements: it is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfill visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.

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.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• WHO's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice - https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever 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 in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.