Consultant - Social listening and measurement, evaluation and learning (MEL), Full-time

1. Purpose of the consultancy

This consultancy will support the Listening and Evidence Sub-Pillar under the Strategic Communications Pillar of the COVID-19 Incident Management Support Team (IMST) with social listening and measurement, evaluation and learning (MEL) activities.

2. Background

Strategic communication – including risk communication and leadership communication – has been a critical component of the COVID-19 response since Day 1. Throughout the pandemic, communication has been crucial in encouraging people to carry out key protective measures such as hand washing, mask wearing, and physical distancing. Through listening and capturing intelligence on public perceptions, knowledge and behaviours, WHO and our Member States have also worked to ensure that our communication is better tailored to meet community needs and that key challenges and issues facing communities are incorporated into response decision-making.

Part of the Strategic Communication Pillar under the COVID-19 IMST, Listening and Evidence Sub-Pillar has the overarching objective of strengthening the use of multi-source social listening, behavioural insights and science, and measurement, evaluation and learning (MEL) to enable evidence-based communications and to inform the broader COVID-19 response at regional and country levels. The sub-pillar aims at maintaining and advancing the multi-source social listening system which is defined as a system that uses multiple sources of information including online listening tools to draw a comprehensive picture of what communities feel, think and behave in the time of the pandemic. This consultancy will contribute to supporting the operation of the pillar, advance and maintain social listening capacity at regional and country levels.

COVID-19 strategic communications efforts have been possible thanks to the foundational capacity built under the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases and Public Health Emergencies (APSED III) – a common strategic framework guiding the joint action of Member States, WHO and partners to strengthen the core capacities required under the International Health Regulations (2005), including risk communication. This consultancy seeks to build upon this foundation, and further strengthen strategic communication capacities in countries so that they are better able to respond to COVID-19 and future emergencies (including future pandemics).

In addition, For the future: towards the healthiest and safest Region sets out the priorities for WHO’s work with Member States and Partners over the next five years. As part of this vision, WHO seeks to increase capacity in Communications for Health (C4H), which it defines as, “communications principles and processes that inform and change attitudes and behaviours for defined public health outcomes at the individual, community and societal levels”. COVID-19 therefore also represents an opportunity to further capacities in C4H.

3. Planned timelines

Start date: 15 January 2022

End date: 30 June 2022

4. Work to be performed

Under the overall supervision of Technical Officer, Risk Communication (WHE) and the direct supervision of COVID-19 IMST Listening and Evidence Sub-Pillar Lead and the management of the Incident Manager, the consultant will be responsible for delivering the following:

Output 1: Collect data using the multi-source social listening system to inform the COVID-19 response efforts:

Deliverable 1.1: Contribute to the regular online social listening at the regional level by collecting data using online tools including Meltwater, CrowdTangle, Google Alert, Google Trends in collaboration with other members of the team.

Deliverable 1.2: Provide data cleaning and visualization support for the existing data sets collected as part of the regional multi-source social listening system, including surveys on perceptions, knowledge, and behaviours around COVID-19 and on vaccine confidence.

Deliverable 1.3: Help to maintain the regional dashboard of the online social listening tool by regularly updating the main features (e.g. search queries, relevant keywords etc.) that are relevant for the Western Pacific region.

Deliverable 1.4: Act as the focal point for sharing existing regional data sets among members of the regional and country teams, as well as WHO partners when requested.

Output 2: Support social listening activities in countries across the Region:

Deliverable 2.1: Liaise with countries to support updating the country dashboards of the regional online listening tool.

Deliverable 2.2: Help countries to receive customized training to learn how to use the online social listening tool to regularly monitor trends and generate country-focused social listening reports.

Deliverable 2.3: Support the regional team in organizing capacity building activities for social listening, as well as help document the process and results during and after the events.

Deliverable 2.4: Help to address ad-hoc requests from countries to support listening and reporting activities.

Output 3: Support measurement, evaluation, and learning (MEL) of the Strategic Communications Pillar's response to COVID-19:

Deliverable 2.1: Liaise with colleagues from across the Strategic Communications Pillar to gather inputs to the Regional Strategic Communications MEL framework, the COVID-19 Regional Action Plan (RAP) and internal COVID-19 IMST MEL framework.

Deliverable 2.2: Analyze gathered data and contribute to the reporting of key findings at the regional level;

Deliverable 2.3: Support the organization of the bi-monthly lessons learned sessions for COVID-19 communications based on the evidence and data collected by utilizing the MEL indicators.

Deliverable 2.4: Provide additional support when requested to support MEL capacity for COVID-19 Communications in countries.

Output 4: Perform other tasks as required.

5. Qualifications, experience, skills, language

Education:

Essential: University degree in Health Sciences, Public Health, Social Science, Communications, Journalism, Data Sciences or a related field

Desirable: n/a

Experience:

Essential: Minimum of 2 years of experience in communications and/or data collection, analysis and presentation is required.

Desirable: Experience working on outbreaks and emergencies is preferred.

Experience working in the Asia Pacific is preferred.

Experience working within WHO or other UN agency is preferred

Skills and knowledge

Knowledge and skills in data collection, research and analysis

Language

Written and spoken fluency in English is essential.

Other Asian language skills are an asset.

6. Competencies

• Teamwork
• Producing results
• Ensuring effective use of resources
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences.

7. Place of assignment

WHO/WPRO, Manila, Philippines

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 to Manila, Philippines, for the duration of the contract.

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 fulfil 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 prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter 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 final candidates.
• 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.