COVID-19 Risk Communications Consultant

Purpose of the consultancy

This consultancy will support the Regional COVID-19 Incident Management Support Team with COVID-19 content development, message testing and social media planning.

Background

Strategic communication – including both risk communication and leadership communication – has been a critical component of the COVID-19 response since Day 1. When a disease is new, and when vaccines and other therapeutics are not widely available, the most important public health intervention is the adaptation of human behaviour. Strategic communication continues to play an important role in the COVID‐19 response, including building confidence while increasing COVID-19 vaccine coverage. It will remain crucial as the pandemic evolves and COVID-19 transitions gradually to endemicity. The coming year is likely to see more of a focus on restoring essential health services and using the opportunities presented by the pandemic to address inequity and support health sector strengthening.

COVID-19 risk communication efforts to date 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 risk 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.

Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

Start date: 10 January 2022

End date: 30 June 2022

Work to be performed

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

Output 1: Develop and evaluate the content and messaging related to COVID-19 to support risk communication at the regional and country levels:

Deliverable 1.1: Lead development of COVID-19-related content and messaging for a variety of communications channels based on findings from multi-source listening system and addressing strategic regional and country needs; shepherd through the clearance process.

Deliverable 1.2.: Ensure the latest regional and global content packages are shared with countries and disseminated across available internal and external digital platforms.

Deliverable 1.3: Provide support to country offices with content development and messaging, when requested.

Deliverable 1.4: On a weekly basis, provide inputs into the social media plans.

Deliverable 1.5: Support monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) activities of the Strategic Communications Pillar by evaluating COVID-19-related content performance across multiple digital platforms; contribute to the bi-monthly MEL presentations, provide recommendations on improvement and document successes.

Output 2: Coordinate and advance message testing capacity at the regional level:

Deliverable 2.1: Act as a focal point on message testing at the Regional Office, liaise with counterparts at HQ, other relevant teams, and partners to maintain and advance capacity for message testing.

Deliverable 2.2: Coordinate the regional message testing activities, share results across various teams and provide recommendations on utilization of the findings, and ensure the findings are reflected in the future content packages.

Deliverable 2.3: Provide support in the development and delivery of message testing capacity building module as a part of building capacity at the regional and country level.

Output 3: Support planning of the Facebook digital campaigns on topics related to COVID-19:

Deliverable 3.1: Participate in planning meetings to ensure that COVID-19 content is included based on strategic priorities of the response and informed by data and evidence gathered through social listening.

Deliverable 3.2: Contribute to the infodemic management by routinely tracking COVID-19-related rumours, mis/disinformation received through the organization’s Facebook and Twitter social media accounts; structure insights and flag when needed according to the regional rumour tracking and response protocols.

Deliverable 3.3: Provide support, if needed, for measurement, evaluation, and learning (MEL) of the Facebook digital campaigns.

Qualifications, experience, skills, language

Education:

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

Experience:

Essential: Minimum of five years’ experience in communications and in public health 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 risk communications and content development

Language

Written and spoken fluency in English is essential.

Other Asian language skills are an asset.

Location of assignment

The consultant is expected to travel to Manila, Philippines, for the duration of the contract.

Medical clearance

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

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.