Individual national consultant for Risk Communication on Immunization and COVID-19, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Republika Srpska, full time consultancy for 11.5 months (for BIH

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, Immunization

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, from 3 January 2020 to, 9 June 2021, there have been 204,455 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 9,422 deaths, reported to WHO from which there have been 64,246 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 3,748 deaths in Republika Srpska. After the confirmation of the first case of COVID-19 in Republika Srpska (5 March 2020), the Government of Republika Srpska passed the Decision on Declaring Emergency Situation on the Territory of Republika Srpska ("Official Gazette of Republika Srpska", number: 25/20) on 16 March 2020, and it is still in force. As of 5 July 2021, Public Health Institute of Republika Srpska distributed to the health institutions total of 157,470 first vaccines doses, and 94,870 second doses of COVID 19 vaccines.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a stark reminder that infectious diseases know no borders. All countries are vulnerable, regardless of income levels or the strength of their health care systems.

The urgent need for a COVID-19 vaccine deployment underscores the crucial role immunization plays in protecting lives and economies. As health care capacities are stretched in responding to this pandemic, routine immunization programmes are more critical than ever before. Governments must use every opportunity to protect people from the many diseases for which vaccines are already available.

In 2018, approximately 527,000 children missed their first-dose of measles-containing vaccine in the WHO European Region. One year later in 2019, the measles virus exposed immunity gaps in Europe, infecting over 100,000 people, across all age-groups. Protecting children, adolescents and adults from vaccine-preventable diseases through vaccination is a must for the sustainability of health care systems.

Considering the current burden on the health care systems and interruption of essential health care services which are still being re-established, the latest data show that immunization coverage has gone down from the levels in the previous years. There is an immediate need to increase communication in the area of immunization and COVID-19 preventive measures and vaccination and to ensure that relevant information on immunization is reaching the communities.

UNICEF’s COVID-19 response plan focuses on the immediate measures that must be undertaken in priority to ensure preparedness and/or response actions to address the COVID-2019 outbreak in Bosnia and Herzegovina. UNICEF’s response strategy builds on and expands the significant investments which have been made over the past years in supporting national health systems, previous outbreaks or health response, and draw on strong risk communication networks, especially for the most vulnerable communities or those in humanitarian settings. UNICEF is focusing its response on limiting human to human transmission and protecting individuals from exposure through risk communication and community engagement and through preventing and addressing the secondary impact of the outbreak, including the re-establishment of essential health services such as immunization.

Risk Communication on Immunization and COVID-19 Consultant will work closely with UNICEF Communications, C4D and Health team, under the leadership of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Republika Srpska on coordination of communication and messaging in the area of immunization, including media relations and organization of common communication plans, as well as to help social mobilization and advocacy activities that aim to perform series of tasks related to immunization and COVID-19-related risk communication.

How can you make a difference?

Major tasks to be accomplished

• Co-ordination of communication activities and content on immunization and COVID-19, sharing among different sectors where relevant

• Organizing and facilitating necessary press statements, media events, articles and other media engagements

• Quality check and coordination of messages and content shared with media and public

• Where relevant and needed, supporting Public Health Institute of Republika Srpska communication needs, in relation to immunization and COVID-19

• Contribute to and support the design, development, pre-testing, production, printing, and dissemination of culturally relevant COVID-19 and Immunization RCCE materials meeting on-ground requirements and quality standards.

• Supporting Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Republika Srpska with online/social media promotion and activities, including updating the its website with relevant immunization information

• Support the Immunization App ‘Moj kalendar imunizacije’ and transfer of the application to the Public Health Institute of Republika Srpska ownership

Key deliverables include:

• Preparation, production and coordination of communication materials (press releases, announcements, press statements, health promotion and prevention messages etc.).

• Preparation of effective materials for the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Republika Srpska social media and webpages

• Coordination with media and journalists in order to manage improved communication between the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Republika Srpska and media

• Proposal of thematic campaigns, videos and animations to raise awareness among the population of the importance of immunization in light of COVID-19 and increasing the vaccine demand

• Promotion in the media and the public of the role, importance and experience of combating COVID-19 categories such as health care workers, infected healthcare professionals, Civil Protection, the Red Cross, border inspectors, psychologists, medical students as volunteers, social workers, journalists, persons with disability and others

• Assist UNICEF in collaboration and coordination with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Republika Srpska

• Utilization of Immunization App ‘Moj kalendar imunizacije’ and transfer of the application to Public Health Institute of Republika Srpska ownership

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have:

• A university degree in journalism or social sciences;
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience relating to public information, persuasive communication and social media administration and production of multimedia materials;
• Excellent knowledge of the media situation in Republika Srpska and region;
• Previous experience in public health related reporting and communication, preferable experience in the area of immunization is an asset;
• Previous experience and collaboration with marketing agencies/printing companies with capacities for development of graphics, video and visual content;
• Professional networks and contacts with media outlets and journalists;
• Professional networks and contacts with key public health professionals;
• Proficiency in media content management;
• Excellent written and spoken BCS language skills;
• Minimum intermediate written and spoken English language skills

For every Child, you demonstrate:

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies:

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Please submit your application along with lump sum financial offer for this consultancy stated in BAM or USD.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

For further details please contact Human Resources at UNICEF Office in Sarajevo, Ms. Marina Kadic mkadic@unicef.org

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.