Infodemic Management Consultant, Nigeria

Background

WHO defines an infodemic as the overabundance of information both online and offline, that spreads false and misleading information, rumors and facts rapidly, making it difficult to glean essential information that can save lives. Global interconnectivity and digitization allow these types of information to travel farther and faster than ever before. This can cause confusion, mistrust in health authorities and harm to health. Infodemic management uses tools and techniques to reduce and mitigate harm from health misinformation and facilitate the dissemination of accurate health information.

Early in the COVID-19 response, WHO Nigeria identified the threat of infodemic in the country and the limited capacity in dynamic listening and rumor management. This led the WHO and AIRA to support with the recruitment, mentoring and deployment of an infodemic manager to support the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Federal and State Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). In doing so, it allowed WHO Nigeria to leverage the tools and guidance available to tackle the infodemic. The first steps included conducting a stakeholder mapping, developing an information ecosystem, including mapping of key tools used, and the means of information collection online and offline in line with data protection policies. It also included the establishment of the Nigeria Infodemic Management Team (NIMT) with WHO Nigeria’s technical support and that of AIRA, with the team consisting of between 30-40 representatives from MDAs, development partners and non-state actors.

Even though Covid19 is no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHIEC), infodemics continue to negatively affect health interventions. In addition, Nigeria is facing innumerous graded emergencies from humanitarian crisis in the Northeast, and outbreaks of cholera, dengue fever, lassa fever, Mpox including those of vaccine preventable diseases such as diphtheria, measles, polio, meningitis etc Therefore, there are work to be done on vaccine hesitancy and misinformation to increase routine immunization coverage and reduce the percentage of zero dose children.

Objectives of the role

Based on the identified trends, the deployment of a infodemic management consultant is required to support the World Health Organization in Nigeria and its partners to strengthen the infodemic management mechanisms, enhance coordination between infodemic and RCCE partners, strengthen capacity and provide high-quality and timely technical support.

Key responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the EPR team lead, and with close collaboration with the AIRA Country Support Lead, the infodemic management consultant shall undertake the following tasks:

· Lead an information ecosystem analysis, with contributions from partners

· Map out the existing coordination mechanisms, and mobilize partners to adapt them to current infodemic needs

· Help draft strategic documents, SOPs, tools to support an efficient workflow between IM stakeholders

● Establish a community-based, mass and social media surveillance on discussions around perceptions, vaccines and issues around health emergency and non-emergency topics.

● Monitor and analyze the discourse on key health topics, including vaccinations in the country from online and offline sources.

● Prepare routine infodemic analysis reports, with key recommendations.

● Contribute to research activities linked to infodemic and RCCE

● Build a dissemination network including linkage with media influencers (Guild of Professional Bloggers of Nigeria (GPBN), Borno Social Media Forum, Nigerian Union of Journalists, institutional WhatsApp groups, Instagram groups, Facebook etc) to amplify content developed to counter the infodemic

● Ensure infodemic management activities and lessons learned are well documented

● Contribute to reporting duties for the WHO Nigeria Country office and AFRO WHO regional office.

● Attend any other requests from the supervisor related to risk communication and community engagement

R****eporting lines:

● The Infodemic Management Consultant will report to the EPR Cluster Lead in WHO Nigeria Country Office while closely liaising with the Africa Infodemic Response Alliance team as well the Nigeria Federal Ministry of Health, NCDC and NPHCDA.

Education qualifications:

● Advanced university degree in communication, public health, health sciences or a related field an accredited/recognized institute.

Essential qualifications:

● At least five years of experience in public health communication, risk communication, social behavior change or any related field.

● Experience in an emergency response including risk communication, community engagement and infodemics is a strong plus.

● Demonstrated experience in multistakeholder coordination

● Demonstrated experience in designing and delivering training sessions, especially in infodemic management

● Excellent English writing and editing skills, knowledge of another Nigerian national language is a plus

Commitment to WHO’s values and objectives including:

● Ability to work flexibly within short deadlines in a changing environment with competing priorities

● Ability to communicate with respect, tact and diplomacy

● Share a results-oriented work ethic

● Fostering integration and teamwork

● Thorough knowledge of the principles, techniques and practices of online dissemination of information, via social media mechanisms and the web and.

● Thorough understanding of the impact of communications on the reputation, image, and success of an organization, as well as the role the web and social media has in this regard.

● Fluency in using Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Desirable qualifications:

● Work experience with WHO or a Governmental agency in Nigeria is a plus

Type of contract/duration:

● 12 months