Infodemic Management Officer

Contract

This is a P-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 134,294 USD and 175,847 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of the Division of Health Emergencies (WHE) is to build the capacity of Member States to assess, prevent and manage health emergency risks, and lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations.

The WHE Division brings together and enhances WHO's operational, technical and normative capacities in outbreaks, emergencies and risk analysis to address all health hazards across the risk management cycle in a predictable, capable, dependable, adaptable and accountable manner. The Division is designed to operate within the broader humanitarian and emergency management architecture in support of people at risk of, or affected by, outbreaks and emergencies, consistent with ways that strengthen local and national capabilities.

The Risk Communication and Community Engagement Unit (RCE) is responsible for ensuring that people and stakeholders are enabled and empowered to take informed decisions that protect them from health emergencies. To do so RCE communicates risks and preventive measures, engages communities and community actors, manages rumours and misinformation, builds country capacities and supports country responses, and positions RCCE as an evidence-shy; based technical area of work, and WHO Europe as an authoritative partner in it.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

As part of WHE/RCE, the incumbent will manage rumours, misinformation and disinformation (infodemic) in emergencies and build structures, systems and skills for infodemic management in the European Region. S/he will monitor platforms, work with partners and fact-checkers, develop guidance and build skills to manage the spread of dangerous rumours and misinformation, as well as information overload and voids.

Key duties:

The incumbent will coordinate WHO/Europe's Infodemic Management area of work within RCE by planning, implementing and evaluating project activities for emergency preparedness, readiness and response:

1. Lead IM area of work coordinating the work of IM assets located throughout disparateunits within WHO, at its three levels.
2. Support the establishment of a robust scientific foundation and overview of evidence regarding the impact and nature of infodemics and IM in WHO's European Region,by:

• Positioning IM within RCCE and other relevant areas of WHO/Europe's work.
• Supporting rapid desk reviews of scientific and grey literature and evidence related toIM, especially as impacting people in WHO's European Region.

• Positioning WHO/Europe as an authoritative partner in IM.

  3. Support Member States' to implement IM guidance by:

• Developing an IM operational toolkit

• Building country capacity by supporting the design and rollout of IM training for keystakeholders (e.g. national health authorities, academia, civil societyorganizations, journalists and fact-checkers), including technical guidance andtraining on data gathering and analysis, quality assurance, performance monitoring, information dissemination and management.

• Support the establishment of the structures, systems and skills for the development and improvement of field IM management procedures at the local and regional levels to ensure that information management in the field provides the best possible functionality and usability to stakeholders.

  4. Coordinate, steer and align activities with internal and external regional stakeholders in the context of the European Infodemic Preparedness and Response Alliance(EIPRA) by:

• Mapping and engaging internal and external actors from different disciplinary backgrounds (e.g. RCCE, media and health literacy, medical anthropology, digital health, behavioural economics, vaccine preventable infections) and among different regional partners (e.g. UNICEF, UNESCO, IFRC, the RCCE Common Service, EU agencies, CSOs and others).

• Advocating with and working with COs and Member States to position and reflect EIPRA at country level for national and sub-national IM alliances;
• Ensuring EIPRA aligns and connects with existing RCCE operations (e.g. listening, message/material development, testing, deployment and evaluation) at three levels of the Organization.

• Integrating EIPRA discussions in relevant for a and working groups (e.g. Regional RCCE Working Group; Youth Coalition).

  5. Manage the timely and high-quality collection, analyses, production and dissemination of data/information.
  6. Monitor and assess infodemic signals and subsequent health risks, and advise on RCCE responses during emergencies, ensuring communication and information sharing internally and externally.
  7. Perform any other related duties, as required by the functional supervisor.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree in information sciences, digital health, research and analysis, social sciences or related field. Desirable: Advanced University degree in information sciences, digital health, research and analysis, social sciences or related field. Training in RCCE, public health.

Experience

Essential: Minimum5 years' experience in the fields of digital health, research and analysis,social sciences or other related fields.Experience with project management, scaling and rolling out research findings. Desirable: Experience in RCCE or Behavioural Change Communication and public healthExperience in developing technical guidance and tools and building capacity from theRegional or global to the national and sub-national level. Experience researching and tracking rumours, misinformation, disinformation

Skills

Required:

• Fluency in multiple digital data collection and analysis tools and platforms;
• Abilityto distil scientific and technical information in simple language and recommendations;
• Skills regarding development of systems for rapid, agile data collection and analysis;
• Eye for detail, meticulous organization and structuring of information and processes;
• Abilityto see and establish connections and patterns;Strong writing skills.

Desirable:

• RCCE experience and expertise;
• Familiarity with public health;
• Strong advocacy skills.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Producing results
• Moving forward in a changing environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of Russian.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 64,121 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 3815 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test may be used as a form of screening.

• In the event that your candidature is retained for an 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.

• According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.

• The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion)are strongly encouraged to apply for WHO jobs.

• Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int

• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. 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.

• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

• WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.

• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• *For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.

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