International Consultant – Communications

Purpose of Consultancy

The consultant will lead the Communication and Advocacy efforts of the WHO Country Office and provide strategic communication support to MOH and WCO for overall health related interventions, and public health emergencies such as COVID-19, monkeypox among other existing and emerging diseases.

Scope of work:

Under the overall oversight of the WHO Representative, the incumbent will handle all communication and media relations related to the WCO’s work, response and continuity of essential health services including overseeing any associated events or publications as well as WCO related activities:

• Strategic support to develop the communication plan for WCO activities, overseeing the development and delivery of IEC materials including print and electronic.
• Provide oversight and supervision to WCO communication team as well as for the development of appropriate communication products health related topics including public health emergencies such as COVID-19, monkeypox etc and WCO routine activities including Videos and Social Media messaging etc.
• Coordinate and work with Health Promotion and other relevant units of MOH and partner agencies in undertaking the communication campaign activities, social mobilization, and advocacy efforts for enhancing the vaccine acceptance.
• Overseeing the development of media products and WCO routine activities (e.g., press releases, fact sheets, statements, news features, op-eds), obtain approval and ensure accuracy before issuing them to the press while maintaining contact with journalists.
• Develop messages for multiple media platforms as required while working closely with relevant experts and WHO officials in obtaining clearance and issuance of the same to the media.
• Responding to media enquiries, analysing intent, advising on the outlet and optimal approach, obtaining answers/devising responses based on talking points, seeking approval and clearance, and finally issuing the responses to the media per advice from WR.
• Triaging media requests, briefing and coaching interviewees per the need prior to their interactions with the media and undertaking any necessary follow-up work.
• Maintain media relations and devise strategies for proactively engaging the media houses for timely sharing the communication concerning vaccination campaign, pandemic response and other routine health services as appropriate.
• Monitoring WHOs reputation in the media, tracking coverage, providing an early warning for any negative stories.
• Overseeing the development and adaptation of new communication materials related to WCO routine activities and share appropriately the relevant ones with MoH and stakeholders for wider dissemination.
• Supporting the situation reports on any public health emergencies and further sharing the same with relevant officials and teams in the regional office and headquarter as required.
• Liaise with the UN agencies and facilitate UN Communication Group proceedings and facilitate assistance for WCO routine activities.
• Support technical units/programmes at WCO in development of the human-interest stories for donor report including provision of editing the technical report and documents for high level national and international meetings (such as World Health Assembly, Regional Committee, and related events), communications for WR’s office (public relations and social media coverage, op-eds, media interview and WR’s speeches).
• Any other duty as assigned by WR.

Deliverables

Output 1:

Provide oversight and supervision to WCO communication team as well as for the development of appropriate communication products for WCO routine activities including Videos and Social Media messaging, developing content for the website, and writing impact stories.

Activity

1.Ideate and design social media campaigns for country office with appropriate messaging.

2.Ideate and write stories to highlight WCO work.

3.Conducting monthly team meetings to handhold and support the team members.

Output 2:

Improve the visibility of WCO website with latest highlights, updated documents (that can be in public domain) and improve the traffic on the web page. Simultaneously, also innovate for better visibility on other social media outlets

Activity

1.Ensure that the website is updated only weekly basis.

2.Activity 2-Redesign the webpage with the help of SEARO team to make it more robust and updated.

Output 3:

Coordinate and work with Health Promotion and other relevant units of MOH and partner agencies in undertaking the communication activities, social mobilization, and advocacy efforts. Additionally, strengthen the media relations for the WCO and plan and implement media sensitization programmes

Activity

1.Conceptualise and guide the designs for IEC and advocacy material delivered to the MoH through programme units.

2.Activity 2-Build a network of journalists to improve visibility of WCO work.

Output 4:

Continuous support to technical units/programmes at WCO in development of the human-interest stories for donor report including provision of editing the technical report and documents for high level national and international meetings (such as World Health Assembly, Regional Committee, and related events), communications for WR’s office (public relations and social media coverage, op-eds, media interview and WR’s speeches)

Activity

1.Write, edit, and coordinate with internal teams for country impact stories.

2.Activity2-Draft WR’s speeches based on talking points received by technical units.

3.Activity 3-Ensure regular press releases from WCO to highlight WCO work.

Output 5:

Continuous supportive supervision of the WCO Communications team and Any other work suggested by WR

Activity

1.Work in close coordination with the SEAR PIA team for larger regional campaigns and events.

2.Activity2-Work and coordinate with other UN agencies and UNCG in the country.

For the successful completion of all the aforesaid activities, the period of assignment has been kept as 11 months.

Qualification, experience, skills, and languages

Educational Qualifications

Essential: A university degree in communications, social/health science, public health, or related field.

Desirable: Advanced degree in communications, social/health science, public health, or related field.

Experience

Essential: At least 5 years of professional work experience in health communications/ health journalism.

Desirable: Experience of working with public sector/government/international health organizations is an asset, such as the experience of working with UN or other international development organizations.

Skills / knowledge

Essential:

• Considerable experience of using social media platforms for mass communication.
• Demonstrated experience of developing technical reports related to the field of public health.
• Ability to support a young team of communication assistants at junior level.

Language required

Essential: Expert knowledge of written and spoken English.

Desirable: Knowledge of Tetum and/or Portuguese.

Location

• The consultant will be based in WHO country office, Dili-Timor-Leste, with travel to municipalities as and when needed.

Travel

If travel is involved, full medical clearance is required. The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

Local travel within the country, where needed, will be arranged by WCO Timor-Leste.

The Consultant is expected to travel, including for taking up assignment, according to the itinerary prepared at the time of issuing the contract.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded)

• Remuneration: Band level A - USD 3,955-6,980 per month, depending on the consultant’s experience and educational qualification.
• Living expenses: Per diem will be paid as per WHO rules applicable to international consultant for travel.
• Expected duration of contract: 11 months. Additional contracts (total maximum of 22 months) can be offered based on funding availability and satisfactory performance.

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) in English 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.