International Consultant - Risk Communication & Infodemic Management (RC&IM)

Purpose of consultancy

To strengthen the human resource capacity available at the Country Preparedness for Emergencies and IHR (CPI) unit of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) at WHO SEAR Office (SEARO) for extending the needed critical technical assistance to member states of the region for Risk Communication and Infodemic Management in the context of multi-hazard public health emergency risk management by:

• • Coordinating with, reviewing and providing feedback to the assigned vendor for the regular periodic Infodemic intelligence reports, ensuring timely dissemination of the reports to country offices and other regional and global stakeholders as the overall technical liaison for Infodemic management in the region
  • Supporting the WHO regional and country offices and member states to implement the RC&IM components of the recommendation of the regional/bi-regional/global strategies – SEA Regional Roadmap for Health Security and Health System Resilience for Emergencies 2023-2027; SEAR RCCE Strategy, APSED III, WHO DG’s 10 proposals 10 proposals to build a safer world together: Strengthening the Global Architecture for Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience, etc
  • Supporting country capacity building for RC&IM: Annual training on risk communication, infodemic management and community engagement; strengthening regional capacity to communicate during emergencies; and coordinating RC&IM ongoing and planned capacity building interventions
  • Supporting RC&IM response during emergencies based on the needs of the country, through online trainings, webinars, practical guidance; development / adaptation of RC&IM tools, communication and capacity building material
  • Supporting the International Consultant – Community Protection / Engagement and relevant WHO Country Office counterparts in coordinating and reporting on the WHO engagement with civil society organizations (CSO) in the region and similar initiatives
  • Providing needed technical assistance for landscape analysis; scoping; implementation and performance and risk assessment; best practice, case-study and advocacy documents for internal use, donor supported projects (e.g., EU-WHO-ASEAN) and feedback to the IHR emergency committees for COVID-19 and monkeypox etc.
  • Supporting coordination, partnerships, advocacy and engagements with relevant internal WHO stakeholders at all three levels of the organization; community-based organizations and civil society organizations – national & international; UN and other developmental partners; academia; private sector entities; and other stakeholders for enhancing RC&IM capacity in the region including through the effective use of Science Translation and Behavioural Insights interventions
  • Undertaking other additional, ad hoc, and back-stopping activities related to Risk Communication; Infodemic Management; Community Protection / Engagement; Science Translation and Behavioural Insights for RC&IM as assigned by the first level supervisor

Background

COVID-19 has pushed health systems across the world to their limits, exacerbating inequalities, exposing severe gaps in public health infrastructure, impacting economies, and devastating communities and is threatening to reverse progress made towards the achievement of health-related SDGs and the Triple Billion targets. Even in countries once lauded as the gold standard of preparedness, COVID-19 has exposed significant weaknesses. Fragmented and underfunded health systems are struggling to absorb the shock of COVID-19 while maintaining routine health services.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical role played by risk communication and community engagement (RCCE), one of the core capacities of the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005), in effectively managing public health emergencies. Credible, trusted, relevant, timely, accessible and actionable health information is crucial for the acceptance and adoption of life-saving interventions. Approaches and interventions that effectively engage with affected populations have proven crucial to COVID-19 emergency preparedness and response plans.

Along with the challenges of a new disease that quickly spread across borders, which authorities have had to deal with, Infodemic – the overabundance of information, accurate or not – has greatly contributed to the difficulty of managing COVID-19. Infodemic makes it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance, at a time when it is critical that that they adopt life-saving behaviors and actions. It is important that managing Infodemic is embedded in public health emergency response systems, especially at a time of digital communications that enables quick and uncontrollable transfers of information

The Country Health Emergency Preparedness and International Health Regulations (CPI) Unit, Health Emergencies Programme of the WHO South-East Asia Region aims to continue enhancing the regional and country capacities for RCCE and Infodemic management, taking into consideration the learnings from the COVID-19 pandemic and other recent outbreaks, including monkeypox, and as the Region carries on the implementation of the Risk Communication Strategy for Public Health Emergencies in the WHO South-East Asia Region. With the post on technical officer for RCCE still vacant, it is proposed that a consultant is recruited to provide technical support in the said areas

Deliverables

• Deliverable 1: Quarterly progress reports on technical assistance provided for:
  • • review and dissemination of regular periodic Infodemic intelligence reports;
  • regional and country level interventions to strengthen capacity for RC&IM;
  • implementing the RC&IM components of the regional / bi-regional / global strategies for Health Security & Health System Resilience for emergencies; and
  • RC&IM response support before and during emergencies, including copies of RC&IM tools, messages and other material developed / adapted for use.
• Deliverable 2: Quarterly reports on overall coordination, partnerships, advocacy and engagements undertaken with relevant internal (WHO) and external stakeholders for enhancing RC&IM capacity in the region
• Deliverable 3: Detailed reports on Annual training on risk communication and community engagement, May 2023 and other regional ad hoc training / capacity building events
• Deliverable 4: Final consultancy report highlighting the key achievements, challenges encountered, and lessons learned during the assignment

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: University degree in communication, social sciences or public health

Desirable: Post-graduate degree in arts/communication/management

Experience

Essential:

• More than five years’ experience of risk communication and Infodemic management (RCCE) with international experience
• Demonstrated experience of working during public health emergencies preferably in WHO south-East Asia Region

Desirable:

• Good understanding of digital media and/or experience of feedback mechanisms for risk communication, community engagement and Infodemic management
• Experience of RCCE capacity building at the country and regional levels

Skills/Knowledge:

• Excellent and demonstrated writing, oral presentation and communication skills
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills in health emergencies and health system governance
• Positive attitude to learning new skills and working with a team with capacity to work under high pressure and tight time constraints
• Focus on quality with attention to details
• Analysis and troubleshooting skills, with aptitude and sound judgement for problem solving
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office Suite

Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Advanced):

Essential: English – read, write, and speak at expert level

Desirable: Knowledge of official language(s) of one/more member states of the region would be an asset

Location

Off site: Manila, Philippines.

Travel

Travel to member states within the region may be needed for effective delivery of the assignment directed by the supervisors and undertaken through an approved quarterly plan in adherence to the relevant WHO regulations for travel arrangements and per diem

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

• Remuneration: Pay band level – B; Remuneration currency – USD; Pay band range (monthly) – USD 7,000 – USD 9,980
• Expected duration of contract: 11 months

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.