NPO (Emergency Communications & Community Engagement)

Contract

This is a NO-B contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 2 years of experience, depending on education. More about NO-B contracts.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The main objective of the programme is to reduce tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol among the population in India and thereby reduce tobacco and alcohol related morbidity and mortality; to provide support for the development of tobacco and alcohol control policies, strategies and programmes through capacity building, awareness generation, training and advocacy to strengthen tobacco and alcohol control initiatives in the country both at national and sub national levels; to mobilize resources and provide technical support for their implementation.

Underlying values and core functions of WHO:

WHO's mandate revolves around six (6) leadership priorities specifying (i) advancing universal health coverage; (ii) health related sustainable development goals; (iii) addressing the challenge of nonshy;communicable diseases and mental health, violence and injuries and disabilities; (iv) implementing the provisions of the International Health Regulations (2005); (v) increasing access to quality, safe, efficacious and affordable medical products; (vi) addressing the social, economic and environmental determinants of health. The South -East Asia Region (SEAR) of WHO is made up of 11 countries, with over 1.9 billion people, with India's population of 1.3 billion. All the Member States of WHO/SEAR (Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Indonesia, Maldives, Timor-Leste, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Thailand), share the common value of the highest attainable standard of health as a fundamental human right. All of WHO actions are based on this and rooted in the underlying values of equity, solidarity and participation. The mission of WHO India is to improve quality of life of the 1.3 billionpeople in India by supporting the government in eliminating vaccine preventable and other communicable diseases, reducing maternal and neonatal mortalities, promoting healthy lifestyles, addressing determinants of health, preparing and responding to health emergencies and strengthening health systems for universal health coverage.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Head of WHO Country Office India and in coordination with the Communications team and under the direct supervision of TL-HSE, with a view to achieve the expected results set out in the relevant WCO-India biennial work plans in accordance with WHO’s Country Cooperation Strategy with India, as part of the WCO-India team working on HSE, the incumbent will have the following responsibilities:

1. Strengthen Emergency Communications and Community Engagement (ECCE) strategies and plans. Support government in developing and implementing national multi hazard and multisectoral emergency communications (including crisis and risk communication) plans aligned with WHO India Country Office Health Emergencies Programme.

2. Provide advice for integration and advancement of social and behavior change communication strategies into national and sub-national activities on addressing disease outbreaks, high threat pathogens, disasters, and emergencies.

3. Provide co-ordination and technical support within and outside the organization. Maintain close technical coordination with MoHFW and related network of partners, ensuring key learnings and developments are shared to enable greater ECCE.

4. Provide strategic advice and support to WHO technical teams on their communication, behavior change communication and risk communication needs.

5. Develop high quality evidence-based communication products such as public information; brochures, leaflets and posters; radio and TV scripts; guide for stakeholders for risk assessment, ensure community engagement and adaptation in local contexts. This includes various emergency communications, including different target-groups like government officials and other stakeholders at national/sub national levels on use of appropriate strategies and channels of communication for engaging communities before, during and after emergencies.

6. Design and conduct training and capacity building, including workshops, drills and exercises; guiding and coordinating surge capacity personnel on translational science both within and outside the organization with all relevant stakeholders. Focus on strengthening data-driven effective capacity building of different health and related cadres particularly frontline health workers during emergency situations.

7. Support strategic communication including Infodemic management. Improve understanding and appreciation of the role and impact of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme. Support strategies to address false rumors and misinformation; and makes recommendations to address fears and concerns proposing solutions to counter misinformation.

8. Ensure community engagement and social mobilization strategies and plans are evidence-based, coordinated, and well-executed, drawing upon behavioral and social sciences. Document best practices in behavior change communication and community engagement to provide input for lessons learning, better preparedness and capacity development.

9. Contribute to resource mobilization and donor communication in the area of ECCE.

10. Perform other work as assigned by supervisor(s).

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University Degree in Social Sciences, Communication or other Health related fields from a recognized university. Desirable: Masters in Social Sciences, Public Health, Health education, Health Promotion or related fields.

Experience

Essential: At least two (2) years of professional experience in the field of journalism or media or public relations, including development communication. Desirable: Experience of work in UN and/or other international organizations.

Skills

• The incumbent should identify with the core values of the World Health Organization.
• Thorough knowledge of policies, strategies and guidelines in the area of crisis and risk communication related to all types of emergencies and engagement of communities and other stakeholders. Good understanding of country’s needs and priorities, knowledge of ways to work with government institutions and related departments/agencies and experience of work in an international environment.
• Sound technical and policy advisory skills, based on evidence. Leadership, coordination and supervision skills with demonstrated ability to work effectively with government and colleagues in a team setting at national and international levels, to share information and data and make oral and written presentations on technical issues. Very good ability to build and maintain relations and network with national authorities and other stakeholders across relevant sectors. Understanding of the potential motivating factors within national context and ability to adjust to new approaches in an increasingly complex environment.
• Modern management skills (planning and evaluation, etc). Capacity to prepare terms of reference and to prepare and monitor and manage the implementation of contractual agreements. Capacity to convey information and options in a structured and credible way; ability to speak and write clearly. Proficiency in computer applications and ability to draft reports. Knowledge of WHO/UN agencies programmes and practices will be an advantage.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
• Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Knowledge of Hindi

REMUNERATION

Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at INR 2,476,526 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.

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.

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

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

• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

• 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.

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

• This is a National Professional Officer position. Therefore, only applications from nationals of the country where the duty station is located will be accepted. Applicants who are not nationals of this country will not be considered.