​Risk Communication and Community Engagement - Communications Specialist​

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

The WHO Country Office (WCO) in Albania worked closely with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection (MoHSP) to ensure a strategic and well-coordinated response to the earthquake. The earthquake also led to the revision and re-development of Albania's emergency preparedness and readiness plans. Many of these initiatives, spearheaded both by the MoHSP and WHO, facilitated the establishment of robust coordination mechanisms, which had a positive impact on the COVID-19 response and mitigation later.

Aside from improving emergency preparedness, the earthquake experience was also reflected in broader health system reform efforts and integrated into existing plans for the provision of health services.

Lessons learned were factored into developing the Primary Healthcare Development Plan and the new National Health Strategy 2021-2030, with notable additions to ensure continuity of essential health services while responding to emergencies.

When the first cases of COVID-19 were registered in March 2020, Albania responded timely with public health safety measures and strategies. Designated COVID-19 treatment units were established, and non-essential health services were reduced to reprioritize resources. WHO supported the government response coordination by providing updated technical guidance and international evidence, and facilitated a coordinated MoHSP and broader government response through strategic alignment of UN agencies and stakeholders (especially in procurement, surveillance, and strategies to prevent the spread of COVID-19). WHO directly supported capacity building in laboratories and health services, healthcare and public health workers' training, risk communication, and supplied personal protective equipment, testing equipment, and medical supplies.

While Albania, with support from the international community, was able to mobilize a coordinated response to two major health crises, the underlying health system gaps and structural challenges remained largely unaddressed - and have further aggravated. Strong and dedicated support is required to build robust health system capacities and strong and accessible primary care services will be critical to address the health needs of the population to be able to address the health challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and to strengthen the capacity to manage future health crises and emergencies.

The main responsibilities for a donor supported UNV position will focus on strengthen the local capacity of WHO to mobilize and deliver technical support to the Albanian MoHSP and health partners, with the below priority areas:

-Supporting Albania’s efforts and WHOs support to progress towards Universal Health Coverage

-Supporting overall health sector coordination, strengthen donor engagement and supporting resource mobilization for agreed strategic priorities as per the national health sector strategy

-Supporting the development of health updates and strategic health information products

-Supporting WHOs efforts to compile lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic and building and expanding early warning systems

-Supporting coordinated efforts to strengthen health security and to build health system emergency preparedness and response capacities

-Supporting needs assessments and analysis

-Supporting risk communication, health advocacy and health promotion

Under the direct supervision of the Country Preparedness and IHR Officer and Public Health, in collaboration with the WHO Health Emergencies (WHE) Balkan Hub’s RCCE (Risk Communication and Community Engagement) Technical Officer, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

Risk Communication and Community Engagement

-Contributes to the development and implementation of broader health promotion efforts and of the COVID-19 Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) action plan for the WHO country office, through supporting the implementation of the RCCE activities and plans, including COVID-19 vaccine safety communication; -Supports data and evidence collection to identify key target audiences with a focus on at-risk and vulnerable groups;
-Based on existing data and evidence, assists with developing relevant RCCE messages and materials (brochures, leaflets and posters including graphic design; animated videos; radio and TV scripts; social media content), campaigns, and other initiatives, in languages and formats used by target audiences; -Participates in deploying health promotion and RCCE messages, materials, campaigns etc. to key target audiences via trusted sources (influencers) and channels, including web, media and social media; -Supports health advocacy and strategic communication activities to improve understanding and appreciation of the role and impact of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme -As part of the team, the volunteer will support WHO Country Office coordination with UN agencies, nongovernmental organizations and civil society organizations through preparing and providing health updates, support the development of health information products, including updates on the WHO coordinated UN Country team COVID-19 response;

Communications and Advocacy

-Assists in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating an advocacy and communication strategy to get public health issues into the public domain, strengthen political will in support of WHO's mission and objectives in the country, and enhance the organization’s credibility and brand. -Contributes to the development and implementation of broader health promotion efforts, ensuring the production of communication products and materials are timely executed and followed up to support country communication strategy, regional and global campaigns and priorities as set out in the work plan. -Establishes, maintains and further develops partnerships with partners, organizations, groups, journalists/media associations, including Government, UN, and bilateral counterparts), are able to actively participate in special events and activities that further the country programme goals and whose support is essential to/can assist in achieving the advocacy and communication objectives. -Works closely with the WHE Balkan Hub/RO to ensure that relevant program materials such as human interest stories, donor reports, proposals, factsheets, infographs, etc., are developed and disseminated to target groups, partners and other relevant stakeholders, through relevant media and network channels.
-Assists respective NPOs in the proposal development stage to identify appropriate communication activities for the projects.

Media relations

-Provides effective and timely professional assistance and support in developing, drafting and maintaining contact information, materials and relationships with journalists and media outlets covering all media – print, TV, radio, web etc. – in the country, to communicate the story of WHO's cooperation to a wider audience. -Draft and edit articles, press releases, human interest stories and other advocacy/information materials. -Collaborate with the media by organizing project site visits, facilitate photo coverage and TV footage and utilizing both web-based and traditional media as appropriate. -Monitor and evaluate the use and effectiveness of media materials. Maintain a library of media coverage, clippings etc.

Digital Communications/social media

-Maintain WCO ALB’s country website and social media sites (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) and YouTube) such as daily monitoring, posting and content development.

Monitoring and evaluation

-Regular monitoring and evaluation activities are undertaken according to the work plan to ensure maximum impact and continuous improvement of country communication efforts. Results and reports are prepared and shared on a timely basis. -Performs any other related technical and communication duties, as required

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day).
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country- Provide annual and end of assignment reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities using UNV’s Volunteer Reporting Application.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers,
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/Expected Outputs

-Strengthened WHO country capacity in Risk Communication and Community Engagement -Albanian authorities are supported in Risk Communication and Community Engagement -International Community is regularly updated on critical health issues in Albania. -The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counterparts, including Implementing Partners (IPs)
-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment.
-A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

-Teamwork

-Creating an empowering and motivating environment

-Knowing and Managing Yourself

-Producing results

-Moving forward in a changing environment

journalism/media/communication in the area of health and/or social protection/inclusion or other relevant programmes; experience within the UN or other international development organization is an asset

-Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;

-Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;

-Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;

-Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;

-Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others), email, and internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;

-Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;

-Sound security awareness;

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.

UN Volunteer entitlements and allowances:

The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to UN Volunteers is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for the UN Volunteer’s service. Contingent on specific eligibility criteria, location of the volunteer assignment and contractual type and category, the payment of allowances will begin from the date of Commencement of Service For more information on entitlements please read the Condition of Service (https://explore.unv.org/cos).

For information specific to your assignment please see below: Please note that the amounts can vary according to fluctuations in the monthly post-adjustment.

Monthly Living Allowance (Per month): ALL 129400 Entry lump sum (one-time payment): USD 400 Exit allowance (for each month served, paid on completion of contract): ALL 10783 Medical and life insurance: Cigna Private Insurance

Leave entitlements: Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month Certified sick leave: 30 days Uncertified sick leave: 7 days Learning leave: 10 working days per consecutive 12 months Maternity Leave: 16 weeks Paternity Leave: 10 days