Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Junior Officer

Contract

This is a UNV International Youth contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Youth contracts.

In the context of the WHO Health Emergencies Incident Management System (IMS), at the country level, the incumbent will support risk communication and community engagement (RCCE); seeking that risk RCCE principles and practices are integrated into and implemented in all phases of the incident management cycle including humanitarian crisis, that partners are coordinated, that quality risk communications products and are developed and disseminated proactively and that people’s fears, concerns, misinformation and false rumors are proactively tracked and addressed. S/he will also provide technical, operational and coordination support on all aspects related to community engagement.

Under the direct supervision of WHE Team Leader/Incident Manager, under the overall guidance of the Head, WHO Bangladesh Country Office, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

1. Provide risk communication support in the IM system during outbreaks and emergencies and humanitarian crisis: a) Contribute to the development, elaboration, and implementation of the risk communication plan as part of the health response operations. b) Support to liaise closely with the HQ and regional counterparts for risk communication ensuring coherence of strategy, materials and messages. Support to ensure that technical material produced by the country office integrates risk communication principles and practice. c) Support to monitor and proactively counter false rumours and misinformation, and ad-dress fears and concerns. d) Work closely with the Community Engagement Officer to integrate findings from knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) surveys, focus group discussions and other feedback from community engagement activities into risk communication activities and products. e) Support the to maintain quality control for risk communication products such as public information; brochures, leaflets, and posters; radio and TV scripts; guides for stake-holders for risk communication and ensure their translation into local language and their adaptation for the local context. f) Contribute to resource mobilization and donor communication in the area of risk communication.

2. Support and contribute to develop and maintain standing risk communication capacity in the WHO Country Office: a) In close collaboration with the Communications Officer, map and engage risk communication stakeholders; establish and sustain coordination mechanisms for emergency risk communication. b) Support to organize risk communication trainings for WHO country staff. e.g., Brief, guide and coordinate risk community surge capacity personnel that may be deployed to the country.

3. Support national capacity building for emergency risk communication: a) Contribute to work with resources from the global and regional levels to train and pre-pare country-level counterparts for emergency risk communication. b) Support national authorities to convene stakeholders and co-develop a national risk communication strategy and plan.

Perform any other incident-specific related duties, as required by the functional supervisor.

Accountability Adaptability and Flexibility Communication Creativity Professionalism Respect for Diversity Working in Teams

or demonstrated interest in public health, health or social sciences, political science, international cooperation, communications, or a related discipline.

Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e., studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded.

Dhaka is located in central Bangladesh along the Buriganga River. Not only is it the capital city, but it is also the largest in the country. It is the centre of political, cultural, and economic life in Bangladesh. The official language is Bengali, while English is the working language of UN Agencies. In recent decades, Dhaka has seen the modernization of services, communications, and public works. The city is attracting large foreign investments and greater volumes of commerce and trade. It is also experiencing an increasing influx of people from across the nation; this has reportedly made Dhaka one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. Good English-speaking medical, dental services, and educational centres are available for internationals. Dhaka is connected to other cities by rail, road, and by air and internationals can move easily from one city to another.

Dhaka has venerable green spaces, including many gardens and parks, historical places, and nice restaurants. The weather is tropical - hot and very humid during the summer monsoon season (April-September) and drier and cooler in the winter (October-March).

Historically, Bangladesh has been a safe country for internationals so far. While Dhaka is not categorized as a hardship station, the volunteer should be prepared for limitations in freedom of movement on foot, by public transport, and to certain locations.