Technical Officer - Risk Communication and Community Engagement

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.

Eligibility criteria

Minimum age: 22 years old. Applicants must be nationals of or legal residents in the country of assignment.

Description of task

• Act as risk communication focal point at Hub Incident Management system during outbreaks and emergencies:
• Oversee the development, elaboration and implementation of the risk communication plan as part of the health response operations.
• With key stakeholders in the national authorities, UN agencies, nongovernmental organizations and civil society organizations, identify the top hazards for the country and develop relevant information, education and communication materials in languages and formats easily used by national stakeholders and the public.
• Liaise closely with the HQ and regional counterparts for risk communication ensuring coherence of strategy, materials and messages. Ensure that technical material produced by the country office integrates risk communication principles and practice.
• Monitor and proactively counter false rumours and misinformation; and address fears and concerns.
• 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.
• In collaboration with the Communication Officer, proactively brief and educate journalists and broadcasters.
• Lead and maintain quality control for risk communication products such as public information; brochures, leaflets and posters; radio and TV scripts; guides for stakeholders for risk communication and ensure their translation into local language and their adaptation for the local context.
• Report regularly in risk communication activities and issues to the IM, respective RO and HQ counterparts.
• Contribute to resource mobilization and donor communication in the area of risk communication.
• Develop and maintain standing risk communication capacity in the WHO Regional Office/ Hub:
• With internal and expert input, and working in line with global and regional frameworks and strategies, develop a multi-hazard risk communication plan for the country office.
• In close collaboration with the Community Engagement Officer and the Communications Officer, map and engage risk communication stakeholders; establish and sustain coordination mechanisms for emergency risk communication.
• Map preferred channels of communication in the country with focus on vulnerable groups.
• Organize risk communication trainings for WHO country staff.
• Brief, guide and coordinate risk community surge capacity personnel that may be deployed to the country.
• Support national capacity building for emergency risk communication:
• Work with resources from the global and regional levels to train and prepare country-level counterparts for emergency risk communication.
• Support national authorities to convene stakeholders and co-develop a national risk communication strategy and plan.
• With HQ and RO support, underpin the national assessment of risk communication capacity and/or oversee the running of simulation exercises to test and improve the national capacity.
• Support national authorities to conduct lessons learnt exercises to further strengthen emergency risk communication.

Qualifications/Requirements

Required degree level:

Bachelor degree or equivalent

Education - Additional Comments:

Advanced university degree (Master’s level or above) in social sciences, behavioural sciences, development sciences, communications or public health from an accredited/recognized institute.

Required experience:

36 Months

Experience remark:

• At least 3 years of professional work experience at the national and/or international level in Health, social Sciences , or Health Development Area, or other relevant programmes;
• Experience with Community work is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization

Language skills:

• English(Mandatory), Level - Fluent
• French(Mandatory), Level - Fluent

Area of expertise:

Other health related experience

Area of expertise details:

Other desired/mandatory required technical knowledge

• 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 MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/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;
• Have affinity with or interest in Risk communication and Community Engagement, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Competencies and values:

• Communication
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
• Promoting WHO’s position in health leadership.
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

• Teamwork

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to WHO Agency]; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to WHO procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented;

• Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and WHO in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority;
• Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues;
• Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.

• Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities;

• Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;

• Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary;
• Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards WHOmission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Driving license:

No

Competencies values:

Adaptability and Flexibility, Commitment to Continuous Learning, Communication, Integrity, Planning and Organizing, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity, Working in Teams

Application procedure:

* Not yet registered in the UNV Talent Pool?

First register your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/signup.

Important: After creating your account, complete all sections of your profile and submit it. Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink. Lastly, select the special call to which you would like to apply.

* Already registered in the UNV Talent Pool?

First update your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/profile.

Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink to select the special call to which you would like to apply.

This is a national UN Volunteer assignment, therefore only nationals of Congo and legal residents in Congo with a residency permit, the status of refugee or with the status of being stateless are eligible to apply. Don’t forget to tick the yes box for: “I am interested in serving as a volunteer in my own country.”

This assignment is in the framework of the Africa Women Health Champions to improve health and gender equality initiative. African female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply

Application deadline: 28-10-2020