International Consultant - Leadership Communications

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Purpose of consultancy  

The consultant will work within the Regional Director’s Office under WHO WPRO Communications to support the Regional Director through devising and implementing a leadership communications strategy and creating and disseminating a range of content, including speeches/remarks, social media and multimedia content, and other internal and external communication.

Background  

The Office of the Regional Director (RDO) provides leadership, strengthens governance and fosters communication, partnership, and collaboration with countries, the wider United Nations system, and other stakeholders in order to fulfil WHO’s mandate within the Western Pacific Region. 

Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala is WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. He was nominated through a vote by Member States at the Regional Committee for the Western Pacific in October 2023, and following his appointment by the WHO Executive Board took office on 1 February 2024. Dr Piukala, originally from Tonga, is the first Pacific islander to take up this role. From the outset of his initial 5-year term, it has been vital to establish visibility of the Regional Director as the Organization’s most senior representative in the Region and sustain his position as a top public health leader and authoritative voice on regional health issues. This brand identity is critical to ensure a strong understanding of, trust in, and support for WHO’s work in the Western Pacific.

In this context, the engagement of a communications and advocacy consultant with strong experience of working with senior leadership on strategic communications in similar contexts is required.

Deliverables

Working directly under the supervision of the Regional Communications Manager and with second-line reporting to the Executive Officer to the Regional Director / Coordinator for Communications, External Relations and Partnerships, and working closely with the Regional Director, the Communications unit (COM), the External Relations and Partnerships unit (ERP), and the Regional Director’s Office Administration and Governing Bodies unit (RDO), the Leadership Communications Consultant will assist with devising and implementing a leadership communications and brand strategy; and drafting speeches, video scripts, op-eds, social media content, messages to the workforce, and other high-quality, relevant communications material that requires expedited delivery.

Output/s                                                                                                                                                                         
Output 1:
Draft key speeches and remarks, video scripts, op-eds, social media content, messages to the workforce and other high-quality, relevant content for the Regional Director, in coordination with technical units, ERP and RDO with final approval from COM.

Deliverable 1.1: The consultant’s remit includes, but is not necessarily confined to, drafting content (as listed above) for the Regional Director vis-à-vis a number of WHO and UN special days and other observances, Regional Director initiatives and events, and duty travel-related communications including
1. World Health Day
2. Regional Committee Meeting (2026 RCM main agenda items: AI, Hypertension, Immunization, Tobacco Control)
3. Consultation of WHO Representatives/Country Liaison Officers, WHO Western Pacific Region
4. International Youth Day
5. World Humanitarian Day
6. 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence
7. International Day of Older Persons
8. Human Rights Day
9. World Health Summit
10. UN General Assembly 
11. World Health Assembly
12. Universal Health Coverage Day
13. Day of Persons with Disabilities
14. World AIDS Day
15. World TB Day
16. World Hepatitis Day
17. World Immunization Week
18. World AMR Awareness Day
19. Healthy Islands Vision initiative
20. World No Tobacco Day
21. Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation
22. International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT)
23. World Contraception Day
24. International Women’s Day (and Month)
25. World Malaria Day
26. Neglected Tropical Diseases Day
27. Day to End Obstetric Fistula
28. World Food Safety Day
29. World Blood Donor Day
30. World Environmental Day
31. International Day of the Girl Child
32. UN Day
33. World Cities Day
34. UN Global Road Safety Week
35. World Toilet Day
36. Day of Epidemic Preparedness
37. Day of Women in Science
38. World Water Day

Further to the above:
Deliverable 1.1.a. Draft content for the Regional Director’s social media (as of this writing: LinkedIn and X) 
Deliverable 1.1.b. Draft scripts for the Regional Director’s video messages.
Deliverable 1.1.c. Suggest, select and edit photos and videos related to RD missions and other duty travel, along with events and other occasions useful for corporate and RD social media and the corporate website.

Deliverable 1.2: 
The Consultant will assist in facilitating editorial meetings both regularly and on an ad hoc basis as needed with the Regional Director, COM Manager and other COM team members, the RDO Executive Officer, various WPRO Divisions/Units and Country Offices/Country Liaison Offices.
The Consultant will be included in the UN Regional Communications Group along with the COM Manager, to attend relevant UNCG meetings (chaired by UNESCAP) where further content and story ideas relevant to WPRO RD and COM may be generated.

Output 2: 
Draft briefing notes and talking points as requested for the Regional Director in relation to key missions, meetings and engagements, in coordination with technical units, RDO and COM who will carry out final edits.

Deliverable 2.1: Briefing notes and talking points for the Regional Director on various health topics and related issues as described above.

Output 3: 
Contribute to media and political scanning related to RD communications, for RDO and COM.
Deliverable 3.1: Scan media and other online content on key topics and issues as requested, and provide brief written input/analyses to COM and RDO to assist in better shaping RD communications and advocacy.

Output 4:
Contribute to devising and implementing a leadership communications and brand strategy
Deliverable 4.1: Provide inputs for a leadership communications and brand strategy for the WPRO RD and Senior Management, including on social media and multimedia; brand image; and other relevant aspects.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:  

Essential: First university degree
Desirable: Master’s degree 
(Area(s) of specialization: Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing/Advertising/ Brand Management, International Relations, Political Science, Public Health, or related fields.

Experience:  

Essential: Minimum 5 years of experience at the national and/or international level in the field of communications, public affairs, public relations, media, public health or other relevant areas. 
Desirable: Experience with WHO is an asset, as is experience working in other UN and international development organizations. Experience in public health is an asset.

Skills/Knowledge: 
Essential: 
Proven ability to write engaging, high-level speeches, op-eds, social media and multimedia copy in English on tight deadlines; 
Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Word, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook, etc.) and office technology equipment. 
Basic graphics/design/editing skills (using software like Adobe Pro, Canva, etc.).

Desirable:
Advanced graphics/design/editing skills
Videography and photography

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

Essential: Expert knowledge of English

Location

On-site: WHO Western Pacific Regional Office, Manila, Philippines

Travel

The consultant may be required to travel on select missions with the Regional Director and other staff, as per the determination of RDO/COM.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded; WHO will provide airfare):

• Remuneration: Band B with monthly rate ranges from USD 7,000 to 7,500
• Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited): 
• A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited for the Manila duty station.

Expected duration of contract: 6 months
 

Additional Information (For HR use only):

•    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) 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.
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