Details
Mission and objectives
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations Public Health Organization established in 1948. The objective of the World Health Organization shall be the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health.
World Health Organization achieves its goals by performing its essential functions:
1. Take a leadership role in key health issues and create partnerships when joint action is needed;
2. Set research priorities and encourage the acquisition, application and dissemination of useful knowledge;
3. Setting standards and criteria and encouraging and monitoring them;
4. Develop ethical and evidence-based policies
5. Provide technical support, be an agent of change and build institutional capacity in a sustainable way;
6. Monitor health status and assess health trends.
World Health Organization achieves its goals by performing its essential functions:
1. Take a leadership role in key health issues and create partnerships when joint action is needed;
2. Set research priorities and encourage the acquisition, application and dissemination of useful knowledge;
3. Setting standards and criteria and encouraging and monitoring them;
4. Develop ethical and evidence-based policies
5. Provide technical support, be an agent of change and build institutional capacity in a sustainable way;
6. Monitor health status and assess health trends.
Context
The mission of the WHO/AFRO Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Cluster is to strengthen Member States' capacity to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are exceeded, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and provide effective relief and recovery for affected populations.
This mission includes addressing over 100 health emergencies annually across the region, aiming to reduce suffering and save lives in areas impacted by natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and complex crises. Current EPR priorities focus on building resilient health systems; upholding health security through the International Health Regulations; enhancing integrated disease surveillance and response; and ensuring reliable health information and evidence are available to guide decision-making, especially during emergencies.
The Cluster is advancing the Regional Strategy for Health Security and Emergencies (2022-2030), which was endorsed at the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa. This strategy mandates Member States to achieve 12 targets by 2030, strengthening their preparedness, detection, and response capacities for present and future health emergencies. To support Member States, three flagship initiatives have been launched (2022-2026), promoting a Member States-led, whole-of-government, and whole-of-society approach that unites diverse disciplines working locally, nationally, and globally for optimal health outcomes for people, animals, and the environment.
Given the increasing scale, complexity, and visibility of public health emergencies across the Region, there is a growing need for strengthened strategic communications, executive visibility, stakeholder engagement, and digital outreach support within the RED’s Office and generally the EPR Cluster. Effective communication has become central to emergency preparedness and response operations, leadership positioning, donor engagement, advocacy, risk communication, and public trust. The RED’s Office requires dedicated communications support to strengthen the visibility of EPR priorities, leadership engagements, regional initiatives, emergency operations, and strategic partnerships through high-quality content development, media engagement, executive messaging, and proactive management of digital and social media platforms, including X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and other relevant channels. This support will contribute to enhancing institutional visibility, strengthening stakeholder confidence, promoting strategic advocacy, and ensuring coherent, timely, and impactful communication of WHO AFRO’s emergency preparedness and response agenda.
This mission includes addressing over 100 health emergencies annually across the region, aiming to reduce suffering and save lives in areas impacted by natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and complex crises. Current EPR priorities focus on building resilient health systems; upholding health security through the International Health Regulations; enhancing integrated disease surveillance and response; and ensuring reliable health information and evidence are available to guide decision-making, especially during emergencies.
The Cluster is advancing the Regional Strategy for Health Security and Emergencies (2022-2030), which was endorsed at the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa. This strategy mandates Member States to achieve 12 targets by 2030, strengthening their preparedness, detection, and response capacities for present and future health emergencies. To support Member States, three flagship initiatives have been launched (2022-2026), promoting a Member States-led, whole-of-government, and whole-of-society approach that unites diverse disciplines working locally, nationally, and globally for optimal health outcomes for people, animals, and the environment.
Given the increasing scale, complexity, and visibility of public health emergencies across the Region, there is a growing need for strengthened strategic communications, executive visibility, stakeholder engagement, and digital outreach support within the RED’s Office and generally the EPR Cluster. Effective communication has become central to emergency preparedness and response operations, leadership positioning, donor engagement, advocacy, risk communication, and public trust. The RED’s Office requires dedicated communications support to strengthen the visibility of EPR priorities, leadership engagements, regional initiatives, emergency operations, and strategic partnerships through high-quality content development, media engagement, executive messaging, and proactive management of digital and social media platforms, including X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and other relevant channels. This support will contribute to enhancing institutional visibility, strengthening stakeholder confidence, promoting strategic advocacy, and ensuring coherent, timely, and impactful communication of WHO AFRO’s emergency preparedness and response agenda.
Task description
The duties may be modified, based upon the needs of the Programme. Reporting to the EPR Director and the EPR Programme Management Officer, and working closely with counterparts within the EPR programme and the respective Regional Office, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
1- CONTENT DEVELOPMENT AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION
• Support the development, packaging, and dissemination of high-impact communication products highlighting the priorities, achievements, operations, and impact of the EPR Cluster and the RED’s Office.
• Draft and review speeches, talking points, briefing notes, key messages, donor visibility materials, newsletters, situation updates, web stories, press lines, and success stories for internal and external audiences.
• Develop compelling technical and non-technical content for multiple platforms, including social media, newsletters, presentations, reports, and advocacy materials.
• Support emergency risk communication, advocacy, and strategic messaging during outbreaks, humanitarian crises, and public health emergencies in line with WHO standards and communication protocols.
• Ensure timely dissemination of key information, achievements, operational updates, and strategic priorities to relevant stakeholders and audiences.
2- STRATEGIC VISIBILITY AND ADVOCACY
• Support implementation of the EPR communication and visibility strategy aligned with WHO AFRO priorities and the broader global health security agenda.
• Provide strategic communication support to the RED’s Office, including preparation of executive-level communication materials, presentations, high-level engagement packages, and visibility products.
• Support the positioning of the EPR Cluster and RED’s Office through proactive communication initiatives that elevate preparedness, response operations, innovations, partnerships, and resource mobilization efforts.
• Develop communication and advocacy plans for high-level meetings, donor engagements, conferences, missions, campaigns, and flagship EPR initiatives.
3- COORDINATION, MEDIA RELATIONS AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
• Coordinate closely with the WHO AFRO Communications Unit to ensure alignment of messaging, branding, media engagement, and external communication approaches.
• Support strategic outreach and dissemination of communication products to donors, Member States, partners, media, and other key stakeholders.
• Support in developing and maintaining strategic relationships with media outlets and communication partners to strengthen visibility of EPR priorities and emergency operations.
• Support media monitoring and analysis of audience perceptions and communication risks related to public health emergencies and outbreaks.
• Coordinate communication support for regional initiatives, donor briefings, bilateral engagements, and flagship programmes, including JEAP and preparedness initiatives.
4- DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS AND SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT
• Manage and maintain the RED’s official social media platforms, including X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and other relevant digital channels, ensuring consistent strategic messaging and visibility of leadership engagements and priorities.
• Support management and optimization of EPR digital communication platforms and social media assets to strengthen awareness and visibility of preparedness and response operations across the Region.
• Develop, schedule, and disseminate strategic digital content to increase engagement and visibility of EPR priorities, leadership missions, donor engagements, advocacy campaigns, and emergency operations.
• Monitor social media trends, analytics, audience engagement, and emerging communication opportunities to strengthen the digital positioning of the RED’s Office and EPR Cluster.
5- DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT
• Create, manage and utilize EPR social media assets (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.)
• Create and schedule posts, engage with followers, and monitor trends.
• Coordinate and support communication and media sensitization initiatives for EPR staff to strengthen institutional communication capacities during emergencies and high-level engagements.
1- CONTENT DEVELOPMENT AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION
• Support the development, packaging, and dissemination of high-impact communication products highlighting the priorities, achievements, operations, and impact of the EPR Cluster and the RED’s Office.
• Draft and review speeches, talking points, briefing notes, key messages, donor visibility materials, newsletters, situation updates, web stories, press lines, and success stories for internal and external audiences.
• Develop compelling technical and non-technical content for multiple platforms, including social media, newsletters, presentations, reports, and advocacy materials.
• Support emergency risk communication, advocacy, and strategic messaging during outbreaks, humanitarian crises, and public health emergencies in line with WHO standards and communication protocols.
• Ensure timely dissemination of key information, achievements, operational updates, and strategic priorities to relevant stakeholders and audiences.
2- STRATEGIC VISIBILITY AND ADVOCACY
• Support implementation of the EPR communication and visibility strategy aligned with WHO AFRO priorities and the broader global health security agenda.
• Provide strategic communication support to the RED’s Office, including preparation of executive-level communication materials, presentations, high-level engagement packages, and visibility products.
• Support the positioning of the EPR Cluster and RED’s Office through proactive communication initiatives that elevate preparedness, response operations, innovations, partnerships, and resource mobilization efforts.
• Develop communication and advocacy plans for high-level meetings, donor engagements, conferences, missions, campaigns, and flagship EPR initiatives.
3- COORDINATION, MEDIA RELATIONS AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
• Coordinate closely with the WHO AFRO Communications Unit to ensure alignment of messaging, branding, media engagement, and external communication approaches.
• Support strategic outreach and dissemination of communication products to donors, Member States, partners, media, and other key stakeholders.
• Support in developing and maintaining strategic relationships with media outlets and communication partners to strengthen visibility of EPR priorities and emergency operations.
• Support media monitoring and analysis of audience perceptions and communication risks related to public health emergencies and outbreaks.
• Coordinate communication support for regional initiatives, donor briefings, bilateral engagements, and flagship programmes, including JEAP and preparedness initiatives.
4- DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS AND SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT
• Manage and maintain the RED’s official social media platforms, including X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and other relevant digital channels, ensuring consistent strategic messaging and visibility of leadership engagements and priorities.
• Support management and optimization of EPR digital communication platforms and social media assets to strengthen awareness and visibility of preparedness and response operations across the Region.
• Develop, schedule, and disseminate strategic digital content to increase engagement and visibility of EPR priorities, leadership missions, donor engagements, advocacy campaigns, and emergency operations.
• Monitor social media trends, analytics, audience engagement, and emerging communication opportunities to strengthen the digital positioning of the RED’s Office and EPR Cluster.
5- DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT
• Create, manage and utilize EPR social media assets (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.)
• Create and schedule posts, engage with followers, and monitor trends.
• Coordinate and support communication and media sensitization initiatives for EPR staff to strengthen institutional communication capacities during emergencies and high-level engagements.
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