Technical Officer (Risk Communication&Community Engagement) (Multiple Locations)

Please note\: this vacancy concerns 2 positions located in either Kyrgyzstan or Serbia.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO's Health EmDo you have Experience in an international environment, WHO or in the UN? ergencies Programme (The Programme) is to help countries, and to coordinate international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

In the context of the WHO Health Emergencies Incident Management System (IMS), at the country level, the incumbent will act as the focal point for risk communication and community engagement (RCCE); ensuring that RCCE principles and practices are integrated into and implemented in all phases of the incident management cycle, that high quality RCCE products are developed and disseminated proactively and that people's fears, concerns, misinformation and false rumours are proactively tracked and addressed. Please describe the key duties\: During deployment, the duty station may change, and duties may be modified, based upon the technical needs of the Programme.

1. Act as focal point in the IM system during outbreaks and emergencies\:

--> In close collaboration with the RO Pilar Lead, support the development, and implementation of RCCE plan for the country office/s, 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 regional counterparts for RCCE ensuring coherence of strategy, materials and messages. Ensure that technical material produced by the country office/s integrates RCCE principles and practice.

--> Monitor and proactively counter false rumours and misinformation; and address fears and concerns.

--> Coordinate knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) surveys, focus group discussions and other feedback from community engagement activities and integrate findings into RCCE activities and products.

--> Proactively brief journalists and broadcasters.

--> Ensure quality control for RCCE products such as public information; brochures, leaflets and posters; radio and TV scripts; guides for stakeholders for RCCE and ensure their translation into local language and their adaptation for the local context.

--> Report regularly in RCCE activities and issues to the IM, respective RO and HQ counterparts.

--> Contribute to resource mobilization and donor communication in the area of RCCE.

2. Develop and maintain standing risk communication capacity in the WHO Country Office\:

--> 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.

--> Map and engage RCCE stakeholders; establish and sustain coordination mechanisms for emergency RCCE.

--> 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 in response to emergency operations.

3. 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 RCCE.

--> Support national authorities to convene stakeholders and co-develop the national RCCE strategy and plan.

--> With HQ and RO support, underpin the national assessment of RCCE 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 RCCE.

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

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential\: Bachelor level university degree in social sciences, behavioural sciences, development sciences, communications, humanities or related fields from an accredited/recognized institute.
Desirable\: Master level in any of the above. Training in public health, health education, health communication, or health promotion

Experience

Essential\: At least five years of related experience, at the national and international levels, in RCCE part of which working in disease outbreaks or health emergencies. Proven experience in in the development and implementation of RCCEs strategies and plans
Desirable\: Prior working experience with WHO, the UN, health cluster partners, recognized humanitarian organizations or other international organizations, including at country level. Management or project management experience.

Skills

Excellent interpersonal skills. Effective negotiation, facilitation and consensus building skills. Ability to work under pressure while producing results. Ability to “think out of the box” and to make innovative proposals related to RCCE. Tact, discretion and diplomacy. Knowledge or understanding of WHO mandate and goals in the emergency incident management context.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
Driving the Organization's Position in Health Leadership

Use of Language Skills

Essential\: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable\: Intermediate knowledge of russian.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 60,962 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 1565 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test may be used as a form of screening.

• In the event that your candidature is retained for an 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.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• For information on WHO's operations please visit\: http\://www.who.int.

• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

• WHO's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link\: http\://www.who.int/employment/en/. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.

• For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.