Consultant, Risk Communication (multiple positions)

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

This consultancy will support the Communications Pillar of the COVID-19 response of the Incident Management System (IMS) in the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the supervision of the Western Pacific Region COVID-19 Incident Manager, and in collaboration with the Risk Communication Officer in the Health Emergencies Programme (CPI/WHE) and the communication unit in the Office of the Regional Director (COM/RDO), the consultant will be responsible for delivering the following:

Serve in a leadership role for the Regional COVID-19 Strategic Communications Pillar of the IMST, advising on strategic direction and supporting the continued operations of the team.

• Act as a Strategic Communications Pillar Lead within COVID-19 Incident Management Team (IMST) at the regional level.
• Closely follow relevant developments, represent the Strategic Communications Pillar at IMST and other meetings including meetings with HQ and COs, coordinate the work of the sub pillars (listening, risk communications, and leadership communications), and sharing of information and communication decision-making.
• Support strategic priority-setting, needs assessment, ongoing development, review, and clearance of risk communication content, tools, resources and guidance.
• Support development, adaptation, and implementation of the regional risk communication plan and strategy in the context of COVID-19.
• Provide technical guidance to Member States in the area of risk communication for COVID19 response.

Support the delivery of technical support and activities to build sustainable capacity in risk communication to strengthen the response to COVID-19 and advance C4H in line with the For the Future.

• In consultation with WHO Country Offices, support the development and updating of risk communication plans for COVID-19 response.
• Support Regional Office capacity-building activities for COVID-19 response, including COVID-19 vaccine rollout, as required.
• Provide targeted support to WHO County Offices with ongoing and planned risk communication activities for COVID-19 response including COVID-19 vaccine rollout; contribute to needs assessment and priority-setting at country level.

Coordinate the systematic review and documentation of the risk communication response to COVID-19 in the Region, oversee monitoring of progress, outcomes and impact of interventions at regional and country levels.

• Coordinate action reviews at the regional and country levels through organized exercises to identify the key achievements, challenges and lessons learned.

• Support documentation of progress and knowledge sharing with COVID-19 response teams.
  

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Minimum university degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Public Health, Political Science, Social Science, or a related field.
Desirable: Advanced university degree (Master’s level or above) in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Public Health, Political Science, Social Science, or a related field.

Experience

Essential: Minimum of five to ten years of experience in strategic and risk communications, including experience in communication of public health emergencies. The consultant should have experience working within the UN system or with UN partners.

Desirable: Direct experience with WHO is preferred.

Skills

Essential: Written and spoken fluency in English is essential.
Desirable: Other languages of the Region an advantage.