National Consultant - Infodemic Management, NOB

1. Purpose of the Consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide a technical input to the areas of Infodemic Management within the overall framework of risk communication and community engagement.

2. Background

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, which began in December 2019, has left health experts grappling for a cure while they battle the barrage of misinformation and disinformation that left the public in a frenzy of conspiracy theories and falsehoods. The WHO has dubbed this phenomenon of overabundance of information some accurate and some not –an ‘infodemic’ and has called for a coordinated and scientific response to mitigate its effects.

As we head into 2021, and as COVID-19 waves have carried on unabated and the vaccination rollout faced fear and resistance as well as unequal distribution among nations and people, the need for a clear two-way communication and stronger community engagement has become even more critical.

“Infodemiology” is defined as the science of managing infodemics through employment of relevant research and effective practices. The WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean is seeking to strengthen and deepen its capacity and commitment to providing scientifically sound, timely and relevant information on mitigation and prevention measures through listening to populations’ questions, concerns and comments. The ultimate goal is to promote behavioural change to ensure populations make the correct decisions to keep themselves safe, limiting by that the impact on health systems.

3. Planned timeline (12 months ) (subject to confirmation)

• Start date: 01 January 2023
• End date: 31 December 2023

4. Description of duties

Work to be performed:

Output 1: Support Regional Office and country offices in building capacity in social listening and infodemic management and response to mis/disinformation in line with health emergency response

Deliverables:

• Adapt infodemic management and social listening training package for the EMR countries
• Provide training to counterparts in country offices and ministries to build capacity for effective social listening and infodemics management.

Output 2: Coordinate multi-source online social listening activities to capture and analyse behavioural insights including rumours, mis/disinformation in relation to COVID-19 including vaccination

Deliverables:

• On a regular basis during the assignment, conduct social listening using available online social listening tool to capture COVID-19 related insights including vaccines, questions and concerns, rumours, mis/disinformation in countries across the Region, and prepare regular updates with key findings captured to inform communications and wider response to be shared internally and with the COs.
• Provide technical advice to the country offices in utilizing the insights provided in the report for more targeted response and information-oriented communications content development.

Output 3: Provide technical support to the RCCE training and capacity building of relevant staff at the country level

Deliverables:

• Participate in national or regional capacity-building workshops organized in priority countries
• Prepare and develop technical materials for the training of priority countries

Output 4: Support other RCCE RO team activities as required.

Deliverables:

• Develop RCCE products related to regional events and outbreaks
• Support the RCCE work for the COVID-19 vaccine rollout (COVID-19 vaccines related communication materials)

5. Technical Supervision

6. Specific requirements

Qualifications required:

• First level university degree in social sciences, health science or another field relevant for this position from an accredited academic institution.

- Experience required:

• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible work experience in the field of risk communication or behavioural science. International experience is mandatory.

- Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

• Proven ability to develop and implement risk communication or advocacy initiatives, using appropriate tools and channels; and to achieve results in a global, multicultural, multinational and decentralized organization.
• Ability to create and motivate networks of people across a range of risk communications-related disciplines.
• Demonstrated ability to work with people from different cultures.
• Ability to coordinate the work with others including WHO country and regional offices and with HQ

- Language requirements:

• Excellent knowledge of English and Arabic language.

7. Place of assignment

Cairo, Egypt

8. Medical clearance

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

9. Travel

The Consultant is expected to travel. Destination and duration of travel will be identified through the progress work identified in countries

All travel arrangements will be made by WHO – WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance.

Visas requirements: it is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.

Additional information:

• 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.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• WHO's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice - https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.