Technical Officer RCCE - Capacity Building

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of the Division of Health Emergencies (WHE) is to build the capacity of Member States to assess, prevent and manage health emergency risks, and lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations.

The WHE Division brings together and enhances WHO's operational, technical and normative capacities in outbreaks, emergencies and risk analysis to address all health hazards across the risk management cycle in a predictable, capable, dependable, adaptable and accountable manner. The Division is designed to operate within the broader humanitarian and emergency management architecture in support of people at risk of, or affected by, outbreaks and emergencies, consistent with ways that strengthen local and national capabilities.

The Risk Communication and Community Engagement Programme (RCCE) is responsible for ensuring that people and stakeholders are enabled and empowered to take informed decisions that protect them from health emergencies. To do so RCE communicates risks and preventive measures, engages communities and community actors, manages rumours and misinformation, builds country capacities and supports country responses, and positions RCCE as an evidence ­based technical area of work, and WHO Europe as an authoritative partner in it.

Risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) is a core capacity under the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) that countries are required to establish and maintain for proper preparedness, readiness and response.

The European Centre for Preparedness for Humanitarian and Health Emergencies (PHHE) aims at strengthening WHO/EURO Member States’ capacities in preparedness for humanitarian and health emergencies through innovative, collaborative and sustainable approaches to capacity building, including through the development and implementation of training opportunities in emergency and disaster risk reduction, the provision of tailored country support in sustainable capacity building, and the facilitation of access to capacity building resources in the Region.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The Technical officer, Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Capacity Building will contribute to strengthening RCCE and Infodemic Management capacities across the WHO European Region through innovative tools informed by latest evidence, and emerging good practices and guidance to improve sustainable efforts and impacts.

Under the direct supervision of the Regional Advisor, Risk Communication and Community Engagement Unit (RCE) and the overall guidance of the Head of Office, PHHE), the incumbent coordinates capacity building for Risk Communication, Community Engagement and Infodemic Management in the WHO European Region.

The Technical officer, RCCE Capacity Building will be the focal point within the RCE Unit to build RCCE capacities in countries of the WHO European Region, with special focus on:

Creating and rolling out innovative solutions for RCCE capacity building

• Roll out the RCE’s flagship RCCE Capacity Building Platform
• Roll out the new RCCE Capability Mapping tool
• Work with external experts and academia on innovative solutions and tools to be used as part of the RCE capacity building activities/plans
• Manage suppliers and service providers to support the creation and roll out of RCCE capacity building solutions.

Developing and maintaining standing RCCE capacity in the Region

• Support national authorities to conduct lessons learnt exercises to identify RCCE gaps
• Implement the RCCE School to improve RCCE regionally, nationally and locally under the IHR (2005), working with partners and stakeholders
• Advocate for and the RCCE Capacity Building Platform

Delivering capacity building activities

• Assess needs, design and deliver trainings, SIMEX and other capacity building activities for individual countries or sub-regions of the European Region
• Support the development and/or adaptation of materials for capacity building events and their translation
• Liaise with Hubs, COs, organizing agencies and other relevant actors as needed to support on-site organization of events or their virtual delivery
• Train trainers as needed to create a roster of trained consultants/WHO staff who can replicate platform training across the region and/or build local capacities

Coordinating with partners and stakeholders and within WHO

• Coordinate with external partners and stakeholders to deliver joint or collaborative activities, ensuring WHO Europe gets the appropriate credit of the initiatives
• Support RCE technical teams to review the RCCE capacity building offering and adapt/update where/when necessary.
• Liaise with other WHE and EURO Programmes to embed RCCE modules in overall emergency and/or health capacity building activities
• Liaise with HQ to ensure EURO provides input in global capacity building plans and tools and on any joint activities.

Measuring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL)

• Monitor client’s satisfaction and training outcomes for follow up actions and improvements
• Monitor and Evaluate RCCE capacities and actions under the IHR (2005) framework.
• Represent RCE within IHR MEL mechanisms (JEES, AARs, IARs and others) as needed
• Share best practices and coach other topic specialists/trainers

Contributing to the identification and the planning of PHHE activities, and the strengthening of PHHE capacities.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree in risk communication, community engagement, digital communications, behavioural sciences, social sciences, anthropology, international studies or related fields
Desirable: Master’s degree in a relevant subject or studies and training in capacity building techniques, particularly in an emergency setting.

Experience

Essential: Minimum 5 years’ experience in at least three of the following fields: Risk Communication, Community Engagement, Behavioural Change Communication, Social Sciences, Digital communications, Infodemic Management, including specific experience with developing and delivering capacity building and training curricula

Desirable: Experience with project management, processes and workflows, MEL, scaling and rolling out research findings, technical guidance, and capacity building tools from the Regional or global to the national and sub-national level.

Skills

Required:

• Fluency in multiple digital data collection and analysis tools and platforms;
• Ability to distil scientific and technical information in simple language and recommendations;
• Skills regarding development of systems for rapid, agile data collection and analysis;
• Eye for detail, meticulous organization and structuring of information and processes;
• Ability to see and establish connections and patterns;
• Strong writing skills.

Desirable:

• RCCE experience and expertise;
• Familiarity with public health;
• Strong advocacy skills

Other skills (e.g. IT)

Computer, IT and multimedia skills (including on use of internet power point, and experience with photographs and videos)

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of a WHO official language.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Building and promoting partnerships across the Organization and beyond
• Moving forward in a changing environment

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 64,121 (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 1245 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

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