• Country: Manila, Philippines
• No of vacancies: N/A
  
• Salary: N/A 
• Organization: WHO
• Gender: Both  
• Deadline: 2023-12-31

PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTANCY

This consultancy will aim to strengthen risk communication and infodemic management capacities throughout the Western Pacific Region, with a focus on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) framework recipient countries. To empower and enable individuals and communities to make informed decisions during and between influenza pandemics and other health emergencies, this consultancy will aim to support the strategic use of digital platforms and tools and promote evidence-based interventions that can effectively address health-related rumours and mis- and disinformation.

BACKGROUND

Learnings from the COVID-19 pandemic underscore that an infodemic, or the overabundance of accurate and inaccurate information in digital and physical spaces, hinders timely outbreak responses and vaccination efforts, leading to anxiety, depression, and negative health behaviours among those drawn to rumours and conspiracy theories. Gaps in risk communication, limited insights into the behavioural and sociocultural contexts, and the spread of rumours and mis- and disinformation, amplify challenges posed both by the pandemic and infodemic.

For these reasons, risk communication and infodemic management are identified as key capacities in the third high-level implementation plan (HLIP III) for strengthening pandemic influenza preparedness and response. Strengthening capacities in these two areas can help Member States in the Western Pacific Region understand community needs, generate actionable insights, improve fact-checking, prebunking, and debunking skills, and develop effective communication strategies and interventions during and between an acute health event.

The consultancy will provide technical support for utilizing online social listening and infodemic risk assessment tools, producing training modules, and delivering training to reinforce risk communication and infodemic management capacities in the Western Pacific Region. It will also support research and other activities that will promote an enhanced understanding of individual and community behaviours, aiding the design and implementation of strategies to reduce the risk and impact of future influenza outbreaks and pandemics.

PLANNED TIMELINES

Start date: 1 February 2024
End date: 30 December 2024

WORK TO BE PERFORMED

Under the overall guidance of the Regional Emergency Director (RED) and technical guidance by the Technical Officer for Risk Communication, the consultant will be responsible for the following:

Output 1: Reinforce capacities for risk communication and infodemic management for emergency preparedness and response.
Deliverable 1.1: Update risk communication and infodemic management training packages tailored to the needs of the Member States in the Western Pacific Region.
Deliverable 1.2: Support planning and delivery of capacity-building initiatives for risk communication and infodemic management to prepare for a future influenza pandemic.
Deliverable 1.3: Develop tools and resources for social inoculation against rumours and mis- and disinformation.
Deliverable 1.4: Establish mentoring systems to enable Member States at national and subnational levels to access technical support in an accessible and timely manner, helping improve the quality of risk communication approaches.

Output 2: Create evidence to increase understanding of behaviours on various digital and messaging platforms
Deliverable 2.1: Design and conduct evidence-generation exercises in at least one PIP priority country to understand better user interaction and sharing behaviour on various digital and messaging platforms.
Deliverable 2.2: Support Member States in developing resources for the management and response to health-related mis- and disinformation.
Deliverable 2.3: Prepare (internal and external) documentation of approaches, lessons, best practices and innovations for the use digital and messaging platforms.

Output 3: Provide incident-specific risk communication and infodemic management support for emergency preparedness and response. 
Deliverable 3.1:  Carry out social listening to support risk assessment and risk communication
Deliverable 3.2:  Promote safe and appropriate engagement in digital spaces

Other Deliverables:
Progress report (monthly); and
Technical report at the end of consultancy.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND LANGUAGES

Educational Qualifications

Essential: University degree in Communications, Social and Behavioural Science, Public Health, Data Science, or a related field.
Desired: An advanced degree in the above-mentioned studies is an advantage.

Experience Required

Essential: Minimum of five years experience working in strategic communications capacity building. Experience in risk communications, digital communications, social media analysis and behavioural and/or social sciences.
Desirable: The consultant should have experience of working with international organizations and the UN system. Experience with WHO is preferred. Experience of working in the Western Pacific region is an advantage.

Skills/Technical Skills and Knowledge

Essential:
Expert knowledge in strategic communication principles and practice
Skills in data analysis, and monitoring and evaluation of digital platforms
Ability to identify, assess, analyse, synthesise and provide recommendations

Desirable:
Ability to work in a team, adapt to diverse cultural environments
Maintains a high standard of personal conduct

Language requirements

Written and spoken fluency in English is essential.

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