Consultant – Risk Communications & Community Engagement (RCCE), Tonga

BACKGROUND

As outlined with For the Future: Towards the Healthiest and Safest Region WHO has a vision to make the Western Pacific is the safest and healthiest region. All countries in this Region face significant health security threats and the next outbreak of infectious disease can strike at any time. To deliver on better health, the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases, Public Health Emergencies (APSED III) was formulated. WHO supports countries to prepare for and respond to pandemics, health emergencies and outbreaks and build resilient health systems that prevent epidemics.

WHO is working in the Pacific island countries and areas (PICs) in line with For the Future: Towards the Healthiest and Safest Region, Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases, Public Health Emergencies (APSED III) and the principles of ‘Communication For Health’ (C4H). Strategic communication is an essential element of health emergencies, to ensure at-risk populations understand health risk and how to mitigate these.

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

This consultancy will support the risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) response to COVID-19 and other public health emergencies in Tonga and use this as an opportunity to further strengthen RCCE both during and after the pandemic. 

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

Under supervision of the Technical Officer Country liaison officer and the oversight of the COVID-19 Incident Manager for the Pacific, The RCCE officer, will provide risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) support to Tonga. This includes the coordination, planning, implementation and monitoring of RCCE interventions such as multi-channel communication, community mobilization, capacity building, advocacy and interpersonal communication with a specific focus on emergencies such as COVID-19.

Output 1: Lead the Risk Communication preparedness, readiness and response activities for COVID-19 and other health emergencies

• Deliverable 1.1: Provide technical advice to the Ministry of Health in their public communication
• Deliverable 1.2: Design, pre-test, post-test and evaluate (where appropriate) communication campaigns and materials, including adaptation to local context, translations, media relations etc.
• Deliverable 1.3: Coordinate with key partner organizations to ensure consistency of messaging and alignment of activities
• Deliverable 1.4: Design and operationalize activities that mitigate/prevent the spread of mis/disinformation (online and offline) and lead crisis communication (when needed)
• Deliverable 1.5: Lead the generation, analysis, and use of multisource social and behavioral data (including online and offline media monitoring) to inform and guide interventions.

Output 2:  Lead technical and operational support for community engagement activities for COVID-19 and other health emergencies

• Deliverable 2.1: Provide technical and operational support to community engagement and health promotion activities with the Ministry of health and partners;
• Deliverable 2.2: Strengthen WHO’s community engagement strategies, their adaptation and implementation;
• Deliverable 2.3: Strengthen community feedback mechanisms to gain insights into community knowledge, attitude, behaviours, beliefs and perceptions;
• Deliverable 2.4: Build and maintain partnerships through networking and proactive collaboration with national and international organizations, community groups, leaders and media to reinforce cooperation on community engagement.

Output 3: Support the delivery of capacity-building activities to strengthen risk communication and community engagement for key stakeholder such as Ministry staff, frontline health workers, social mobilizers, community influencers, health extension workers, media and other key stakeholders

• Deliverable 3.1: Design and participate in the delivery of stand-alone RCCE capacity building activities (such as workshops, trainings) and integrated with other emergency response pillars;
• Deliverable 3.2: Contribute to the repository of advice and materials to support Vanuatu to communicate risk and engage communities;
• Deliverable 3.3: Support capacity building activities and systems for RCCE particularly on AEFI,  including multimedia monitoring of risk perceptions.

Output 4: Support monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) of RCCE activities for COVID-19 and other emergencies

• Deliverable 4.1: Plan and implement RCCE activities and ensure timely reporting
• Deliverable 4.2: Generate input for MEL plans/processes to assess the impact and outcomes of the RCCE approaches, products and interventions.
• Deliverable 4.3: Document and disseminate evidence generated from the MEL plan including identifying best practices and how to institutionalize recommendations.

METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY

The consultant will provide risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) support to Tonga and will use this as an opportunity to further strengthen RCCE capacities at country level

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

Essential: Advanced university degree in public health, communications, arts, public relations, international relations, social sciences, anthropology or a related degree from a recognized university.

EXPERIENCE

Essential:

• • Minimum of seven years of experience in communications, public health or other related field.
• • Work experience related to development, disease outbreaks or other public health emergencies

Desirable:

Experience working in the Pacific context.

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

• • Excellent communication skills
• • Excellent analytical, planning and organizational skills
• • Ability to work in a team with limited supervision
• • Ability to work under pressure

COMPETENCIES

• • Technical expertise
• • Teamwork
• • Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• • Communication

LANGUAGES

Excellent written and spoken English is required. Proficiency in another Pacific language or French is desirable.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The selected candidate must be able to travel to the designated Pacific country for the duration of this consultancy. This includes the ability to transit through required countries to reach the destination in the context of global COVID-19 travel restrictions/measures, to potentially undergo multiple periods of quarantine, and to cope with uncertainty regarding travel timelines and routings. It is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.

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 in line with the instructions applicable locally, or up to the maximum of the UN DSA.

Selected consultants will be assigned/deployed to a designated Pacific Island Country/Area.

Duration of contract is for 6 months with possibility of extension, dependent on need, performance and availability of funding

APPLICATIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV and/or WHO career portal profile (https://careers.who.int/careersection/ex/jobsearch.ftl) and Expression of Interest {cover letter} to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 12 October 2022

The cover letter should outline how their experience and qualifications make them a suitable candidate for this position and should include their proposed daily consultancy fee and availability.

Please use Tender Notice No. 183520 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.

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