Consultant Risk Communication

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.
Reinforce capacities for risk communication and infodemic management for emergency preparedness and response:

Create evidence to increase understanding of behaviours on various digital and messaging platforms:

Qualifications, Experience, Skills And Languages:
Educational Qualifications:
Essential:

Experience Required:
Essential: