OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) aims to build the capacity of Member States to 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. 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.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The Emergency Communications Officer will coordinate external and internal communications for the Health Emergencies Programme. S/he will develop, implement and evaluate communications and advocacy strategies contributing to increase political, financial and public attention on and engagement in health emergencies preparedness and response and WHO’s work, ensuring WHO’s reputation and credibility are established and maintained.

Strategies and plans

• Develop, implement and evaluate external communication and advocacy strategies and plans for health emergencies in the WHO European Region.

• Contribute to position EURO and enhance WHO’s reputation in the health emergencies landscape, support development and dissemination of advocacy materials, and ensure visibility of key WHE guidance, frameworks and tools.

• Liaise and coordinate WHE external and advocacy communications with HQ focal points ensuring consistency of messages and narratives, and visibility of EURO work.

• Support the External Communications component within the Regional Emergency Director’s workplan including related budgetary resources, and select and supervise consultants as needed

• Ensure that fundraising activities for health emergencies are supported by effective communications and advocacy activities.

WHE visibility and campaigns

• Ensure that WHE campaigns are effectively planned and rolled out in collaboration with WHE programme areas and across the communications teams at Headquarters, Regional and Country Offices.

• Coordinate with WHE leadership to ensure WHE visibility in Office-wide communications, including for annual high-level events and observances (e.g. Regional Committee, UN Days), and coordinate external communications and advocacy in WHE conferences and meetings.

• Oversee WHE website / web pages ensuring cohesion and optimal usability for diverse target audiences.

• Coordinate WHE input into corporate communications products and activities.

• Keep internal WHO audiences abreast of health emergencies developments in preparedness and response and WHE’s work.

Media

• Establish and nurture relations with international and national media in the context of health emergencies.

• Promote the work of EURO in emergency preparedness and response, ensure timely and accurate information sharing with the media as needed, and engage media to cover the health aspects and needs of responses in an accurate and responsible way.

• Attend WHE daily (or other regular) meeting on health events signals and assess event from an external communications and advocacy perspective. Develop Talking Points, Questions and Answers, key messages, news releases and other media materials ensuring clearance as needed.

• Provide advice and support to Regional Director, Regional Communications Manager, WHE leadership and WRs on both proactive and reactive media outreach, including through the timely provision of key messages and Talking Points as well as press briefings, and media interviews.

• Regularly monitor and evaluate media coverage, particularly around EURO launches and statements, and share results and findings.

Storytelling

• Position health high in external communications and advocacy, documenting WHE work in emergency preparedness and response and health needs of at-risk/affected populations

• Identify opportunities to tell the stories of at-risk/affected people and frontline responders.

• Use diverse tools and channels to share stories and messages, including audio-visuals and social media.

• Manage processes for contracting and working with consultants such as photographers, videographers, and other content producers.

• Support COs emergency communications in preparedness and response and deploy in health emergencies as needed

Capacity building.

• Collaborate with WHE/RCI (The Risk Communication, Community Engagement and Infodemic Management Unit) to create and maintain an emergency communications toolkit that is rolled out across WHO European Region.

• Contribute to develop a network of deployable emergency communicators to be activated in emergencies

• Support external communications and advocacy capacity building in Country Offices and Member States.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Advanced University degree (Master’s level) in journalism, public relations, communications and international relations or related field from an accredited/recognized institute.
Desirable: Further (post-graduate) studies or training in communications techniques and media relations in a health emergency setting.

Experience

Essential: Minimum 7 years’ experience in at least three of the following fields: External Communications, Advocacy, Public Relations, Media, Multimedia, Storytelling, Digital Communications in the context of emergencies.
Desirable: Relevant prior experience working with WHO and other UN agencies. Proven experience in writing advocacy documents and organizing advocacy campaigns

Skills

•Proven skills in the development and implementation of communication/medial product and tactics

•Excellent communication, facilitation, report writing and presentation skills

•Excellent interpersonal skills complemented by the ability to conceptualize ideas and advocate consensus

•Knowledge or understanding of WHO mandate and goals in the emergency context

•Ability to “think out of the box” and to make innovative proposals as related to communication

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

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of another WHO/EURO language.

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 77,326 (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 5187 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

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test may be used as a form of screening.

• In the event that your candidature is retained for an 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.

• According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• • Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
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• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.

• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

• WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.

• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.

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