International Consultant to Develop Risk Communication Strategy For The Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Launch

Area of expertise:

Risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) or Information,education,andcommunication(IEC)inpublic health specialist.

Purposeofconsultancy:

SupporttotheMinistryofHealthofAngolatodeveloptheriskcommunicationstrategy for thehumanpapillomavirusVaccineintroduction.

Background

ThemissionoftheWorldHealthOrganization’sHealthEmergenciesProgramme(WHE)istobuildthecapacityofMemberStatestomanagehealthemergencyrisksandtoleadandcoordinatetheinternational health response when national capacities are overwhelmed, to contain outbreaksandtoprovideadequate reliefandrecoveryto affectedpopulations.

Risk communication is a cross-cutting program that contributes to the organization’s support togovernmentsinrespondingtoemergencies,enablingthosemostatrisktounderstandandadoptprotective behaviors during a crisis, facilitate enhanced surveillance, reduce confusion, andminimizemiscommunicationandrumors.

TheconsultantwillreportdirectlytotheEmergency ClusterLeadundertheoverallguidanceof the WHO Representative. S/he will work closely with the External Relations and Immunization clusters andcollaboratewithrelevanttechnicalofficersandtheRiskCommunication teams in the respective Regional Office (RO) and WHO/HQ. S/he has first-lineresponsibilitytosupporttheNationalDepartmentofSurveillanceandHealthPromotionDepartmentinpromotingeffectiveriskcommunicationstrategiestopromotehumanpapillomavirus(HPV)vaccinationlaunchandcoverageamongriskgrouppeople.S/hewillengage with all levels of the organization, will liaise with the National Director of Public Health and theNational Coordinator of Health Promotion as well as with relevant stakeholders,targetaudiences,andofficial representatives from the national authorities to obtain information and, as necessary,provideadviceonriskcommunicationinitiativesforthereferredvaccinelaunchinthecountry.

4.Deliverables

a.Developariskcommunicationstrategy,includingarespectivechronogramforthelaunchofthehumanpapillomavirus (HPV)vaccineinthecountry.

b.Identityincollaborationwithrelevantstakeholders,reasonsthatmaydisruptthesuccessful launch of the campaign among people considered at risk and support theidentifypertinentinformation,educationandcommunicationmaterialsinlanguagesandformatsquicklytousebyprovincialstakeholders andthe public.

c.Identifyanddevelopcriticalcommunity-centredapproachinitiativestosensitize,mobilizeandeducatethe populationaboutvaccination.

d.Mappingriskcommunicationstakeholderstobeengagedforthelaunchofthevaccinationcampaign.

e.Performanyotherincident-specificrelateddutiesasthefunctionalsupervisorrequires.

f.Developed a strategy for the for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine launch in thecountry with closer participation of the WHO Team, key partners such as DNPS, UNICEFandtheRiskcommunicationandcommunityengagement(RCEE)Networkinthecountry,

g.Identifiedinclosecollaborationwithrelevantstakeholders,thereasonsthatmaydisruptthe successful launch of the campaign among people considered at risk and describedpertinentinformation,educationandcommunicationmaterialsinlanguagesandformatsquickly tobeused byprovincialstakeholdersandthepublic.

h.Developed a guide orientation with a specific chorogram to successfully support thelaunchof the vaccineandcoverriskpopulations andrisk groups,as definedbyWHO.

Qualifications, experience, skills, and language education qualifications:

Education: Master’s degree in Anthropology, Sociology, journalism,communications,internationalrelations,politicalor socialscience,or relatedfield. A first university degree combined with more than 7 years of experience in the field can be considered.

Desirable:TrainingorspecializationinRiskcommunicationandcommunityengagement(RCCE)orInformation,education,andcommunication(IEC) inpublichealth.

Experience:

Essential: Five years’ experience managing and promoting social programs and communication,workingwithnational/internationalorganizationsinvolvedinRiskCommunication,healthpromotion,public health,or development

Desirable: Experience working in Risk communication and community engagement (RCCE),educationandcommunication(IEC)in public health, as well as in developing communication strategy and plans for vaccination campaigns, for HPV vaccinate campaign and launch. PreviouslyexperienceworkingwithDNSPandotherkeypartners is an key asset.

Skills/Knowledge:

Essential:

a.CommitmenttoWHO’svalues andobjectives.

b.AbilitytoworkflexiblywithinshortdeadlinesinachangingenvironmentwithcompetingprioritiesSharea results-orientedworkethic.

c.Fosteringintegrationandteamwork.

d.Ability to Create an empowering and motivating environmentAbilityto communicatewithrespect,tact,anddiplomacy.

e.Thoroughknowledgeoftheprinciples,techniques,andpracticesofonlinedisseminationofinformationvia socialmedia mechanisms andtheweb.