National Consultant – Multimedia Production, CONNECT Initiative, Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Purpose of Consultancy

This role provides communication support, with a focus on content and multimedia production, to the CONNECT initiative (the Community Network Engagement for Essential Healthcare and COVID-19 Responses through Trust), which was created by a coalition of government partners, with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO), to empower local ownership of health through building governance beyond the health sector.

Background

Through strengthening the core capacities required under the IHR (2005), including communication and community engagement, countries can save lives and protect health during outbreaks and health emergencies. In Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted and exacerbated long-standing challenges in community health.

Led by the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Home Affairs, and supported by WHO, the CONNECT initiative focusses on building trust between health-care providers and communities, working closely with local leaders to improve communication with villagers and demand for essential health care such as vaccination, and maternal and child health services. It also aims to improve local governance, build trust, address social factors that and therefore enhance health equity, for lasting change.

In this regard, the WHO Country Office seeks to support communication and community engagement preparedness and response capacity to address ongoing and future outbreaks and other public health emergencies.

CONNECT has proven highly effective in building trust and increasing prioritization of health. Knowledge sharing allows community members, healthcare workers, and local leaders to share their positive experiences, testimonials, learnings and progress on trust building, vaccine coverage increases, and service improvement with other communities taking part in CONNECT or those seeking similar improvements. Upscaling this approach will provide significant benefits through 1) improving follow up of CONNECT modules and progress with success-based content allowing for ongoing engagement and motivation; and 2) highlighting “wins” made in vaccination coverage improvements and quality, at district, provincial and subnational levels, increasing interest and support for quality community engagement and vaccine trust-building activities.

The WHO Country Office, therefore, seeks a national consultant to support communication for the CONNECT initiative, with a focus on content and multimedia production, particularly highlighting progress at the community level in ways which can be shared with other communities.

Deliverables

Under the supervision of the Technical Officer, Coordination and Communication for Health (TO C4H) in the Country Office and in collaboration with the technical team of the WHO CONNECT initiative and other national and international communications consultants and staff members, the Consultant will be responsible for delivering the following:

• Producing multimedia and other forms of content (including video, photos, interviews, profiles, social media content and others) highlighting success stories and progress on community-level health achieved by healthcare workers, village authorities, Ministry of Health and/or Ministry of Home Affairs staff, and others supported via the CONNECT initiative.
• Liaise with technical units within WHO, Ministry of Health and other Ministries, and mass media organisations to develop communication materials to promote CONNECT with Government, donors and other partners as required.
• Support utilization and deployment of WHO Lao PDR and other communication materials via CONNECT initiative outreach efforts, and advise on amendments, alternatives, and additional needs.
• Support distribution of produced material via CONNECT supportive supervision WhatsApp Groups.
• Support integration of Communications for Health (C4H) principles into ongoing and future CONNECT work.

Output/s

Output 1: Producing multimedia and other forms of content (including video, photos, interviews, profiles, social media content and others) highlighting success stories and progress on community-level health achieved by healthcare workers, village authorities, Ministry of Health and/or Ministry of Home Affairs staff, and others supported via the CONNECT initiative.

Deliverable 1.1: Produce 15 short-form simple videos from CONNECT communities – where community members, healthcare workers or local officials share key insights – produced to share with other communities
Deliverable 1.2: Develop 25 social media and media appropriate local-level case studies to share in national and provincial media, on key health social media platforms, and other platforms as appropriate, including with community members as vaccination advocacy products

Output 2: Liaise with technical units within WHO, Ministry of Health and other Ministries, and mass media organisations to develop communication materials to promote CONNECT with Government, donors and other partners as required.

Deliverable 2.1: Produce visibility material as required in addition to the above, and/or ensure proper distribution to Government, partners and other stakeholders.

Output 3: Support utilization and deployment of WHO Lao PDR and other communication materials via CONNECT initiative outreach efforts, and advise on amendments, alternatives, and additional needs.

Deliverable 3.1: Support deployment of communications materials via CONNECT outreach, and report back on any changes required to communications products or other relevant guidance.
Deliverable 3.2: Share at least 15 case studies via CONNECT WhatsApp networks, to maintain engagement and highlight progress among peers, and report back on areas for potential enhanced engagement via WhatsApp Groups.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualification

Essential: University degree related to Social Science, Marketing, Advertising, Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Multimedia Production, Public Health or related field from a recognized university.
Desirable: Masters’ degree related to Social Science, Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Public Health or related field from a recognized university

Experience

Essential: A minimum of two years’ work experience in communication.
Desirable: Experience in working with international organizations. Experience in public health will be an advantage.

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

• Excellent video production and photography skills
• Good knowledge of public health concepts
• Excellent knowledge on social media and content development
• High competence on knowledge sharing and capacity building
• Proficiency in standard MS Office applications including MS Excel, MS Word and MS PowerPoint are essential
• Proficiency in Adobe and/or equivalent multimedia editing software

Other requirement:

Selected candidate must have their own personal laptop.

Language requirements:

Proficient English and Lao (speaking, reading and writing) is essential.

Location

Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Travel

On a regular basis, the Consultant will be expected to travel outside Vientiane Capital around Lao PDR.

Remuneration and budget

Remuneration: USD 1,600 (monthly)
Expected duration of contract: 5 months, target start date will be 1 August 2024

Applicants are required to submit in a cover letter which includes a summary on how they will deliver on TOR and indicate their fee rate.

Additional Information:

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
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