Risk Communication Consultant

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Description

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• The mission of the Division of Health Emergencies (WHE) is to build the capacity of Member States to assess, prevent and manage health emergency risks, and lead and coordinate the health response to contain outbreaks and to prove effective relief and recovery to affected populations.
• To improve health security in the Region and advance implementation of the International Health Regulations, the Region applies the Asia Pacific Health Security Action Framework (APHSAF).
•  APHSAF focuses on enhancing and sustaining the core public health functions required to sustain and strengthen the entire health system. 
• The WPRO Risk Communication team continues to work on the sustained management of COVID-19 and other emergencies to engage, empower, and enable people and communities to use all available tools to protect themselves, their families, and their communities. As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its fifth year, WHO continues to operationalize the Strategic Preparedness and Response plan for 2023-2025. Moreover, the team will look to further operationalize the APHSAF and support Member States to improve their health security by building risk communication capacities as part of emergency preparedness but also, support during emergencies, as the need arises. 
• Develop and update risk communication content, guidance, and tools for emergency preparedness, readiness, and response to support Member States. Expected by 30 December
• Translate scientific information, such as technical guidance, into actionable content and engagement interventions for affected populations and specific communities and manage the clearance and publication process of the mentioned materials.
• Develop external-facing risk communication materials such as social media tiles, infographics, Q&As, webpages content, etc., according to updated or new guidance and technical information.
• Act as a focal point on message testing at the Regional Office, and carry out message testing activities to refine communication strategies at the regional level and coordinate the message testing at the country level.
• Address information voids, and mis/disinformation to improve quality of health information. 
• Provide technical support for risk communications focus area of APHSAF Expected by 30 December
• Conduct risk communication activities, as defined in the APHSAF, to support Member States deliver high quality health information.   
• Prepare and develop the needed supporting documents, for example, technical papers, for the Technical Advisory Group Meeting (TAG) in June 2024.  
• Implement risk communication activities with Incident Management (as needed), relevant internal units/divisions, external communication, country RCCE focal points, and partners, as part of emergency response.

• Assessment of training needs, design and delivery of trainings, SIMEX and/or tabletop exercises.
• Assist preparations for Joint External Evaluations, After Actions Reviews and cater to requests from Member States to develop risk communication aspects of their National Action Plans for Health Security (NAPHS). 
• Maintain repository of training materials to support country training requests

• Development of MEL to assess the quality of capacity building activities and produce and disseminate reports to allow for adjustments/recommendations to ensure continuous learning and improving.
• Monitor and report on risk communication MEL indicators for internal reports and/or donor reporting requirements.
• Prepare improved MEL tools for risk communication. 
• Submit progress reports at regular intervals and a final report at the end of the consultancy.

• Essential: Advanced university degree (Master’s level or above) in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Public Health Promotion, Life Sciences, Health Science or a related field.
• Desirable: Public Health

• Essential: Minimum of five years’ experience in strategic communications including experience in emergency risk communication.
• Desirable: The consultant should have experience of working with the UN system. Experience with WHO is preferred. Experience of working in the Western Pacific Region is an advantage.

• Essential: Expert knowledge and skills in risk communication.
• Desirable: Expert knowledge in emergency preparedness and response

• Essential: Written and spoken fluency in English are essential. 
• Desirable: Other languages of the Region.

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