Job Description

PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTANCY

This consultancy will support the Ministry of Health Malaysia and the WHO Representative Office in Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and Singapore with the development of a Risk Communication Guideline for Public Health Emergencies and the design and implementation of the associated activities.

BACKGROUND

Risk communication is one of the core capacities of the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005, as well as the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases and Public Health Emergencies (APSED III). Risk communication is a critical component in managing any public health crisis. It enables effective communication of critical information and actions which are timely, accurate, credible, and relevant for all phases of the crisis. Risk communication is a two-way interaction and communication of information/knowledge, opinions, and actions between stakeholders, for behaviour change in managing the risks related to an emergency.

The lessons learned from the COVID-19 response revealed that provision of timely and accurate information to the public in a transparent and regular manner was crucial to build trust and establish two-way communication during the emergency. Besides that, tracking and monitoring fake news and addressing misinformation and disinformation proactively and timely during a pandemic should be strengthened and integrated into existing risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) plans and systems at national and subnational levels.

Currently, the Ministry of Health Malaysia does not have a standalone official guideline for Risk Communication. Chapters on risk communication have been included in various public health emergency plans but there is no overarching guideline for all hazards. In addition, infodemic management has never been incorporated in previous documents. Therefore, there is a proven need to develop a comprehensive and all-hazard Risk Communication Guideline for Public Health Emergencies.

PLANNED TIMELINE

Start date: 1 August 2023
End date: 31 Dec 2023

WORK TO BE PERFORMED

Under the supervision of the WHO Representative and the Strategic and Risk Communication Specialists at the WHO Representative office in Malaysia, the consultant will be responsible for delivering the following:

Output 1: Support the implementation of the COVID-19 After-Action Review Workshop

Deliverable 1.1: Support the design and implementation of the COVID-19 After Action Review workshop, including the design of sessions, materials, MEL framework, group exercises, etc.
Deliverable 1.2: Produce a report following the completion of the workshop, including feedback from the participants, to further inform the development of the Risk Communication Guideline for Public Health Emergencies.

Tentative activity date: RCCE After Action Review : 28-30 August 2023

Output 2: Support the implementation of a workshop with the Ministry of Health to design the Risk Communication Guideline

Deliverable 2.1: Support the implementation of a two-day workshop to develop and co-deign with the Ministry of Health the Risk Communication Guideline for Public Health Emergencies, based on the literature review and the After-Action Review workshop findings.
Deliverable 2.2: Draft an all hazard Risk Communication Guideline for Public Health Emergencies based on the outcomes from the workshops.

Tentative activity date: Developing the RCCE guideline: 18-20 September

Output 3: Risk communication and community engagement table-top exercise

Deliverable 3.1: Support the design and implementation of the table-top simulation exercise to test the draft Risk Communication Guideline for Public Health Emergencies.
Deliverable 3.2: Finalize the draft guideline based on the results from the table-top simulation exercise.

Tentative activity date: RCCE table-top exercise: 23-25 October 2023

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications required:

Advanced university degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations or a health-related field.

Experience required:

Minimum of 7 years of experience in leading and developing risk communications strategies, preferably in a health-related field and ideally within the UN system. Direct experience with WHO is preferred. Experience in conducting After Action Reviews will be an added advantage.

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

Expert knowledge of risk communication \xe2\x80\x93 particularly in the areas of risk communication capacity-building techniques and tools. Extensive knowledge in designing strategies, plans and frameworks is preferred and well as experience in the design of table-top simulation exercises.

Language requirements:

Written and spoken fluency in English is essential. Malay is desirable.

PLACE OF ASSIGNMENT

Most of the work can be completed remotely, but in-person implementation of the foreseen workshops and trainings in Putrajaya, Malaysia is required.

MEDICAL CLEARANCE

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

TRAVEL

Consultant may be required to travel to Malaysia to meet with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders.

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.
- If your candidature is retained for 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.
- For information on WHO\'s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
- WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
- WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
- Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
- 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.
- Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
- WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
- The purpose of this vacancy is to develop a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in this advertised roster. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) upon conclusion of the selection process. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection to a consultant contract. There is no commitment on either side.

World Health Organization