Risk Communication Officer at World Health Organization (WHO)

World Health Organization (WHO)

Position: Risk Communication Officer

Job Type: Contract

Place of Work: Semera, Afar Region, Ethiopia

Salary: $2,359

Application Deadline: June, 28/2023

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to help countries and coordinate international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies.

The Programme seeks to promote and uphold the humanitarian and public health principles by leading a coordinated and effective health sector response together with the national and international community, with specific attention to vulnerable and marginalized populations, through effectuating WHO's commitment to work within the framework of the Interagency Standing Committee (IASC) and the cluster approach. The incumbent will be responsible for performing dedicated coordination, health needs assessment, strategy development and resource mobilization, supporting the implementation and, monitoring the joint incident management system and advocacy function.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The incumbent will act as a national focal point for risk communication; applying risk communications principles and practices for integration into and implementation in all phases of the incident management cycle at the national level in the country office. This position will participate in providing high-quality risk communications products and disseminate them accordingly.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

1. Act as a risk communication focal point at the national level in the IM system during outbreaks and emergencies:

a. Implement the risk communication plans as part of the health response operations.

b. Support the develop relevant information, education and communication materials in languages and formats easily used by national stakeholders and the public which identify various risks.

c. Review technical material produced by the country office and provide input ensuring integration with risk communication principles and practice.

d. Track false rumours and misinformation; and address fears and concerns.

e. In collaboration with the Communication Officer, provide input in briefing journalists and broadcasters.

f. Draft and revise risk communication products such as public information; brochures, leaflets and posters; radio and TV scripts; guides for stakeholders for risk communication and ensure their translation into local language and their adaptation for the local context.

g. Report regularly in risk communication activities and issues to the IM, respective RO and HQ counterparts.

h. Contribute to resource mobilization and donor communication in the area of risk communication.

2. Support the risk communication activities in the WHO Country Office:

a. Support the implementation of a multi-hazard risk communication plan for the country office.

b. In close collaboration with the Community Engagement Officer and the Communications Officer, map and work with risk communication stakeholders on a number of risk communication activities.

c. Map preferred channels of communication in the country with a focus on vulnerable groups.

3. Support national capacity building for emergency risk communication:

a. Work with resources from national levels to train and prepare country-level counterparts for emergency risk communication.

b. Assist national authorities to convene stakeholders and co-develop a national risk communication strategy and plan.    

c. Support national authorities to conduct lessons learnt exercises to further strengthen emergency risk communication.

4. Perform any other related incident-specific duties, as required by the functional supervisor.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION

Essential:

• A first university degree in social sciences, behavioral sciences, development sciences, communications, public health, or a related area from an accredited/recognized institute.

Desirable

• Training in public health, health education, health communication, or health promotion.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Essential

• At least two (2) years of related experience, at the national level in risk communication, health promotion, and/or emergency management.

• Demonstrated experience implementing of risk communications activities.

Desirable

• Experience working in disease outbreaks or health emergencies.

• Prior working experience with WHO, the UN, health cluster partners, and recognized humanitarian organizations.

• Management or project management experience.

FUNCTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Excellent interpersonal skills.

• Effective negotiation, facilitation and consensus-building skills. 

• Ability to work under pressure while producing results. 

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

• Tact, discretion and diplomacy.

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

WHO COMPETENCIES

• Communication

• Teamwork

• Producing result

• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

Use of Language Skills

Essential:

• Excellent knowledge of English. Working knowledge of the local language.

Other Skills (e.g. IT Skills)

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office software applications. Excellent presentation skills.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• The duty station of this assignment is located in Semera, Afar Region

• Remuneration – This is a Special Service Agreement (SSA) contract at NO-B level, with a monthly remuneration of $2,359

• 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 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.

• 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.

• This is an assignment reserved for local recruitment; so only applications from Ethiopians will be considered.

• Applications from women 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.

• The SSA holder shall perform the work as an independent contractor in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a SSA contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the SSA holder.

• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the SSA holder. The SSA holder shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the SSA holder in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the SSA holder shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.

How to Apply

• Register using THIS LINK