Purpose of consultancy

The consultant will provide a range of communication and media-related services to the Country Office to improve its media presence and communication in China, which includes informing office health-related news and social media trends, managing and expanding the office’s online presence, producing videos and campaign materials on various health topics and develop catalogs of photos, videos, and slides.

Background

The Communications Consultant will be tasked with providing short-term support to the Country Office Communications team, working under the guidance of the Head of the WHO China Office.

The WHO Country Office in China regards communications as a vital tool for fostering and amplifying public discourse on crucial health reforms, thereby facilitating more informed and engaging discussions with decision-makers regarding reform options. The office actively participates in communication initiatives centered around key priorities within its work program. These priorities include health system reform; tobacco control and non-communicable diseases; strengthening regulatory authority for medical products and vaccines; as well as addressing persistent challenges related to infectious diseases such as hepatitis, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS.

Aligned with this strategic approach, the WHO China Office is seeking a Communications Consultant to provide support in social media management, graphic design, and social listening. This support will be essential in executing priority communication campaigns effectively.

Deliverables

Output 1: Improve media presence and communication in China.

Deliverable 1.1: Provide a weekly Chinese media monitoring summary on health-related news, October 2024 – March 2025;
Deliverable 1.2: Provide a weekly summary of hot topics and trending discussions regarding defined topics e.g. COVID-19 on social media and online platforms, October 2024 – March 2025;
Deliverable 1.3: Support managing the Country Office’s website and social media presences (Weibo, WeChat, Douyin, Baidu etc.), including a planned extension to new platforms, October 2024 – March 2025;
Deliverable 1.4: Develop and produce new videos that can be shown on WHO Country Office entrance screen and be used for advocacy / social media sharing.  Specific topics could include TB, UHC, Climate Change, Tobacco Control, November 2024;
Deliverable 1.5: Support WCO technical staff in planning and delivering campaign materials including but not limited to videos, infographics, photos, posters, and banners, and providing technical and effectiveness analysis of progress and final products for campaigns related to (i) climate change and health (including COP 29), UHC Day, World AIDS Day, tobacco control advocacy on tax and smoke-free, and nutrition, December 2024 – March 2025;
Deliverable 1.6: Develop a catalog of CO photos and videos that are easily accessible and searchable, January – March 2025;
Deliverable 1.7: Develop a catalog of core PPT slide sets (e.g. on CCS, SDGs, etc) that all staff can draw from, January – March 2025;
Deliverable 1.8: Support the Country Office technical teams prepare communication materials with current media partners and undertake outreach to potential media partners as required;
Deliverable 1.9: Assist WR with media interviews, October 2024 – March 2025;
Deliverable 1.10: Submit monthly progress report summarizing health-related news, analysis of hot topics discussed on social media platforms, and campaign materials, including videos, infographics, photos, posters, and banners developed, October 2024 – March 2025

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications

Essential: First university degree in communications, public health or a relevant field.

Experience

Essential: Minimum one year experience in communications or communications consulting, or working as part of public health teams on communications;
Desirable: Experience working with UN preferred

Skills/Knowledge

Essential: Knowledge of communications for media, social media and web; preference is given for agility in the use of basic graphic design or video editing software

Languages and level required

Essential: 
English – Strong conversational and written English skills
Mandarin – Native fluency