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Qualifications

TERMS OF REFERENCE

     1.       Area of expertise:

Consultant- Africa Infodemic Response Alliance Coordinator

2.       Purpose of consultancy

To effectively coordinate efforts to manage infodemics between the Africa Infodemic Response Alliance partners in the WHO AFRO region.

      3.       Background  

The overall objective of the Communications Unit is to lead and coordinate WHO/AFRO’S efforts to advocate for resources and actions on key health issues in the African Region and showcase the impact of its work on health outcomes, securing the organization’s position as the regional health leader and facilitating its ability to shape health policies. The unit also manages the internal communications function to create an optimal work environment reinforcing the common purpose of staff members.

In 2020, the Africa Infodemic Response Alliance (AIRA) was created, a WHO-hosted Network that includes 14 governmental and intergovernmental operational agencies as well as non-State actors/entities mobilised to respond to the COVID-19 Infodemic, to share safe, proven facts on health and to counter dangerous health misinformation. Today, AIRA continues to lead efforts to promote healthy information ecosystems and manage mis/disinformation to support health emergency responses, health preparedness efforts and to promote Universal Health Coverage more broadly. The AIRA team is composed of a social listening analyst, a country support lead, a capacity building officer, an operational researcher and a social media content production team.

The coordinator will manage this team, ensure effective delivery and reporting of activities, ensure pro-active coordination between WHO units and offices (HQ/regional/country) and also pro-active coordination between AIRA’s members and partners.

The AIRA Secretariat is housed at WHO under the Communications Unit, and also work very closely with the WHO Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR), Universal Health Coverage and Healthier Populations (UHP) clusters, as part of the WHO Community Protection and engagement regional strategy.

4.       Deliverables

The incumbent will be expected to perform the following duties:

·         Guide and coordinate the infodemic response team at WHO AFRO and ensure timely outputs of deliverables.

·         Consult partners for the revision of AIRA’s Terms of Reference (TORs), membership and  workflow for a sustainable response to infodemics, and get it adopted by AIRA members.

·         Build new strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, donors, media partners, academia with a focus on African-based organizations.

·         Guide the development of innovative, impactful activities, including the better inclusion of social behavior change in infodemic management, support the further development of the Africa Misinformation Portal and other Artificial Intelligence initiatives

·         Support the documentation of AIRA’s activities, generation of evidence, writing of scientific articles and share AIRA’s experience at key international events.

·         Identify funding opportunities and work on resource mobilization and funding proposals.

·         Chair the Africa Infodemic Response Alliance meetings and represent WHO AFRO in meetings on infodemic management.

·         Prepare regular reports on infodemic response activities to the relevant WHO clusters and AIRA members on the efficacy of infodemic management campaigns and interventions.

·         Provide regular reports to key donors on infodemic response activities and community protection.

      5.   Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: Master’s degree in public health, health communication, risk communication, social behavior change

Desirable: University degree in communication/journalism

Experience

Essential: Minimum of seven years in infodemic management, health communication and/or risk communication and community engagement, or similar, with demonstrated work experience of coordinating multistakeholder networks. Team management of an international team is required.

Desirable: Experience with working with the WHO is a strong asset. Experience working with inter-governmental organizations and international organizations in Africa is desired.

Skills/Knowledge:

A proven track record of working on infodemic management or risk communication, with field experience (preferably in Africa).

Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Expert):

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French; Basic knowledge of Portuguese.

      6.     Location

Off site: home based

     7.       Travel

(Please specify any expected travel(s): dates, location and purpose.)

Trips to WHO regional offices in Nairobi, Dakar and Brazzaville could be expected.

Other trips to represent AIRA at international events can also be expected.

     8.    Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

a.       Remuneration: Payband level – Remuneration currency – Payband range

Band Level B

b.       Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited): currency and rate

c.       Expected duration of contract (Maximum contract duration is 11 months per calendar year):  6 months

Additional Information (For HR use only):

• 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 in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.

• Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html

For roster VNs:

• 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.