Consultant Roster: Risk Communication, Community Engagement and Infodemic Management (RCCE-IM) Capacity Building (CB)

1. Purpose of consultancy

The World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (WHO Europe) is seeking qualified consultants to provide technical support to Risk Communication, Community Engagement and Infodemic Management (RCCE-IM) capacity building within the relevant Risk Communication and Information (RCI) Unit.

The consultant(s) will be responsible for designing, delivering, evaluating, and documenting capacity building activities. This may include trainings, workshops, simulation exercises, and on-the-job coaching to strengthen the RCCE-IM capabilities of health authorities, partners, civil society organizations, professionals, and other relevant stakeholders, as well as WHO staff.

The purpose of this vacancy notice is to establish an active roster  of qualified candidates for future consultancy assignments. Successful candidates will be included in the roster and may be selected for consultancy assignments based on the specific needs of WHO Europe and its partners. Inclusion in the roster does not guarantee selection for a consultant contract.

2. Background

WHO Europe is dedicated to protecting people during health emergencies. Effective Risk Communication, Community Engagement, and Infodemic Management (RCCE-IM) implementation plays a central role in controlling health emergencies and building resilience. RCCE-IM empowers communities to make informed decisions to protect themselves and supports public health efforts during crises.

In the context of health emergencies, RCCE-IM is essential for increasing health-seeking behaviors, and dispelling false information that can contribute to ill-health in emergencies.

Effective RCCE-IM is also crucial for building trust and partnerships between communities and health authorities, which can positively influence health outcomes and enhance the overall response to a health emergency.

For RCCE-IM to be truly effective, it must be integrated into the planning and response efforts of health authorities and organizations throughout the entire emergency cycle. This integration requires building the capacity and capabilities of RCCE-IM practitioners, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to communicate effectively and engage meaningfully with communities during health emergencies.

The role of the RCCE-IM Capacity Building Consultant is to support and broaden capacity-building efforts of WHO Europe’s Risk Communication, Community Engagement and Infodemic Management Unit in the Health Emergencies Division (WHE/RCI). The consultant will help to strengthen the capacity and capabilities of health authorities and partner organizations.

3. Deliverables

Under the oversight of the RCCE-IM Capacity-Building Officer the consultant will:
* Co-design and co-deliver RCCE-IM capacity building activities, including workshops, simulation exercises, and training programs, tailored to the specific needs of requestors and audiences, across a variety of formats.
* Contribute to the evaluation of the effectiveness of capacity-building activities, and help build the RCCE-IM evidence base, providing recommendations for improvement and future initiatives.
* Follow up on capacity-building activities in collaboration RCI Unit’s team members and countries, to support the ongoing development of RCCE-IM plans, and assist within the establishment of structures, systems, and skills necessary for their effective implementation.
* Prepare and present regular reports on the progress and outcomes of the capacity-building activities, while supporting the visibility of these efforts through WHO Europe’s communication channels.

4. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

* Advanced degree (Master´s degree) in public health, risk communication, community engagement, behavior change, curriculum and training, social sciences, capacity building, or a related field

Experience

Essential:

* 5 to 10 years of relevant  experience in the developing and implementing  capacity-building programs for governments, civil society organizations, UN agencies (including public communicators, health promoters, community workers) and other relevant stakeholders .
* At least 5 years of relevant experience in designing and delivering capacity-building activities

Desirable:

* Experience working with WHO or other UN and international organizations in risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management.
* Experience in managing health emergencies
* Proven experience in evaluating  RCCE-IM programs and providing actionable  recommendations for improvement

Skills/Knowledge:

Essential:

* Strong analytical, organizational and project management skills
* Experience in creating and delivering professional training, workshops and simulation exercises
* Overall knowledge of and experience in RCCE-IM
* Excellent training and facilitation skills, including the ability to adapt training materials to different cultural and language contexts

Desirable:

* Specialized knowledge and experience in one of the RCCE-IM sub-domains: Infodemic Management, Risk Communication, Community Engagement, or RCCE-IM Operational Management

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

Essential:

* Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Desirable:
* Fluency in at least one other UN language is an advantage, especially Russian

5. Location

The consultant will primarily work remotely.

6. Travel

Travel will be required for country missions including to deliver trainings. WHO will cover the cost for official duty travels

Additional Information

The purpose of this vacancy is to develop a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in the advertised roster. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments; however, contracting of rostered candidates is not guaranteed.

•    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.
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•    Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority.
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