Purpose of the Consultancy

The national consultant will provide technical support to WHO Cambodia and the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Cambodia to support risk communications and community engagement (RCCE) systems strengthening, capacity building, and strategic RCCE activities as part of the country’s seasonal and pandemic influenza preparedness and response planning under the new National Action Plan for Health Security 2025-2029.

Background

The WHO Cambodia office works to strengthen country capacities, specifically in the Ministry of Health, to prepare and respond to public health emergencies, as well as health system strengthening and preventing, controlling and eliminating communicable and non-communicable diseases. In the Western Pacific Region, the Asia Pacific Health Security Action Framework is a common strategic framework guiding the joint action of Member States, WHO and partners to advance implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005).

In this region, WHO leverages the power of communication as a tool for health under the Communication for Health Western Pacific Regional Action Framework, endorsed by Member States in 2023. Evidence-based, strategic communications is an extremely powerful tool for tackling complex health challenges. Communication for Health is an approach that is applied to various areas of work including risk communication and community engagement (RCCE). In this regard, the Ministry of Health of Cambodia has requested the WHO Country Office to support RCCE preparedness and response capacity to address ongoing and future avian influenza outbreaks and other respiratory pathogen emergencies. The WHO Country Office, therefore, seeks a national consultant for RCCE, who will support the planning, implementation, coordination and evaluation of seasonal and pandemic influenza RCCE activities and capacity building.

Deliverables

Under the supervision of the WHO Cambodia Health Emergencies Team Lead, and in collaboration with colleagues in the Western Pacific Regional Office, particularly the Risk Communication, Technical Officer in the Health Emergencies Programme (CPI/WHE), the consultant will work on a hybrid basis – remotely and on-site in the WHO Cambodia Office in Phnom Penh – with the following outputs and deliverables.

Output 1: Support the implementation of RCCE seasonal and pandemic influenza capacity building and training activities in Cambodia

Deliverable 1.1: Conduct a desk review of previous RCCE/SBCC avian influenza training materials and IEC materials in Cambodia, and the new WHO HQ RCCE training packages, and provide recommendations for an integrated RCCE seasonal and pandemic influenza preparedness training curriculum for Cambodia that includes infodemic management.
Deliverable 1.2: Provide technical inputs and coordination to ensure that all RCCE training activities align with the draft multi-sectoral, multi-hazard RCCE framework, ensuring that seasonal and pandemic influenza strategies and approaches are included.
Deliverable 1.3: Provide technical inputs to the development of MoH-designed RCCE avian influenza and other respiratory pathogens training and capacity building packages and curriculum and support MOH to organize training activities.

Output 2: Support generation of data and evidence necessary for the development of tailored RCCE seasonal and pandemic influenza messaging and preparedness and response activities

Deliverable 2.1: Support MOH to develop regular social listening insight reports for avian influenza and other respiratory pathogens to understand key information and behavioural barriers around preventative measures, and update RCCE strategies based on those insights.
Deliverable 2.2: Work with external providers to design and implement digital media consumption surveys, focus group discussions and other feedback mechanisms from community engagement activities to generate critical data to guide/inform RCCE activities and products.
Deliverable 2.3: Utilise research findings to support RCCE activities for social and behavioural change for avian influenza and other respiratory pathogens.
Deliverable 2.4: Support developing, pre-testing and dissemination of RCCE messages and IEC materials for avian influenza and other respiratory pathogens and support MoH to assess relevance and impact on key target audiences.
Deliverable 2.5: Provide technical guidance to MoH for seasonal RCCE preparedness and response activities as required.

Output 3: Support the drafting, finalization and translation of key RCCE strategies, frameworks and SOPs, ensuring that seasonal and pandemic influenza strategies and approaches are included

Deliverable 3.1: Provide technical inputs and coordination to the development, drafting and finalization of the Multi-hazard RCCE Framework, the SOP for managing and responding to health-related misinformation and disinformation in Cambodia, and any other guidance documents necessary to effectively implement RCCE for seasonal and pandemic preparedness and response in Cambodia.

Other Deliverables:  Monthly report and end of mission report

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: University degree in communications, humanities, journalism, media, or related fields
Desirable: Master’s degree in communication, humanitarian studies, public health or related field is desirable.

Experience required:

Essential: Minimum 5 years of experience in communications, marketing, media or journalism in the NGO, Aid, UN, or international development field is required.
Desirable: Direct experience with WHO is preferred, especially working knowledge of the RCCE core competencies of the International Health Regulations (2005). Experience in health communications in the aid or international development sector is desirable.

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

• Experience in supporting communications in emergency situations and on sensitive issues.
• Experience developing key messages for various audiences.
• Experience using social media platforms and tools to communicate and engage with a variety of audiences.
• Experience in conducting RCCE training would be an asset.
• Experience in managing and responding to health-related misinformation and disinformation would be an asset.
• Proficiency in standard MS Office applications including MS Excel, MS Word and MS PowerPoint is essential.

Language requirements:

Written and spoken fluency in English is essential.

Location

The consultant will work remotely.

Travel

The Consultant is expected to travel only within Cambodia.

Remuneration and budget

Remuneration: TBD
Duration: 5 months, February to June 2025

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.
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Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements