Purpose of the Consultancy

The consultant will support the WHO country office to strengthen partner visibility, health communications, and knowledge management, including pandemic preparedness and response and the One Health approach, and translation capacity within the office.

Background

Communication for Health (C4H) leverages the power of communications as a tool for health. Evidence-based, strategic communications is an extremely powerful tool for tackling complex health challenges. Whether it be promoting health-protective behaviours for COVID-19, increasing vaccination rates, reducing stigma around mental health, or advocating for inclusive health policies, strategic communication can play an important role. The WHO Cambodia office works to strengthen country capacities, specifically in the Ministry of Health, in health security, health systems strengthening, and preventing, controlling and eliminating communicable and non-communicable diseases. Different types of communication mechanisms, such as risk communications, community engagement, community protection, and social and behaviour change are key pillars in the C4H approach that supports the strengthening of these capacities.

This is why WHO is scaling up its use of C4H to achieve health priorities in the Western Pacific Region and is supporting Member States to apply the C4H approach for improved health outcomes at the individual, community and societal levels.

Deliverables

Under the direct supervision of the Technical Officer, Coordination and Communication for Health (C4H), the Strategic Communications consultant will work in a hybrid modality, both remotely and in the WHO Cambodia office, with the following outputs and deliverables.

Output 1:  Implement partner visibility and communications plans for 2024
Delivearble 1.1: In consultation with the partners and donors, draft, finalise and implement visibility and communication plans for 2025.
Deliverable 1.2: Draft, finalise and publish two partner web stories with a focus on pandemic preparedness and/or One Health activities. Travel within Cambodia may be required.
Deliverable 1.3: Support the development, design, and delivery of content (stories, social posts, infographics etc.) as required in partner visibility plans. Pro-actively identify content opportunities and manage approval processes.
Deliverable 1.4: Ensure opportunities to raise partner visibility during technical work – workshops, events, seminars, guidelines, protocols etc. – are taken up and implemented according to partner and WHO branding guidelines.

Output 2: Implement WHO corporate communications to inform the public about global health issues, maintain and enhance WHO Cambodia’s reputation of credibility and reliability, and support policy initiatives and resource mobilization efforts
Deliverable 2.1: Support the drafting and finalization of 10 x high-level speeches/talking points that contribute to the credibility and increased profile of WHO in Cambodia.
Deliverable 2.2: Ensure all communications products are delivered on time and to a high standard for the launch of the Cambodia-WHO Country Cooperation Strategy 2024-2028, and other high-level meetings ahead of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentarian Forum on Global Health in 2026.
Deliverable 2.3: Ensure all WHO communications products at the Cambodian International Film Festival are delivered on time, are of high quality, and adhere to WHO Cambodia branding guidelines. Provide a final report of WHO’s participation in the event and recommendations for future engagement.
Deliverable 2.4: Actively participate in the UN Communications Group and ensure joint visibility opportunities are taken up and implemented according to WHO Cambodia branding guidelines.
Deliverable 2.5: Draft, finalise and publish two web stories of WHO work across Cambodia. Travel within Cambodia may be required.
Deliverable 2.6: Compile and release 10 x bi-weekly media monitoring updates for country office staff to stay updated on emerging trends and issues affecting the health sector in Cambodia.
Deliverable 2.7: Support the development, design, and delivery of content (stories, social posts, infographics etc.) as required in the country office content calendar for 2025. Pro-actively identify content opportunities and manage approval processes.
Deliverable 2.8: Support the coordination of the translation and publishing of health information, web stories, media releases, speeches etc. to ensure the WHO Cambodia website is up-to-date and accessible to key audiences.
Deliverable 2.9: Ensure that sub-contractors – photographers, videographers, agencies, graphic designers etc. – are adequately briefed when required to deliver on content and products for the country office.
Deliverable 2.10: Ensure all external communications products meeting WHO Cambodia branding guidelines before they are disseminated or sent for country-level approvals.

Output 3:  Monthly report and end of mission report.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: University degree in communications, humanities, journalism, media, public relations, or related fields.
Desirable: Master’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, humanitarian studies, or a related field is desirable. Education and degree obtained abroad is an asset.

Experience required:

Essential: Minimum 5 years of experience in communications, marketing, media or journalism in Cambodia is required.
Desirable: Experience in the NGO, Aid, UN, or international development field is desirable. Experience working with WHO and or other UN agencies is an asset.
Experience in health communications is desirable
Previous experience managing photographers, videographers, graphic designers etc.

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

• Exceptional written and storytelling experience, including how to write for various audiences and develop different styles of tone and voice.
• Experience with producing content for digital channels and print products.
• Experience with impact storytelling and skillfully combining facts/data and human-interest stories.
• A moderate understanding of engagement analytics and how data and insights can inform future content.
• Demonstrated ability to use database systems, marketing and website tools.

Language requirements:

Written and spoken fluency in English is essential.

Location

The consultant will be working remotely.

Travel

The Consultant is expected to travel within Cambodia when required.

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.
•    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.
•    The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits workforce regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.
The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply for WHO jobs.
Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int
•    An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. 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 (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) 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 short-listed candidates.
•    WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
•    Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority.
•    WHO shall have no responsibility 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 each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
•    Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.
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Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements