International Consultant – Risk Communication and Community Engagement

Area of expertise

International Consultant – Risk Communication and Community Engagement

Purpose of consultancy

This consultancy is open to applications and submissions from international candidates exclusively. The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical support to Health Protection Agency, Ministry of Health Maldives for the development and institutionalizing of a Maldives’ national, multi-hazard Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Plan. It is anticipated that the incumbent will undertake this work in close collaboration and coordination with the WHO Maldives Country Office and South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO).

Background

The International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) provide the overarching legal framework that defines countries’ rights and obligations in handling public health events and emergencies that have the potential to cross borders. Under the IHR (2005), countries are mandated to established and maintain eight core capacities for surveillance and response to public health threats, of which RCCE forms one of the critical capacities for health security.

Risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management share a focus on effective communication, co-design, community involvement, addressing misinformation, empowering individuals, building trust and fostering collaboration. By integrating these capacities into health systems, member states can enhance overall preparedness and response to outbreaks and emergencies and ensure that emergency functions are effectively implemented. Effective and integrated risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management is driven by coherent and coordinated health communication and community participation systems with clearly defined mechanisms, functions and dedicated resources to support key activities, and are often supported by the same system. As fundamental component of any RCCE system, countries should develop a national multi-hazard emergency RCCE plan and policy based on IHR requirements and priority risks .

Whilst the Maldives has made significant advances in their national and subnational RCCE capacity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, there exists the need for systems, processes and procedures to be formalised and institutionalised, including through the development of a national plan. The intent of this consultancy is to support the Health Protection Agency, Ministry of Health to develop in coordination with key stakeholders a national RCCE plan and provide accompanying training once the plan is finalised.

Terms of Reference

• To support the development and operationalizing of a national RCCE plan, the incumbent will be required to undertake a series of tasks. This work will be conducted in close coordination with national stakeholders, the WHO Maldives Country Office and South-East Asia Regional Office. Activities include:
• Develop a detailed workplan, with timeline and proposed approach, for the development of the national RCCE plan, in consultation with the RCCE technical advisory committee/group that will be established to oversight and facilitate this activity.
• Review available document and conduct key informant interviews to assess Maldives current health emergency management system, with specific consideration for existing resources, processes, mechanisms for risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management.
• Conduct a series of workshops or consultations with internal and external stakeholders to enable input into the national RCCE plan. The RCCE plan should set forth the strategies, approaches, resources (human resources and budgeting), standard operating procedures and mechanisms for the function of RCCE. The national RCCE plan should facilitate multisector collaboration and be responsive to known and predictable priority health threats in Maldives.
• Facilitate the finalization of the Plan, incorporating feedback and input into the document by various stakeholders and management.
• To support the operationalizing of the plan, develop a series of templates to accompany the plan, including template for RCCE event-based planning, public health information announcement template, taxonomy guide for social listening and others (as identified).
• Following finalization of the Plan, provide training and conduct awareness sessions with Ministry of Health, Health Protection Agency and other key stakeholders, at national and subnational levels, on the new plan, system, processes and procedures for RCCE.
• Develop training plan and modules for the in country training
• Document and provide reports or minutes on any discussions or meetings conducted with stakeholders as part of the Plan development processes.
• Based upon the Plan development process and discussions held with key stakeholders, provide a list of recommended actions and next steps to support the operationalizing of the plan.

Deliverables

• Deliverable 1: Inception report and detailed workplan, with timeline and approach for supporting the national RCCE plan development.
• Deliverable 2: Landscape assessment and workshop/consultation report of current RCCE capacity and system.
• Deliverable 3: Draft RCCE plan for circulation to key stakeholders for input and feedback.
• Deliverable 4: Final RCCE plan, endorsed by the HPA, MOH and WHO.
• Deliverable 5: Facilitation of awareness sessions and training on new plan to relevant stakeholders and development of training modules, presentations and documents along with a training.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: A university degree in public health, social sciences, communications, or other relevant discipline.

Desirable: Post-graduation qualifications or training related to infodemic management, risk communication or public health

Experience

Essential:

• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in the area of risk communication, communications, or social and behavioral sciences.
• Evidence of prior experiencing supporting health authorities to develop national risk communication and community engagement plans or strategies.
• Experience in public health, especially in health emergency response; knowledge of WHO technical programmes, especially of the Health Emergencies Programme, an advantage.
• Prior experience working with the World Health Organization at country and/or regional level

Desirable: Knowledge and experience in health emergency management structures, policies, procedures and operational responses.

Skills/Knowledge:

• Prior experience and skills in developing and delivering trainings
• Capable of working under high pressure and tight time constraints
• Excellent and demonstrated writing, oral presentation, and communication skills
• Excellent activity coordination and writing skills
• Positive attitude to learning new skills and working with a team
• Focused on quality with attention to details
• Analysis and troubleshooting skills, with aptitude and sound judgement for creative problem solving
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office Suite

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

Essential: English – read, write, and speak at expert level

Desirable: Knowledge of official language(s) of one/more member states of the region would be an asset

Location

Hybrid consultancy (remote with anticipated travel to Maldives). During the initial two months, the duration of each in-country visit may extend up to 10 days. Subsequently, an additional 10 days will be allocated for training sessions and stakeholder workshops, necessitating a total of three in-country visits. The remaining period will be dedicated to offsite work, involving online meetings and the review of documentation.

On-site: _25 May 2024 – 04 June 2024 / 01 July 2024 to 10 July 2024 / 06 August 2024 to 15 August 2024 (Male’ WHO Maldives)

Travel

Purpose: It is anticipated that the selected candidate will be required to be based in Maldives to undertake this consultancy. A hybrid approach, with some remote and in-person visits to Maldives, may be considered upon negotiation with the preferred candidate.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration: 24,000 USD (for biennium 2023-24)

3 months @ monthly 8000 USD at Band B level

Living expenses: MVR 15.42

Expected duration of contract: 5 months

Expected duration of contract (tentative):

Start date: 15/05/2024 End date: 15/08/2024

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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