Consultant - Risk Communication and Community Engagement

Purpose of the Consultancy

The international consultant will provide technical support to WHO Cambodia and the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Cambodia to support risk communications and community engagement. This includes (RCCE) systems strengthening, capacity building, and strategic RCCE activities as part of the country’s plan to update pandemic preparedness and response strategies 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. Risk communication is the real-time exchange of information, advice and opinions between experts or officials and people who face a threat (from a hazard) to their survival, health or economic or social wellbeing. Risk communication is a critical area of work that needs to be done in a timely, appropriate and effective manner to ensure there is a timely response to health emergencies in Cambodia.

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-site in the WHO Cambodia Office in Phnom Penh with the following outputs and deliverables. Travel within Cambodia may be required.

Output 1: Prepare a draft for endorsement of Cambodia’s first multi-sectoral, multi-hazard RCCE framework
Deliverable 1.1: Conduct a desk review of existing WHO (global, regional) and Cambodia RCCE frameworks, strategies, guidelines and SOPs, including those created specifically for the COVID-19 response, and draft an outline of the multi-sectoral, multi-hazard RCCE framework for consultation with MoH counterparts.
Deliverable 1.2: Update the stakeholder mapping for RCCE in Cambodia (using the December 2023 RCCE/SBC mapping as a starting point).
Deliverable 1.3: Facilitate and document multisectoral consultations to collect strategic inputs from all relevant stakeholders for the framework.
Deliverable 1.4: Finalize a full draft of the multi-sectoral, multi-hazard RCCE framework for endorsement.

Output 2: Support the re-establishment of the RCCE Technical Working Group (TWG)
Deliverable 2.1: Prepare a draft term of reference (TOR) for the RCCE TWG that accounts for, and integrates with, existing coordination mechanisms in MoH and the Royal Government more broadly.
Deliverable 2.2: Draft a workplan (and accompanying M&E Framework) for the RCCE TWG that supports the objectives of the multi-sectoral, multi-hazard RCCE framework.

Output 3: Support the review and finalization of the draft SOP for managing and responding to health-related misinformation and disinformation in Cambodia
Deliverable 3.1: Working with the Health Emergencies Programme in the Regional office, review the draft SOP and provide technical inputs to streamline the first draft and align it with the draft framework.
Deliverable 3.2: Facilitate and document multisectoral consultations to collect strategic inputs from all relevant stakeholders for the draft SOP.
Deliverable 3.3: Working with the Health Emergencies Programme in the Regional office, finalize a full draft of the SOP for managing and responding to health-related misinformation and disinformation in Cambodia for endorsement.
Deliverable 3.4: Working with the Health Emergencies Programme in the Regional office, prepare a draft infodemic management learning plan for MoH to support the roll-out of the SOP.

Output 4: Provide technical inputs for RCCE evidence generation, capacity building and seasonal preparedness and response activities
Deliverable 4.1: Provide technical inputs to the RCCE data and evidence generation initiatives.
Deliverable 4.2: Provide technical inputs to the curriculums and methodologies of RCCE training initiatives led by MoH in Cambodia to ensure alignment with the draft Multi-hazard RCCE Framework.
Deliverable 4.3: Provide technical guidance to MoH for seasonal RCCE preparedness and response activities as required.

Other Deliverables: Monthly report and end of mission report

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: Advanced university degree in Communications, Sociology, Public Health, Political Science, International Relations, or a related field.

Experience required:

Essential: Minimum 10 years of experience in strategic communications, including experience of outbreak or health emergency communications. The consultant should have experience of working within the UN system or with UN partners.
Desirable: Direct experience with WHO is preferred, especially working knowledge of the RCCE core competencies of the International Health Regulations (2005).

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

• Experience in managing communications in emergency situations and on sensitive issues.
• Excellent research and analytical skills.
• Experience developing engagement strategies and community feedback mechanisms, including the use of social listening tools and approaches.
• 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.

Language requirements:

Written and spoken fluency in English is essential.

Location

The consultant will work on-site in the WHO Cambodia Office in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Travel

The Consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget

Remuneration: TBD
Duration: 6 months, January to June 2025

Additional Information:

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