Communication Officer

Myanmar. These refugees are living in camps in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char, joining those from earlier waves. Within the present humanitarian crisis in Cox’s Bazar, there is a significant and urgent need to ensure proper risk communication, community engagement and infodemics management, in particular relating to health issues, both existing and emerging, including the activities concerning the prevention and responses to outbreaks, epidemic and pandemic.

Risk communication is “Real-time exchange of information, advice and opinions between experts, community leaders or officials and people who face a threat to their survival, health, or economic or social well-being.” This Risk Communication officer will play a key role in ensuring two-way and multidirectional communications and engagement with affected populations to make informed decisions to protect themselves and their loved ones on a variety of issues. This will take place through close collaboration with the Risk Communication Technical Working Group and the Accountability to Affected Population Technical Working Group, as well as WHO and Health Sector colleagues. The work will align with the WHO Risk Communication Strategy and link up with inter-sectoral strategies and plans for various health issues.

Duties:

Under the overall supervision of the Head of Sub-Office and direct technical supervision of the Public Health Specialist in Cox’s Bazar Sub-Office, Bangladesh, the Risk Communication Officer shall conduct the following activities:

• Oversee the development, elaboration, and implementation of the risk communication plan as part of the health response operations.
• With key stakeholders in the national authorities, UN agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and civil society organizations, identify the top health hazards in the relevant context and develop relevant information, education and communication materials in languages and formats easily used by stakeholders, including Rohingya and host communities and community health workers in crisis-affected communities and at health facilities as needed.
• Utilize all WHO resources, materials, and personnel necessary to ensure coherence of strategy, materials, and messages.
• Monitor and proactively counter false rumors and misinformation among crisis-affected community members; and address fears and concerns.
• Integrate findings from focus group discussions and other feedback from community engagement activities into risk communication activities and products.
• Lead and maintain quality control for risk communication products such as public information; brochures, leaflets, and posters; radio and TV scripts; guides for stakeholders for risk communication; and other (innovative) communication approaches and ensure their literal and cultural translation.
• Contribute to resource mobilization and donor communication in risk communication.
• Perform any other related incident-specific duties, as required by the functional supervisor.

Required Qualifications: 

Education:

Essential:

• Master’s degree or four years bachelor’s degree in social sciences, Behavioral Sciences, Development Sciences, Communication or Public Health.

Experience:

Essential:

• At least 03 years of experience working in risk communication, health promotion, emergency management, communication, or related field.

Expected  :

• Technical review of risk communication strategies and action plans, messages, and materials, in line with WHO global and regional standards.
• Development of WHO specific workplans related to specific health hazards for risk communication and community engagement, leveraging partner comparative advantages.
• Development of materials for risk communication and community engagement, in collaboration with implementing partners and partner organizations.
• Development of resource mobilization plans for risk communication and community engagement.

Languages:

Essential:

• English language proficiency.

Source: https://careers.who.int/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=2502179