Infodemic Management Officer

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of the Division of WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) is to build the capacity of Member States to assess, prevent and manage health emergency risks, and lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations.

The WHE Division brings together and enhances WHO’s operational, technical and normative capacities in outbreaks, emergencies and risk analysis to address all health hazards across the risk management cycle in a predictable, capable, dependable, adaptable and accountable manner. The Division is designed to operate within the broader humanitarian and emergency management architecture in support of people at risk of, or affected by, outbreaks and emergencies, consistent with ways that strengthen local and national capabilities.

The Risk Communication, Community Engagement and Infodemic Management Unit (RCI) is responsible for ensuring that people and stakeholders are enabled and empowered to take informed decisions that protect them from health emergencies. To do so RCI communicates risks and preventive measures, engages communities and community actors, manages rumours and misinformation, builds country capacities and supports country responses, and positions RCI as an evidence-shy; based technical area of work, and WHO Europe as an authoritative partner in it.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

As part of WHE/RCI, the incumbent will manage rumours, misinformation and disinformation (infodemic) in emergencies and build structures, systems and skills for infodemic management in the European Region. S/he will monitor platforms, work with partners and fact-checkers, develop guidance and build skills to manage the spread of dangerous rumours and misinformation, as well as information overload and voids.

The incumbent will coordinate WHO/Europe’s Infodemic Management area of work within RCI by planning, implementing and evaluating project activities for emergency preparedness, readiness and response:

1. Lead IM area of work coordinating the work of IM assets located throughout disparate units within WHO, at its three levels.
2. Support the establishment of a robust scientific foundation and overview of evidence regarding the impact and nature of infodemics and IM in WHO’s European Region, by:
   a) Positioning IM within RCCE and other relevant areas of WHO/Europe’s work.
   b) Supporting rapid desk reviews of scientific and grey literature and evidence related to IM, especially as impacting people in WHO’s European Region.
   c) Positioning WHO/Europe as an authoritative partner in IM.
3. Support Member States’ to implement IM guidance by
   a) Developing an IM operational toolkit
   b) Building country capacity by supporting the design and rollout of IM training for key stakeholders (e.g. national health authorities, academia, civil society organizations, journalists and fact-checkers), including technical guidance and training on data gathering and analysis, quality assurance, performance monitoring, information dissemination and management.
   c) Support the establishment of the structures, systems and skills for the development and improvement of field IM management procedures at the local and regional levels to ensure that information management in the field provides the best possible functionality and usability to stakeholders.
4. Coordinate, steer and align activities with internal and external regional stakeholders in the context of the European Infodemic Preparedness and Response Alliance (EIPRA) by:
   a) Mapping and engaging internal and external actors from different disciplinary backgrounds (e.g. RCCE, media and health literacy, medical anthropology, digital health, behavioural economics, vaccine preventable infections) and among different regional partners (e.g. UNICEF, UNESCO, IFRC, the RCCE Common Service, EU agencies, CSOs and others).
   b) Advocating with and working with COs and Member States to position and reflect EIPRA at country level for national and sub-national IM alliances;
   c) Ensuring EIPRA aligns and connects with existing RCCE operations (e.g. listening, message/material development, testing, deployment and evaluation) at three levels of the Organization.
   d) Integrating EIPRA discussions in relevant for a and working groups (e.g. Regional RCCE Working Group; Youth Coalition).
5. Manage the timely and high-quality collection, analyses, production and dissemination of data/information.
6. Monitor and assess infodemic signals and subsequent health risks, and advise on RCCE responses during emergencies, ensuring communication and information sharing internally and externally.
7. Perform any other related duties, as required by the functional supervisor.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree in information sciences, digital health, research and analysis, social sciences or related field.
Desirable: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or higher) in information sciences, digital health, research and analysis, social sciences or related field. Training in RCCE and/or public health.

Experience

Essential: Minimum 5 years’ experience in the fields of digital health, research and analysis, social sciences or other related fields. Experience with project management, scaling and rolling out research findings.
Desirable: Experience in RCCE or Behavioural Change Communication and public health. Experience in developing technical guidance and tools and building capacity from the Regional or global to the national and sub-national level. Experience researching and tracking rumours, misinformation, disinformation

Skills

Essential:

• Fluency in multiple digital data collection and analysis tools and platforms;
• Ability to distil scientific and technical information in simple language and recommendations;
• Skills regarding development of systems for rapid, agile data collection and analysis;
• Eye for detail, meticulous organization and structuring of information and processes;
• Ability to see and establish connections and patterns;
• Strong writing skills.

Desirable:

• RCCE experience and expertise;
• Familiarity with public health;
• Strong advocacy skills.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Moving forward in a changing environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of Russian.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 64,121 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 4392 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment may be used as a form of screening.

• In the event that your candidature is retained for an 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.

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• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

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