Health Advocacy & Risk Comm. & Community Engagement

Overview
Provide technical assistance in health advocacy and risk communication.

You have:

Bachelor’s degree in medicine or public health.
A minimum of two years of relevant experience, at the national level in Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE), community empowerment and engagement, climate change and health promotion.
Expert knowledge of English. Knowledge of local language/s.
Demonstrable experience in health programmes/projects.
Knowledge of WHO programmes is an asset.
Contract
This is a NO-B contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It’s a staff contract. It usually requires 2 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary
The salary for this job should be more than 1,728 USD.

Salary for a NO-B contract in Colombo
The salary of a NO-B depends on the duty station. The minimum salary there is 581,720 LKR (~1,728 USD) Please note that depending on the location, a higher post adjustment might still result in a lower purchasing power.
Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

More about NO-B contracts.

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Details
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME
The objectives of the programme include: 1) focusing on health advocacy as one of strategies to raise awareness and promote health and access to quality health care at the individual and community levels; 2) developing/updating national all-hazard RCCE plan/activities based on social, cultural, behavioural, demographic and environmental data; and 3) supporting the development of a national roadmap for a climate resilient and low carbon sustainable health system.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Under the direct supervision of Public Health Administrator and overall guidance of WHO Representative to Sri Lanka, Country Office, and in close collaboration with the Technical Leads in the Regional and Country Office, the incumbent will provide technical assistance to MoH in health advocacy, health promotion, RCCE and environmental health hazards:

1. Provide technical assistance to MoH and other stakeholders in health advocacy as one of strategies to raise awareness and promote health and access to quality health care at the individual and community levels.

2. Support development of health promotion strategies, plans and policies and assist in designing of health promotion messages and other materials.

3. Provide technical support in conducting community perceptions surveys through online or offline methods and socio-behavioural surveys to understand people’s changing perceptions and attitudes, and the barriers and enablers influencing their ability and motivation to adopt and/or sustain positive health behaviours.

4. Enhance media monitoring, social listening, and community feedback mechanisms.

5. Support the MoH to strengthen an information monitoring system to capture emerging trends, rumours and misinformation.

6. Provide technical assistance to the MoH to conduct an infodemic study, develop/update national all-hazard RCCE plan/activities based on social, cultural, behavioural, demographic and environmental data.

7. Support the MoH to enhance risk assessments by providing evidence from social listening, perception studies, social science research and dialogue with communities.

8. Provide technical assistance in designing targeted communications for high-risk individuals and communities.

9. Support the country to develop/update strategies to prevent and address stigma and discrimination, overcome pandemic fatigue, and build and maintain trust.

10. Support MoH efforts to manage the infodemic, build digital and health literacy.

11. Support CSOs with the development and implementation of a comprehensive and feasible health-related work plan, including a robust monitoring and evaluation plan.

12. Oversee the mapping of all public/private (including services by NGOs/CBOs) entities involved in health promotion and health advocacy.

13. Support the country to conduct a climate change vulnerability and adaptation assessment (V&A) of the country’s health system, health care facilities and the health of its population.

14. Provide technical assistance to the country to strengthen Health National Adaptation Plans (HNAP) informed by the health V&A.

15. Support the country to develop a roadmap for a climate resilient and low carbon sustainable health system.

16. Work together with UN agencies to support the country to address environmental risk factors.

17. Provide technical assistance to the country in implementation of WHO Chemicals Roadmap for risk reduction and knowledge and evidence.

18. Perform any other duties, as required by the supervisor or WHO Country Representative.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Essential: Bachelor’s degree in medicine or public health. Desirable: An advanced university degree in health-related field or public health.

Experience
Essential: A minimum of two years of relevant experience, at the national level in Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE), community empowerment and engagement, climate change and health promotion. Desirable: Experience with the UN system or other international organizations is an advantage.

Skills
Demonstrable experience in health programmes/projects.
Analytical and leadership skills at professional level.
Good networking and public relations capacity. Strong professional oral and writing skills including the development of reports, oral presentations, and technical documents
Desirable: Knowledge of WHO programmes is an asset.

WHO Competencies
Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Ensuring the effective use of resources
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
Use of Language Skills
Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Knowledge of local language/s.

REMUNERATION
Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at LKR 5,652,473 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.