National Consultant - Risk Communication Officer

Purpose of the Consultancy

The incumbent assists the WHO’s Division of Pacific Technical Support (DPS) as a part of the Pacific Health Security and Communicable Diseases (PSC) team with multi-hazard risk communication and community engagement preparedness and response under the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005), in particular helping to strengthen such capacity in Pacific Island Countries and areas (PICs) including in Fiji.

Background

Public health emergencies highlight the need for health systems and services that are prepared, resilient and ready to respond to health security threats. DPS works with Pacific governments including Fiji, and regional partners to design and implement innovative, practical solutions to strengthen the core public health capacities under International Health Regulations (2005) needed to detect, assess, and respond to emergencies in the unique context of the Pacific. With the growing complexity of health challenges such as increasing cases of dengue, or in areas of sexual and reproductive health (SRH), tuberculosis (TB), and HIV, it is essential to strengthen national risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) strategies and systems.
Effective RCCE are essential for building public trust, shaping behavior, and ensuring the dissemination of credible, relevant, timely, accessible, and actionable health information. Access to such information is vital for encouraging communities to embrace life-saving health interventions, particularly during health emergencies. 
Under the guidance of Risk Communications Officer, the National Risk Communication Officer will collaborate closely with the technical experts from the WHO’s Division of Pacific Technical Support (DPS), Ministries of Health, implementing partners, community organizations, and other stakeholders. Their efforts will ensure the delivery of culturally appropriate, evidence-based messages across all sectors of society, fostering inclusive communication that promotes health equity.

Deliverables

Output 1: Development and implementation of strategies and plans:

• Deliverable 1.1: Launch the multi-hazard risk communication and community engagement strategy for Fiji and upon request other PICs, in close collaboration with technical experts from the Ministries of Health, implementing partners, stakeholders, community organizations, and other stakeholders. Expected by: December 2025
• Deliverable 1.2: Prepare presentations and other materials for the relevant risk communication and community engagement working groups. Expected by: December 2025

  Output 2: Development of communication materials and tools:

  • Deliverable 2.1: Review and finalize repository of IEC materials for Fiji, and upon request other PICs. Expected by: October 2025
  • Deliverable 2.2: Develop and design communication packages with culturally appropriate and scientifically accurate materials for print, broadcast, and social media, on key health challenges in emergencies including HIV, dengue, and others. Expected by: October 2025
  • Deliverable 2.3: Create social listening tools and fact-checking workflows that further support detecting, assessing, and responding to misinformation. Expected by: December 2025

    Output 3: Capacity building 

    • Deliverable 3.1: Design and localize content for an online capacity building module/s in risk communication, community engagement.  Expected by: December 2025

      Output 4: Monitoring and Evaluation

      📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

      ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

      • Deliverable 4.1: Establish and maintain an effective monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the progress of above-mentioned campaigns and report on key indicators. Expected by: November 2025

        Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

        Educational Qualifications 

        Essential: University degree in communication, international relations, information technology, or a related field.
        Desirable: Training in risk communication.

        Experience

        Essential: Minimum seven years of experience in risk communication, communication, or community engagement.

        Desirable: 
        Experience working with Ministry of Health is an advantage.
        Experience working within PICs preferred. 

        Skills/Knowledge: 

        • Demonstrate ability to support the development and implementation of multi-hazard risk communications plans, with specific focus on pandemic and epidemic preparedness, and risk communication needs following disasters and other health emergencies;
        • Demonstrate ability to develop and facilitate the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of infodemic management strategies and the use of the related tools;
        • Ability to develop and disseminate communication materials including for print and social media to ensure timely, accurate, and understandable health information is available to the public;
        • Ability to track and assess the effectiveness of communication strategies, ensuring alignment with national health priorities and continuous
        • Knowledge of WHO mandate and goals or experience in UN Organizations, international institutions or NGOs is considered an asset. 

          Languages and level required

          Expert knowledge of English is essential.

          Location 

          On site: Suva, Fiji

          Travel

          The consultant will be based in Suva, Fiji, and may be required to travel locally within Fiji.

          Additional Information

          • This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
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