Purpose of consultancy
The consultant will facilitate the advocacy and outreach activities related to the technical work on air quality including activities such as the development of videos, flyers, web pages, as well as contribute to the preparations for a global conference.
Background
WHO estimates that around 7 million deaths each year are attributed to exposure air pollution from diseases including pneumonia, stroke, ischaemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer. Addressing air pollution requires joint action from different sectors including the health sector.
The Air Quality, Energy and Health (AQH) team, of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, the objective is to promote health sector intervention for air pollution, as well as interventions in economic sectors (e.g housing, transport, energy) that reduce environmental health risks, promote better health, and optimize the health co-benefits of sustainable development /climate change mitigation policies. The AQH team is responsible for the dissemination of WHO air quality guidelines, providing technical guidance to support the guideline implementation and increasing public awareness about air pollution.
As part of the Health and Energy programme of work, AQH’s activities seek to improve health through the dissemination and adoption of air quality guidelines, as well as the sustained adoption of clean and sustainable energy in households and health care facilities, through activities aimed to:
- Disseminate knowledge and information related to exposure to air pollution and related disease burden.
- Increase awareness and build support in line with WHO’s communications strategic approach among policy-makers, implementing partners and the public about the importance of clean air and the role that it plays in improving health and equity of the poorest populations.
- Leverage the health argument, to strengthen the political and technical commitment and cooperation between the health, energy and other sectors to reduce air pollution exposure.
- Build the capacity of countries to develop, implement and monitor ‘health-wise’ policies related to the different economic sectors and settings, as well as the energy transition via the development and application of tools and resources.
Deliverables:
- Deliverable 1: Prepare technical communication materials including flyers, website updates, videos, tweets, etc. around updated statistics related to air pollution, energy access and health.
- Deliverable 2: Prepare new material for an ongoing social media package in line with WHO’s strategic communication approach around health, air pollution and energy linkages that could be used for outreach at upcoming high-level events and technical launches for the Health and Energy Platform of Action, and the High-level Coalition on Health and Energy as well as broader outreach for air pollution.
- Deliverable 3: Prepare and update visual presentation and content for the AQH and HEPA website in line with WHO house style – through editorial review, identification of pictures, suggestion of new content and ensuring technical and communication materials are easily accessible and/or easy to navigate.
- Deliverable 4: Contribute to the drafting, review and finalization of policy briefs, related key messages and communication materials under development for the High-Level Political Forum 2023, the Global Status Report on Electrification of Health Care Facilities, the SDG 7 Tracking Progress report, the health sector training launch, a new report on sand and dust, report on green space, and others that are currently in preparation.
- Deliverable 5: Prepare outreach materials for the Clean Household Energy Solutions Toolkit (CHEST) – CHEST is a set of tools and resources available to countries and stakeholders to support selection and implementation of clean household energy solutions. To contribute to drafting and finalization of a set of flyers summarizing the key contents of each of CHEST’s modules and inclusion on the website.
- Deliverable 6: Contribute to the planning of a global conference on health and energy access –. To contribute in identifying a venue, preparing the programme, facilitating outreach to speakers and facilitating the communications and outreach efforts in the run up to and during the conference in consultation with the respective unit(s) of WHO’s Department of Communications.
- Deliverable 7: Facilitate social media outreach on technical activities of the unit by preparing relevant messages for media tools like Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. to be used by technical staff but also in cooperation with other agencies.
- Deliverable 8: Coordinate communication and outreach efforts on the health impact from air quality and energy access with other developmental partners like UN agencies, World Bank, civil society organizations and other partners and in consultation with the respective units of WHO’s Department of Communications.
- Deliverable 9: Prepare speeches and talking points - for senior technical staff at WHO around health, energy and air pollution to be used events, social media outreach, conferences, etc. in direct consultation with respective units of WHO’s Department of Communications.
Qualifications, experience, skills and languages.
Educational Qualifications:
Essential:
- First-level university degree in communications, journalism, public health or related field.
Desirable:
- Advanced university degree in communications, public health or development.
Experience
Essential:
- 5 to 10 years of experience in preparing communication or advocacy materials related to public health and/or sustainable development issues.
- Experience in synthesizing and distilling scientific information into policy briefs and summary documents.
- Experience in preparing documents and briefings for publication (including editing and layout processes).
- Prior work experience with communication around health statistics.
- Experience preparing training materials or videos.
- Experience in preparing speeches for senior-level administrators on topics related to air quality, energy and health.
- Practical experience in planning and executing events at conferences, or other outreach opportunities.
- Experience working within the UN system.
Skills/knowledge
Essential:
- Excellent intercultural skills.
- Excellent communications and editorial skills.
- Strong web-content and development skills.
- Familiarity with Sitefinity is an asset.
- Excellent knowledge of MS-Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
- Knowledge of video preparation, video content development and production.
- Ability to work independently and meet tight deadlines.
- Ability to coordinate and liaise effectively with team members and external stakeholders.
- Familiarity with energy and health issues, particularly those related to household energy use and/ or health care facility electrification.
Languages required:
Essential:
- Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable:
- Intermediate knowledge of other UN official language.
Location
Off-site - Home based.
Travel
The consultant is not expected to travel.
Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):
Remuneration:
Band level B-USD 7,000 – 9,980 per month.
Expected duration of contract:
7.5 months. Additional contracts may be offered based on satisfactory performance and funding availability.
SUBMITTING YOUR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
Kindly apply through WHO Stellis system searching for the following position:
Consultant – Advocacy and outreach on air quality, energy access and health (2303896)
Additional Information
- This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
- Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
- A written test may be used as a form of screening.
- If 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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- Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
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- Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html