Background
The COVID-19 pandemic affected every individual, every family and every community in their own unique ways, in their daily lived lives. However, in an increasingly interconnected and digitalized world, with the infodemic that accompanied the pandemic, facts often became inaccessible, drowned in a barrage of information or in misinformation. People often had Very specific concerns and queries that needed addressing for them to protect themselves in their everyday lives. Questions to that degree of granularity was difficult to respond to by national governments or large global organizations like WHO. Yet it was crucial to respond to those questions, and quickly. The pandemic therefore saw local networks of specific communities fill this gap, for example, medical students that worked with patients of general practitioners, or a group of female volunteers of different professions who established a website to answer a range of pertinent questions with facts. These spontaneous community-led initiatives have played a key role in ensuring that science reaches the community and meets community needs during the pandemic. In future pandemics, therefore, a number of community-led networks could play a key role in rapidly translating the science available from organizations like WHO to various communities, whether global, national or local. This will enable access to facts that are relevant for societies, while preventing misinformation, in rapid, real time conditions. In order to facilitate the establishment of such networks, a field guide for the development of such networks is being proposed.
Objective
To have a step-by-step field manual, based on evidence of what works, that can be used by community groups anywhere in the world to establish platforms for rapid and relevant addressal of information needed by the community.
This would include a review and identification of successful community platforms in different WHO regions and an analysis of how they were established, challenges faced and how they were overcome. The review should preferably be conducted in more than one language.
Based on the analysis of these experiences, a field manual on establishing local community platforms for science translation is to be developed.
Deliverables
- An excel sheet list of successful community platforms for science translation, including who led the establishment of these platforms, which communities they served, and how they addressed science translation
- A step-by-step guide to establishing such platforms
Qualification
- Strong background in public health and science communication
- Proven experience (at least 7 years) of science translation and communicating science to different stakeholders.
- Practical experience of establishing community platforms for science translation in public health emergencies
- Language: Expert knowledge of English is required.
Time Frame
planned for 15 April – 30 June 2021
Place of assignment
The project can be completed remotely.
Travel
No travel is anticipated.
Compensation
Payment will be aligned to the WHO consultancy pay band(s) on headquarters level and will be commensurate based on experience of the service provider/team.
Application procedure
Interested organizations and applicants should send an email to epi-win@who.int 30 March 2022, 18:00 CET (deadline extended from 10 March to 30 March to encourage more applicants).
Please indicate the project for which you apply in the subject line of your email.
Applicants are kindly requested to include the following information in their application:
- A cover letter describing their motivation for application and highlighting specific and relevant experiences and skills,
- CVs of all team members,
- A cost estimate and proposed work plan including timeline.
Interviews will be held in early April 2022 with an expected start date to be confirmed for April 2022.