Health Communication Liaison Officer (HCLO) – Guinea
Location:Conakry, Guinea (French Speakers Required)
Duration: 6 months
Anticipated Start Date:Mid to Late November 2014
Deadline for Applications:Ongoing until position is filled
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Guinea is where the current Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa was first diagnosed in March of this year. According to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) by mid-October a total of 1472 reported Ebola cases have been reported with at least 843 deaths. On September 18 a disturbing incident took place in rural Guinea whereby five members of an Ebola prevention and awareness raising delegation were attacked and brutally murdered. They included 3 journalists and 2 health professionals. The World Health Organization says that community resistance and insecurity have continued in some localities in Guinea. This incident highlights the fear and misinformation that exist at the local level regarding this epidemic and the very real challenges facing those fighting it.
Internews recently began a yearlong project in Guinea to build the capacity of media professionals to report on humanitarian information in the east of the country, the province at the heart of the current Ebola outbreak. The outbreak of Ebola in Eastern Guinea coincided with the start of Internews Europe’s project in the region. As part of an existing humanitarian information project in Guinea, Internews has deployed experienced humanitarian journalism trainers to Guinée Forestière, Conakry, and other cities to train media workers in the most effective ways of explaining the disease to local communities and engaging them in the fight against its spread. These efforts have dramatically increased the amount of Ebola-related content on radio in the capital, in the South East and cross-border into Liberia. However, according to a mid-October WHO Situation Report, an increase in new cases in Guinea is being driven by a spike in confirmed and suspected cases in the capital, Conakry, and the nearby district of Coyah. More resources and support are urgently needed to control the epidemic and prevent it from flaring up.
The “Information Saves Lives” project is designed to add value to the overall national/ international response to EBOLA in Guinea by providing a comprehensive and coordinated information-based response to the crisis. This intervention is seen as a core component of the social mobilization pillar of the WHO Roadmap. The project will ensure that local media, social media and interactive technology approaches play a vital role in amplifying and extending the impact and reach of public health messaging efforts. The response will not be limited to the production of health messages, but will coordinate, harmonize and disseminate a wide range of information in various media, formats and in local languages, with input from key government and health actors and including channels for audience feedback. Finally, the project will also ensure the widespread dissemination and consistency of accurate, timely, actionable Ebola-related information to the population in Guinea, and will offer two-way communication channels for information exchange within affected communities and between these communities and those seeking to assist them.
GENERAL FUNCTION
The main task of the Health Communications Liaison Officer (HCLO) is to coordinate the implementation of project activities within the Social Mobilization Pillar of the WHO Roadmap on Ebola in Guinea. In so doing, the HCLO will be in regular contact with officials from the MoH, WHO, UNICEF, CDC, local and international responders. The HLCO will participate in relevant UN Cluster meetings. The HCLO position, recognized by UNOCHA as essential to Communicating with Communities (CwC) in disaster scenarios, will work with the national and international health community and with local media networks to ensure coherent and cohesive Ebola communication initiatives. The position ensures that public outreach and media and communication efforts are coordinated and disseminated efficiently across all available channels, including mobile phone and other technology-based approaches. The HCLO, through the Humanitarian Journalist Trainers, connects local journalists with experts to educate them on the Ebola virus and epidemic and to serve as on-going, reliable sources to ensure that up to date, accurate information reaches their media outlets and audiences daily. The HCLO sees to it that social mobilisation efforts and local media are complementary and reinforce each other, and are aware of audience information and communication access needs. The HCLO will also assist Internews/partners in the production of community-driven content to capture critical data relevant to impact reporting and M&E.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop, maintain, and establish excellent working relationships with a wide range of humanitarian responders (UN agencies, NGO partners, CDC, etc.) and government representatives (MOH, MOI, etc.) Make them aware about the project and its objectives;
- Represent the coordination and liaison work of the project and actively participate in all relevant humanitarian coordination forums (UN Clusters if appropriate) to identify critical information gaps re prevention, treatment, contact tracing, perceptions and attitudes towards the disease;
- Liaise with UN agencies and partner NGOs to provide content for the Humanitarian Information Service on Ebola (E-newsletter and Radio Program);
- Share with the rest of the Project Team the latest Ebola updates to enable them to turn it into useful, actionable, accurate and engaging content that communities can relate to/understand;
- Become aware of agreed upon medical protocols re Ebola and stay up to date with latest Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice (KAP) surveys concerning the virus, how it is transmitted and the psycho-social impact on communities and the country at large;
- Work closely with the Humanitarian Journalism Trainers (HJTs) to ensure that all content and messages are accurate and contribute to 1) reduce transmission rates; 2) follow approved medical protocols, 3) reduce stigma towards Ebola survivors and their families, and 4) practice safe burials.
- In coordination with the Project Team, ensure that feedback gained from project activities is made available to humanitarian organizations (i.e. brief presentations at coordination meetings and other relevant forums, etc.), and government officials, as required;
- In close coordination with the Humanitarian Journalism Trainer, liaise with relevant humanitarian agencies in the production of humanitarian news and information to disseminate important messages, news and information for affected communities (e.g. regarding prevention, treatment, care, safe burials, stigma towards survivors, psychosocial support, economic impact, etc. as required);
- Ensure that all public outreach, media and communication efforts, including Public Service messages are coordinated and disseminated efficiently across all available channels;
- Maintain and update a database with all the relevant contacts (i.e. spokespersons and focal points) from the different organizations and government ministries/units involved in the Ebola response;
- Produce regular multimedia materials (i.e. blog posts, photos, photo slideshows, etc.) documenting “Information Saves Lives” project for external audiences, as required;
- Contribute to the wider communications for the project as a whole with excellent writing and communications skills;
- Support the Team Leader of the Ebola Response with project management as and when needed.
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:
- Extensive experience working in complex relief operations in challenging environments, preferably in the Africa region. Previous experience in a health emergency is desirable.
- Very good working knowledge of the mandates and modalities of the international humanitarian sector. A thorough understanding of the work of humanitarian and development agencies, including working within the UN cluster system
- Proven interpersonal and networking skills to liaise authoritatively with figures from the aid and donor communities and host governments.
- Relevant university degree in media, health communication, journalism, international development, and/or humanitarian response
- Experience in Communication with Communities (CwC) projects, with a strong focus on the feedback loop from the communities into the humanitarian system
- A good understanding of technical language used by NGOs – and demonstrated experience of turning this into engaging content with “human speak” for ordinary people
- A good understanding and experience of accountability platforms and tools –experience working with communities to gather their concerns and issues turning these into engaging content
- Strong communication and diplomatic skills
- Proven ability to develop and monitor work plans and training plans
- Sensitivity to cross-cultural dynamics in the work place and experience supervising staff
- Must be self-reliant, resourceful, good problem-solver, good-humored, and flexible
- Adaptability to changing circumstances inherent to an unfolding public health crisis
- Fluency in written and spoken English
- Proficiency in both French and English (able to work primarily in French)
How to apply:
TO APPLY:
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