Consultant- Behavioural Insights for Health

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Purpose of the consultancy

This part-time consultancy (50%) will support the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific with the use of behavioural insights, including collection and analysis of multisource data and application of relevant insights to communication and other public health interventions. It will also support building behavioural science capabilities within the Region.

Background

Communication used strategically can be a powerful tool to address growing and complex health challenges. In the digital age, communication is more important than ever; however, using communication strategically requires expertise, skills, and resources.

Drawing on social and behavioural sciences, in the Western Pacific Region, WHO has developed Communication for Health (C4H): a set of principles and practices to help ensure communication interventions are designed to inform and change attitudes and behaviours in ways that support the achievement of defined public health outcomes.

In the context of the use of behavioural insights, the consultant will support implementation of the "Regional Action Framework on Communication for Health (C4H)" which was developed to support Member States to adopt and scale up C4H to ensure health communication programmes, campaigns and other interventions achieve greater impact and progress towards public health goals.

Additionally, in May 2023 the WHA adopted the “Behavioural sciences for better health” Resolution to support the use of behavioural sciences in the work of WHO, and to provide technical support, normative guidance, capacity building and share knowledge with member states. The consultant will support the implementation of the BI Resolution for greater public health impact.

Timeline

Start date: 15 February 2024

End date: 31 December 2024

Work to be performed

Under the supervision of the Regional Communications Manager (COM), and in collaboration with relevant colleagues in the Western Pacific Regional Office and Country Offices, the consultant will be responsible for delivering the following:

Output 1: Guide on the use of behavioural insights, including multisource data collection and analysis, in the Western Pacific Region to inform communication and other public health interventions in priority areas.

Deliverable 1.1: Support WHO country offices and Member States in the Western Pacific to establish capacities for the use behavioural insights to inform communication interventions;

Deliverable 1.2: Develop behavioural insights tools to enhance targeted and context-specific communication interventions at regional and country level;

Deliverable 1.3: Guide WHO country offices and Member States in the Western Pacific on the application of behavioural insights in their interventions.

Output 2: Support implementation and measurement of behaviourally informed communication interventions.

Deliverable 2.1: Guide WHO country offices and Member States in the Western Pacific to use the evidence synthesis to inform communication and other public health interventions;

Deliverable 2.2: Guide development of relevant evaluation plans and tools;

Deliverable 2.3: Analyse and interpret data collected and produce, or contribute to, the C4H programme reports and publications;

Deliverable 2.4: Document and share progress on the behavioural aspects of the C4H programme.

Technical Supervision

The selected consultant will work under the supervision of the Regional Communications Manager

Qualifications, Experience, Skills and knowledge, and Language

Education

Essential:

Advanced university degree in behavioural sciences such as psychology, economics, behavioural sciences or social marketing that includes related research methods relevant to the project themes.

Desirable:

A doctoral degree in a related field.

Experience

Essential:

7-10 years of relevant experience in designing and implementing research projects in the fields of behavioural sciences, psychology, economics, social marketing or other related fields.

Experience in applied research and in the use of a variety of research methods in public health.

Proven experience in writing protocols and academic papers related to social science research.

Desirable:

Experience working for WHO or another UN agency.

Experience working in low- and middle-income context.

Skills and knowledge

Essential:

Strong project management skills.

Ability to think analytically, communicate effectively, and execute efficiently.

Advanced research and analytical skills as demonstrated by peer-reviewed publications in the area of behavioural sciences, risk communication or public health.

Excellent data analysis and management skills.

Intermediate level of statistical analysis skills.

Proficiency in the use of standard office software programmes

Scientific writing skills.

Language
Essential:

Expert level of English (read, write, and speak).

Competencies:

Communication

Producing results

Technical competence

Teamwork

Overall attitude at work

Location

Onsite for insurance purposes

Travel

Work will be carried out remotely, with potential travel to Manila or other Country Offices within the Region.

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.
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appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
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