Communication and Advocacy Officer

Vacancy Notice No: AFRO/13/FT9 Title: Communication and Advocacy Officer Grade: P3 Contract type: Fixed-Term Appointment Duration of contract:  Two (02) years	Date: 8 January 2013 Application Deadline: 5 February 2013 (6 day(s) until closing deadline) Currently accepting applications Duty Station:  Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso   Organization unit: AFRO Africa Regional Office (AF/RGO) / AF/ARD Office of the Assistant Regional Director (AF/ARD)
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME : The mission of the WHO/AFRO and ARD is to provide technical orientation and support to countries of the African Region regarding the prevention and control of communicable diseases. The objective of the IVD programme in particular is to support countries to reducing morbidity and mortality by providing immunization against vaccine preventable diseases for all children in the first year of life and all women of child bearing age. Within this context the Meningitis Vaccine Project 5MVP), a partnership between WHO and PATH, was created to eliminate epidemic meningitis as a public health importance problem in sub saharan Africa, through the development and introduction of a new conjugate vaccine against serogroup A meningococcal diseases. The objective of the project are: *To develop and evaluate meningococcal conjugate vaccines; * To help create a pathway for the license of the vaccines * To help develop sustainable financing mechanisms that support national EPI programmes to facilitate the introduction of meningitis vaccines; * To pilot the introduction of the new conjugate meningococcal vaccines; * To monitor the impact of the introduction of new conjugate meningococcal vaccines; * To build country capacities in surveillance and control of meningitis disease, including laboratory, data management and mapping in order to get baseline data for periodic evaluations.
Description of duties: The incumbent will perform the following duties: * Contribute in the development of MVP strategic plan of communication to support meningitis vaccine introduction; * Support countries to develop and implement communication activities; * Contribute to capacity building of the national communication officer and journalists; * Support the publication of communication and advocacy material: * contribute to the MVP advocacy for resource mobilization
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Essential: University degree in journalism, communication, public relations or related fields Desirable: Knowledge in health communication in Africa
Skills:  Knowledge of communication and advocacy; * Experience with implementing and coordinating communication strategies; * Experience in communication programs in Africa: * Experience in social mobilization and health promotion; * Strong media relation in Africa; * Technical expertise on communication, advocacy, social mobilization, and strong media related activities; * Ability to work in multidisciplinary national and international teams with good managerial and leadership skills.
Experience: Essential: At least five (05) years' experience in communication programmes in Africa in a health related field. Desirable: Experience related to communication for vaccine programme.
Languages: Excellent knowledge of French or English with a working of the other languages. Knowledge of the local language(s) would be an asset..
Annual salary: (Net of tax) US$ 56,091 at single rate US$ 60,091 with primary dependants
Online applications are strongly encouraged to enable WHO to store your profile in a permanent database. Please visit WHO's e-Recruitment website at: www.who.int/employment. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement.