Special Service Agreement (SSA) to support district authorities and health offices in health promoting community engagement activities

(Working 5 day per week from January to July 2023)

Objectives of the programme:

This post is expected to serve as the provincial focal person responsible to support district authorities and health offices in health promoting community engagement activities led and delivered by local leaders. She/he will liaise closely with MoH and MoHA central officials and receive technical oversite and guidance from WHO. 

She/he may be based in Vientiane with frequent travel to or longer stay (up to several weeks) in the responsible areas. The incumbent reports to the WHO hiring manager with complementary oversight from MoH and MoHA officials.  Promoting a government led initiative, the consultant will support and strengthen the design, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of community engagement activities.

Description of the duties:

• Provide technical support in defining and implementing community engagement activities, namely CONNECT module 2, jointly with government officials, citizens, and civil societies.
• Efficiently establish a course of action for self and stakeholders for task accomplishment.
• Facilitate and empower government officials to lead designed community engagement activities.
• Report timely and accurately on the progress of community engagement components, with a focus on impact, quality, risks & issues, and lessons learned.
• Support provincial and district officials with supportive supervision for the community leaders
• Monitor the effectiveness of the community engagement activities and suggest adjustments of methodology and material based on the lessons learned from current practices.
• Build trust-based relationships and identify synergies between local government officials, health professionals, civilians, and civil society organizations.
• Involve the communities in the conception and planning of activities aiming to improve the responses to COVID-19 and health issues beyond COVID-19.
• Ensure that the views of the communities are correctly reflected in all the interventions, including the views of women, children, and vulnerable groups.

Knowledge and Skills:

Education:

• First university degree

Required experience:

• At least 1 years of experience working in the development field.  
• Experience related to community engagement is essential
• Planning, facilitating, and motivating participants in workshops and meetings
• Collaborating with the Lao government, international organizations, and community leaders

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

• Strong communication, strategic thinking, public relations and advisory skills;
• Networking capability, interpersonal skills, and strong ability to promote teamwork;
• Ability to take initiative to move complex processes forward to achieve results;
• Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team;
• Capable to adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds;
• High degree of integrity, discretion, and personal conduct.

Language:

• Fluency in Lao is required
• Some English preferred

Place of assignment: 

• The SSA will work based in Vientiane, Lao PDR with travel to provinces

Additional information:

Interested and qualified candidates are invited to submit application letter and curriculum vitae in English language with mentioned subject of application “SSA to support district authorities and health offices in health promoting community engagement activities” to email: wplaohr@who.int by 8 December 2022. Applications without a proper subject might be disregarded. Only shortlisted will be contacted.