FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Our staff includes experts in Health, Education, Nutrition, Environment, Economic Development, Civil Society, Gender, Youth, Research and Technology; creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today's interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 60 countries, all 50 U.S. states and all U.S. territories. We are currently seeking qualified candidates for the position of EpiC Kyrgyzstan Risk Communication, Community Engagement and Infodemic Management (RCCE-IM) advisor for Global Health Security (GHS). The position will be based in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

EpiC Central Asia Region Project Description:

Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) is an eight-year global project funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). EpiC is dedicated to achieving and maintaining HIV epidemic control and the project provides strategic technical assistance (TA) and direct service delivery (DSD) to break through barriers to 95-95-95 and promote self-reliant management of national HIV programs by improving HIV case-finding, prevention, and treatment programming.

The EpiC project is also well positioned to strengthen global, regional, and local public health systems to effectively prevent, detect, and respond to infectious diseases, building on broad experience and existing capabilities that align with GHS priorities, National Action Plans for Health Security (NAPHS), and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) goals. With presence in more than 60 countries and extensive breadth and depth of technical experience in the 11 priority GHS technical areas, FHI 360 and our consortium partners are ready to rapidly implement GHS programming.

Job Description

The EpiC Kyrgyzstan RCCE-IM Advisor for GHS will be responsible for managing and monitoring multilevel, multisectoral and multifaceted RCCE-IM capacity strengthening activities of the project in the country; provide technical support to all relevant ministries and their structural divisions on real-time exchange of information, advice and opinions during unusual and unexpected events and emergencies so that informed decisions to mitigate the effects of threats, and protective and preventive action can be made. This includes a mix of communication and engagement strategies, such as media and social media communications, mass awareness campaigns, health promotion, social mobilization, stakeholder engagement community engagement and infodemic management. They will be responsible for the technical inputs to the annual work planning at the country level, will take the lead in developing guidelines/policies for the RCCE-IM strengthening activities, will participate in technical thought leadership both at the regional and country-levels.

Position Responsibilities:

  • Strengthen the capacity of national partners and local media and communications organizations to communicate accurately about public health emergencies and counter misinformation.
  • Facilitate multi-sectoral engagement to mitigate the effects of socio-economic-political drivers of public health emergencies and contribute to the resilience of communities.
  • Integrate RCCE-IM into the design, implementation and monitoring for all public health emergencies response efforts to avoid duplication and gaps and to maximize the sharing of RCCE-IM resources, standards, indicators, evidence and expertise.
  • Establish mentoring systems to enable those at national and subnational levels to access technical support in an accessible and timely manner, helping improve the quality of RCCE-IM approaches.
  • Develop robust systems and processes around knowledge management and the documentation of approaches, lessons and best practices.
  • Track trending questions by demographic/location/ language/gender/age etc. Map these against available content to respond to those questions, as a basis for gap and trend analysis, prioritization and monitoring.
  • Develop strategies to prevent and address stigma and discrimination, overcome pandemic fatigue, and build and maintain trust.
  • Coordinate efforts to manage the infodemic, build digital and health literacy and mitigate the impact.
  • Balance digital engagement with safe and appropriately resourced in-person engagement to ensure that vulnerable groups and those who cannot access digital channels are not left behind.
  • Invest in community ownership approaches, processes and systems to enable community-centered approaches to roll-out.
  • Provide formal and informal community health workforce and local actors with knowledge, engagement and interpersonal communication skills, supplies and tools.
  • Strengthen the availability of relevant and accurate RCCE-IM materials in a range of accessible and applicable formats and languages.
  • Support the GHS Program Manager in collaborating with officials of related departments of relevant ministries, national and regional institutions for project design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation.
  • Work in close collaboration with national counterparts to provide the technical assistance required to fulfill national objectives and targets, especially these related to the fully operational national RCCE-IM systems.
  • Provide technical assistance to develop and implement the national multihazard, multisectoral RCCE plans.
  • Work with project management and technical teams in developing work plans, presentations and reports, and represent the project wherever required.
  • Close coordination with the GHS global RCCE-IM team to ensure synergies and experience sharing within GHS and across GHS countries.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

    Minimum Qualifications:

    • Master’s degree in public health, health education, health communication, or health promotion or in any of the fields related to the functions of the position.
    • At least five years of related experience, at the national and international levels, in RCCE-IM, working in disease outbreaks or health emergencies.
    • Proven experience in the development and implementation of RCCE-IM strategies and plans.
    • Proven experience in formulating and implementing complex communication strategies.
    • Practical knowledge and proven skills in emergency/disaster management concepts and tools and their applications, especially related to managing health emergency/disaster operations.
    • Proven experience in how to strengthen trust between and amongst communities, understand how communities respond (who and what they listen to), create two-way dialogue, etc. Ability to contextualize and guide different populations and support the development and dissemination of relevant RCCE-IM strategies.
    • Experience in designing and/ or community engagement projects in development and/or humanitarian contexts- participatory approaches.
    • Experience managing and liaising with diverse stakeholders.
    • Demonstrated creative problem-solving skills.
    • Demonstrated experience in training and mentoring staff and others.
    • English and Russian language fluency required; Kyrgyz fluency preferred.

      Travel Requirements:

      • 50%, mostly within the Kyrgyz Republic

        The position is open to Kyrgyz residents and will be based in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

        This job description summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

        This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

        FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

        Our values and commitments to safeguarding: FHI 360 is committed to preventing any type of abuse, exploitation and harassment in our work environments and programs, including sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment. FHI 360 takes steps to safeguard the welfare of everyone who engages with our organization and programs and requires that all personnel, including staff members and volunteers, share this commitment and sign our code of conduct. All offers of employment will be subject to appropriate screening checks, including reference, criminal record and terrorism finance checks. FHI 360 also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), facilitated by the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response. In line with the MDS, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any substantiated findings of sexual abuse, exploitation and/or harassment during the applicant’s tenure with previous employers. By applying, job applicants confirm their understanding of these recruitment procedures and consent to these screening checks.

        FHI 360 will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws.

        FHI 360 fosters the strength and health of its workforce through a competitive benefits package, professional development and policies and programs that support a healthy work/life balance. Join our global workforce to make a positive difference for others — and yourself.

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