An agency to provide support in developing a risk communication course, as well as testing and evaluating the course in one semester in three universities

1. Background: Risk communication is a core capacity area for managing disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies, which WHO Member States are required to develop under the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005). The critical role played by risk communication during the response to the COVID-19 – a new disease – pandemic is a stark reminder that this technical area needs to be continuously invested in. In fact, in Viet Nam, one of the factors that have contributed in the successful control of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country has been the credible and comprehensive communications carried out through media engagement, collaboration with various organizations and sectors to develop risk communication messaging and tools/products, and harnessing of multisectoral collaboration for community engagement, among others. It is important that a country has in place a bolstered risk communication system, including continuously enhanced human resources to run it. WHO Viet Nam has been working with partners and stakeholders in Viet Nam in strengthening the country’s risk communication capacity. Part of this support has been the standardization of risk communication training at all levels of the health system with the aim to develop a pool of core risk communicators within the current health workforce. This module is being used to comprehensively train health workers at all levels of the health sector in conducting risk communication activities in their respective areas. WHO Viet Nam now aims to develop a risk communication course targeting the next generations, including students at medical universities and colleges and universities offering health-related degree programmes, of health workforce in Viet Nam. We look into working with a competent partner who will support us in developing the said course. Additionally, this APW is expected to support the initial implementation, including piloting it in at least three universities (potentially one in the north, central and south) in one semester, and evaluating it. Universities and colleges with membership in or established connection with academic networks are invited to submit activity proposals, including budget. 2. Work to be performed: Under the guidance of the technical focal point for risk communication, as well as the supervision of the Disease Control Group–Health Emergencies Programme (DC-HE) Coordinator, the contracting partner will provide support: a. Specific Objectives of the activity: Develop a risk communication course targeting the next generations, including students at medical universities and colleges and universities offering health-related degree programmes, of health workforce in Viet Nam based on Viet Nam’s existing standardized risk communication training module and conduct testing and evaluating the course in one semester in three universities (potentially one in the north, central and south). b. Description of the tasks/process involved in carrying out the activity Specifically, the contracting partner will:

design a one-term risk communication course, including teaching tools, such aspresentations, workbook, as applicable (as much as possible, course contents should beflexible depending on the length of school term offered by universities
conduct meetings and/or consultations, as needed, with WHO Viet Nam, Department ofCommunication and Rewar(risk communication focal point at the Ministry of Health),university programme coordinators to finalize course contents and discuss feasibility ofpiloting in one semester/term;
conduct evaluation activities for the pilot implementation of the course.

c. Method (s) to carry out the activity

Desktop research
Organizing and facilitating discussions and meetings
Drafting papers
Conducting academic learning sessions
Surveys, focus group discussions and other evaluation methods

Output and deliverables Output: Developed risk communication course Deliverable 1: Final version of the risk communication course contents Deliverable 2: Teaching tools for the risk communication course, such as presentations, workbook, etc Deliverable 3: Proof of inclusion in university course offering in three universities Deliverable 4: Evaluation report and final version of the course contents and teaching tools based on evaluation results Deliverable 5: Final report of all activities, including technical outcomes, with financial report attached 3. Planned timelines: Start date: 01/08/2020 End date: 30/06/2021 4. Specific requirements: Essential: Vietnamese academic institutions – with membership in or established connection with academic networks – offering health-related degree programmes. 6. Place of assignment: Viet Nam 7. Travel: All travels related to this contract will be incorporated in the APW contract. 8. Budget: Please take note of the following when submitting application:

The contractor will be responsible for paying taxes, if any.
Full proposal with estimation of costs, description of technical team, and supporting documents should be received on/or before 30 July 2020 and should be addressed to:

Administrative Officer World Health Organization UN Building, 304 Kim Ma Street, Hanoi, Viet Nam OR wpvnmapplicants@who.int For further information on this TOR, please contact: wpvnmwr@who.int More Information and Application Details