Communication and Community Engagement Specialist

Communication and Community Engagement Specialist
(Open to Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada only)

Veterinarians without Borders/Vétérinaires sans Frontières (VWB/VSF) provides overseas volunteer placements for veterinarians and other animal and public health professionals.

VWB/VFS is currently co-funding the Volunteers Engaged in Gender Responsive Technical Solutions (VETS) project with Global Affairs Canada (GAC). The VETS project was established to improve the economic and social well-being of the poorest, most marginalized people, particularly women and girls, in six countries, including Vietnam, through support to animal, human and environmental health initiatives. The project utilises the skills of Canadian volunteers to support smallholder farmers, primarily women, to reduce poverty by improving family income and nutrition principally through improved production of livestock and crops. The program is built around the One Health concept, which recognizes that the health of people, animals and the natural environment are interconnected. It promotes the production of more and better food and increased incomes from livestock, all the while promoting land rehabilitation and conservation for sustainable development.

VWB/VSF is currently seeking a volunteer Communication and Community Engagement Specialist to support VWB/VFS partner organizations in Vietnam, the Institute of Environmental Health and Sustainable Development (IEHSD) and Center for Public Health and Ecosystem Research (CENPHER). The main aim of the volunteer placement will be to build the capacity of IEHSD and CENPHER staff to design and implement effective communication and community engagement programs in the community.

The specific objectives of the assignment are to:

• Provide guidance to IEHSD and CENPHER staff to develop a communication and community engagement strategy to achieve its public health objectives.
• Assist IEHSD and CENPHER staff, and their partners at the community level, to understand the risk communication framework and prepare communication materials highlighting key messages.
• Support IEHSD and CENPHER staff, and their community partners, in implementing communication and community engagement activities, projects and other initiatives in target communities.

The volunteer placement is for a period of one year (with the possibility of extension) starting 1st January 2021. The volunteer will be based in Hanoi, with some travel to project sites. The placement is open to Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada that are currently based in Vietnam.

Candidates will ideally have previous experience working in communications and community engagement in public health in Vietnam or other developing countries. Candidates with previous experience working in communication and community engagement in relation to other development interventions are also welcomed to apply. Candidates with private sector experience working in community engagement in marketing in Vietnam will also be considered.

Other desired qualifications and skills include:

• Tertiary qualifications in communications, community engagement or related discipline, preferably at the postgraduate level.
• Experience developing and implementing innovative communication and community engagement strategies for public health interventions, including in relation to One Health, Ecohealth and food safety, etc.
• Experience in Training of Trainers (ToT) on communication and community engagement topics.
• Experience producing written and other communication materials on complex concepts for a broad audience.
• Efficient cross-cultural communication skills.
• Commitment to the principles of volunteer cooperation and familiarity with participatory approaches to development, including the promotion of gender equality, good governance and environmental sustainability.
• Previous experience working in Vietnam or other developing countries.

Successful candidates will receive a volunteer living allowance of 2100CAD per month. In addition, VWB/VSF will cover the volunteer’s visa/permit costs, as well as costs for required vaccinations and emergency travel health insurance for the duration of the placement.

Interested candidates are invited to send their curriculum vitae (CV), and cover letter outlining their interest in being a VWB/VSF volunteer, in English via email to [email protected] by 18th October 2020.