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Qualifications

Terms of Reference

NPO/ SSA  Anthropologist

Introduction

Mozambique is prone to natural disasters (cyclone and flooding following cyclone and heavy rains) and disease outbreaks (cholera, dysentery, and malaria). Cholera outbreak has been reported from different provinces and MOH is responding the cholera outbreak and partners are supporting the response actions.

Following the recent heavy rains more in the southern region of the country had resulted displacement of people and damage houses and infrastructures. Moreover,  tropical cyclone  FREDDY #1 and #2 cyclone has land fall and affected different provinces resulted in flooding with displacement of people and damage of infrastructures including of health facilities. Its effects has resulted an increase in cholera in differrnt parts of the country.

The cause and spread of vibrio cholera can be attributed to behavioural, climatic and socio-economic determinants.  Hygiene behavioural practices are an important factor in the spread of cholera which, like any disease, is underpinned by local social and cultural structures. Understanding this social state is crucial in setting up a response and prevention programme. It is especially important to understand the perceptions, representations, attitudes and behaviours of the population in better control current and future cholera outbreaks.  Likewise, it is necessary to measure levels of knowledge on the modes of transmission, contamination, and prevention of the epidemic.

Mozambique is a cosmopolitan country with important cultural and religious diversity. Each province has its own social realities however, preliminary data shows a certain refusal to talk about cholera in public. This refusal may be linked to the stigmatisation of the disease. This requires deconstruction in order to carry out effective interventions with communication that does not offend local cultures and beliefs.

The WHO Mozambique office wants to conduct rapid socio-anthropological studies on cholera to underpin localised interventions adapted to particular social contexts.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

Conduct rapid socio-anthropological studies following operational priorities of the incident management team in the most affected areas to understand perceptions, attitudes, behaviours and practices around cholera. The selected candidate will also provide the necessary operational support to the operation in terms of key risk communication and communication engagement actions. Additionally, the selected expert will make operational recommendations to engage communities in increasing the ownership of the response against cholera.

• Review of the literature on existing socio-anthropological studies on cholera in the country
• Conduct two action research studies in the main areas affected by cholera
• Analyse the knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and socio-cultural risk behaviours associated with cholera,
• Analyse the socio-cultural beliefs associated with the spread of cholera,
• Provide operational support and recommendations for engaging communities in the fight against cholera
• Write reports on each action research
• Manage relevant communities of social scientists to increase local WHO expertise pool

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of proven experience in socio-anthropological research.
• Previous experience supporting disease outbreak preparedness and/or response (desirable)
• Excellent planning and coordination skills, with proven ability to work with various stakeholders.
• Experience supporting capacity assessments and capacity building.
• Expertise of RCCE concepts and guidance; how to strengthen trust between, and amongst communities, understand how communities are responding (who and what they listen to), creating two-way dialogue, etc.
• Ability to contextualize and provide guidance to different populations and support development and dissemination of relevant RCCE strategies.
• Master level university degree in social anthropology
• Three free course provided by OPEN WHO (https://openwho.org)
  • Cólera: Introdução
  • SocialNet: Empowering communities before, during, and after an infectious disease outbreak
  • SocialNet: Social and behavioural insights COVID-19 data collection tool

Competencies (Generic)

• • Producing results
  • Fostering integration and teamwork
  • Communicating in a credible and effective way
  • Moving forward in changing environment
  • Knowing and managing yourself

Competencies (Functional)

• Applying technical expertise
• Analysing
• Relating and networking
• Analysing
• Relating and networking

Languages: Portuguese: Excellent,  English: good knowledge;

Other Skills (e.g. IT): Excellent computer skills (Word, Excel, Power Point,)

Duty station: Central level (Maputo)

Level: NOC step1

Duration: two months