WHO releases competency framework for workforce response to infodemic management

WHO has released a new competency framework, Building a response workforce to manage infodemics. Following a global consultation to produce a framework for managing the COVID-19 infodemic, a need was identified for a competency framework
for the emerging workforce of infodemic managers. WHO, in partnership
with the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US
CDC), conducted qualitative research and consultation to produce this
document.

The competency framework was developed in three main steps between October
2020 and February 2021. First, preparatory work identified the overall
structure for the framework. Next, a series of semi-structured
interviews were held with identified participants to investigate current processes, models and tools, and key disciplines for competence
development. Third, the complete framework was presented to experts from health institutions and academia through discussion panels.

The framework aims to strengthen efforts at the country level to manage
infodemics by outlining a set of competencies to guide the empowerment,
education and training of employees of health institutions. Based on the five work streams for infodemic preparedness and response, the
framework comprises four domains that group specific competencies,
namely:

  1. Infodemic management – competencies in infodemiology;
  2. Prepare and monitor – competencies in the use of effective tools to listen to
    target audiences and how to design and share appropriate information;
  3. Detect and intervene – competencies to design, implement and evaluate
    interventions to promote resilience to mis/disinformation and to empower individuals and communities to exercise their right to access quality
    health information;
  4. Strengthen – competencies to empower health systems to ensure healthier
    populations through better infodemic management in health emergencies
    and in regular contexts.

The framework can be used as a reference tool when planning infodemic
management capacities, training, or teams, and can be adapted to be
applied to the local context and needs. WHO will use this new framework
to develop training curricula and programmes through the WHO Academy,
which will deliver internationally certified micro-skill certificates to health workers globally. The framework will be evaluated on a rolling
basis.

Read the document here

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