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:
- Infodemic management - competencies in infodemiology;
- Prepare and monitor - competencies in the use of effective tools to listen to target audiences and how to design and share appropriate information;
- 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;
- 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
