We are pleased to announce the Open Call for a Facilitator for Bridging Knowledge and Practice: Risk Communication for Public Health Emergencies in the Age of AI
Submit your application by Monday, 22 June 2026, 23:59 +8 GMT
To download the PDF version of the call:
Overview
In 2008, leaders of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) confirmed their commitment to promoting global security and determination to combat global health threats, including pandemic influenza at the 7th ASEM Summit (ASEM7). Since its official launch in 2009, the Asia-Europe Foundation Public Health Network (ASEF PHN) has been contributing to improve ASEM Partners’ capacity for managing public health emergencies by targeting experts from both health and non-health sectors (governments, international organisations, business corporations, academia, media and non-profit organisations) across Asia and Europe.
The 2026 Tokyo meeting marks a significant milestone for the programme: it is the first occasion on which the programme will undertake a comprehensive stocktaking of what it has learnt across more than a decade, while simultaneously looking forward to how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) practice. The meeting will gather senior officials, public health practitioners, civil society representatives and technology experts from across Asia and Europe to (i) consolidate and reflect on the knowledge accumulated across more than twelve years of ASEF PHN risk communication programming and (ii) explore through hands-on practice, how AI applications can support effective and inclusive RCCE.
Call for Proposals
ASEF PHN is seeking an independent consultant to undertake a role of facilitator for the High-level Meeting on Risk Communications for Public Health Emergencies
Project name: ASEF Public Health Network (ASEF PHN)
Role: Facilitator for the meeting, including pre-meeting preparation and contribution to the development of the outcome document
Event Date & Location: 5-6 November 2026, Tokyo, Japan
Time Frame: July 2026 – February 2027 (tbc) (preparation, implementation and contribution to outcome document)
The expectations for this role are:
- Collaborate with ASEF in the preparation and design of the meeting programme by contributing technical expertise on participatory facilitation methods.
- Lead the facilitation of plenary and group discussions across Day 1 and Day 2 of the meeting. Applicants are invited to propose the participatory facilitation method(s) they would use for these sessions.
- Propose an initial concept for the Day 2 simulation exercise scenario, to be used with the AI-powered community messaging tool developed by the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART). This is a first idea only; the final scenario will be co-developed with SMART and ASEF after contract signature.
- Work closely with the rapporteur to ensure that the meeting discussions feed into a coherent outcome document, providing input where necessary.
The selected facilitator also needs to submit a facilitation plan and develop a tentative programme prior to the High-level Meeting. Hence, the work will commence July/Aug 2025. For details of the scope of the meeting, please refer to the annex in the PDF.
Candidate Requirements
- Citizens of ASEM Partners’ countries (essential)
- Experience in facilitating workshops/meetings in the field of public health, preferably related to risk communication
- Experience in the use of participatory methods to produce practical outcome documents that gather input from all participants; familiarity with frameworks such as Designing for Wiser Action would be a strong asset
- Familiarity with current debates on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in public health communication, and the ability to facilitate informed, balanced discussions on its applications and risks
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills including tact and cultural sensitivity
- Experience in working with intergovernmental/international organisations would be a plus
Applications & Contact Details
Interested individuals should send a draft proposal including brief information about the methodology to implement the activities (maximum 5 pages; please refer to the application form, which includes financial proposal), together with the CV and accompanying cover letter demonstrating suitability.
Applications should be emailed to Ms Nur A’in A. RAZAK, Project Lead for ASEF Public Health Network (nurain.arazak@asef.org); and Ms Maria MARECKOVA, Project Executive (maria.mareckova@asef.org; keeping in copy: asefphn@asef.org) by Monday, 22 June 2026, 23h59 (Singapore time). Please direct your inquiries to Ms Maria MARECKOVA (maria.mareckova@asef.org).
The subject of email should be “[Facilitator Application] First Name Last Name (Country of Nationality)” e.g. [Facilitator Application] Jane Doe (France)
If you have any inquiries or experiencing difficulties with the application, please contact Ms Maria.
