Association Engagement and Communication officer At Médecins Sans Frontières

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MSF Eastern Africa is looking for an Association Engagement and Communication officer

Do your skills and experience not precisely match the requirements? At MSF EA, we strive to create a safe, diverse and inclusive workplace, recognizing the need to increase access to professional opportunities for historically underrepresented groups. If you’re interested in this position but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with the selection criteria, we encourage you to apply anyway. You might be the ideal candidate for this or other positions.

Firmly committed to safeguarding patients, community members, staff, and all those in contact with the organization from all forms of abuse, including sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH), we will take all necessary steps, through rigorous vetting processes, to ensure that confirmed perpetrators of abuse do not join the organization.

For this position, contact level with patients and children is categorized as Low Risk and will be monitored with this in regard.

Introduction

Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is an international independent medical humanitarian organisation that provides assistance to people affected by conflicts, epidemics, and natural or human-made disasters and excluded from healthcare. We provide this assistance without discrimination, irrespective of race, religion, creed or political affiliation.

About MSF Eastern Africa

MSF Eastern Africa is the regional institutional office of MSF. It focuses on representation and networking, recruiting and supporting staff from the region, communications and fundraising, as well as working on other dossiers of importance to MSF such as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Data Protection, mutualization, training, medical operational support and environmental health.

About MSF Eastern Africa Association

MSF East Africa Association (EAA) is an association of MSF established with the aim of improving the participation of its members in the greater MSF movement and in the Eastern Africa home societies. EAA received official recognition from the International General Assembly in December 2011 of MSF EAA as an Associative entity within its movement. Our area of focus is primarily the Eastern Africa region of Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and Kenya but membership is open to anyone around the world. MSF Eastern Africa is a Section, approved by MSF IGA in November 2020 and is the new regional MSF entity in the Eastern Africa (EA) region.

Rationale/Objective for Position

The Association Engagement and Communication Officer is responsible for developing and implementing strategic approaches to support the associative-governance goals of the MSF EA Board by driving member engagement, coordinating associative activities, managing communications and fostering a dialogue between the Board, the MSF Eastern Africa, and the Association members. This dialogue should ensure continuous lines of information, exchange, and accountability remain open and functional.

This position will be hierarchically and functionally accountable to the Head of Association.

Tasks & Responsibilities

Technical and Operational Responsibilities

Support engagement within MSF Eastern Africa Association

  • Develop engagement strategies that promote an active, inclusive, and well-informed MSF EA Association (EAA).
  • Facilitate engagement between the MSF EA Board and Association members.
  • Cultivate the development of a collective associative identity and shared understanding of MSF principles.
  • Support in the Organization and facilitation of EAA debates and associative events across the region, including the General Assembly (GA), ensuring broad and strong participation of EAA and other members.
  • Liaise with other departments at the MSF EA office and the MSF Missions in the region on associative activities.
  • Support in recruiting new members, administer the EAA membership, managing applications and keeping the Database up to date.

Support Associative engagement in countries of operations

  • Support in the stimulation of associative life in the field and successful organization of planned associative activities.
  • Support the network of Associative Focal Persons and members in countries of operations
  • Learn and work with other Associations to develop trainings in collaboration with MSF EA Learning & Development Unit.
  • Support in the Organization and facilitation of Field Associative Debates (FADs)
  • Engage with Heads of mission towards ALF and any board priorities

Manage inclusive, qualitative, regular and engaging Association Communications

  • Develop and implement a communications plan and strategic approaches to cultivate a well informed and engaged membership, ensuring inclusion of and adaptation to different audiences
  • Coordinate timely and accurate communication about associative news, events and topics (national/international) between and towards association members and volunteers
  • Assist in the production of EAA monthly newsletter and other identified tools of communication for the Eastern Africa Association, providing necessary content adapted to the target audience(s)
  • Coordinate the development of upcoming EAA websites and stimulate and moderate discussions on online and social media platforms.
  • Facilitate information flow and engagement between members, staff and the board as necessary.
  • Ensure the preparation, editing, compilation and dissemination of Associative events and the GA minutes/outcomes/reports
  • Develop the content, material/resource needs and the logistics of events, including Mini GAs, Pre and Post GA, -International General Assembly (IGA), End Year Events with close collaboration with country responsible board members and Associative Focal Points.

Other Responsibilities

  • Participating in International Projects/Coordinate and implement new initiatives as agreed by the EAA board e.g. planning and implementation of the urban space’s initiative in EA.
  • Ensure accurate integration of EDI & Safeguarding aspects into all policies and practices within the MSF EA Association.
  • Compliance Assurance – Ensure that all data processing activities within the MSF EA Association comply with relevant data protection laws and regulations, including the Data Protection Act, 2019 and support your team to receive necessary training in this area.
  • Policy Adherence – Enforce data protection policies, procedures, and guidelines within the MSF EA Association, ensuring that all team members are aware of and adhere to these protocols.
  • Supervision of additional part-time volunteers or members for specific projects and events.
  • Work closely with the MSF EAA/EA Board Officer on common issues/activities as directed by the Board/President.
  • Replace the Board Officer in all kinds of matters his/her absence.
  • Participate in annual plans and budget preparation in collaboration with the Association Office staff and the Board as per the EA calendar.
  • Participate in the review, monitoring and evaluation of MSF EAA annual and strategic plans and budget as per the agreed/set timelines.

Qualifications

Education

  • Undergraduate Degree in Business administration, International Relations, Social Sciences or other related disciplines.
  • Knowledge of the Eastern Africa Context as well as of global humanitarian affairs
  • Strong written and oral communication skills as well as presentation skills.
  • Knowledge of MS Office applications such as Outlook, MSF Word, MS Excel, SharePoint
  • Knowledge of ERP, CRM,
  • Knowledge of MSF organizational structure, communication guidelines, and engagement strategies is highly desirable.
  • Previous experience with MSF Association or executive work is desirable.

Experience

  • Previous MSF experience in countries of operations, headquarters or the association a pre-requisite.
  • At least 2 years’ experience in Strategic Communications / Event Planning / L&D

Competencies

  • Technical Competencies
    • Fluent/proficiency in English (reading and writing). French, Arabic and Swahili are an added advantage.
    • Excellent analytical skills and ability to synthesize and effectively present information
    • Computer literacy with excellent MS Office, Outlook, power point and excel with ability to effectively navigate through social media and interactive platforms
  • Behavioral/General Competencies
    • Full adherence and commitment to the principles, values and goals of MSF.
    • Strong leadership and decision-making capacity (strong team-leading and team-working skills).
    • Strong negotiation skills.
    • Respect and understanding of confidentiality.
    • Able to work successfully under pressure within short deadlines; maintaining appropriate priorities, adequate detail, flexibility, and positivity.
    • Willingness and personal flexibility to travel across the region and beyond with short notices as may be required
    • Proactive, highly motivated and responsible, able to work with limited supervision, accountable and honest.
    • Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
    • Proven experience in conflicts resolution
    • Time management and organization skills
    • Stress management ability
    • Cross-cultural awareness and flexibility

Conditions and Benefits:

  • Job Location: MSF Eastern Africa HQ office in Nairobi (Kenya) or Kigali (Rwanda)
  • Contract: Full-time, 2-years contract renewable
  • Start date: ASAP.
  • Salary: An annual salary of EUR 18,476 at HQ Grade 6 based on a full-time appointment with an annual increment of 2% every year up to a maximum of 10 years.
  • Work-life balance financial benefit; ranging between EUR 247 to 295/month based on individual & administrative status. This amount may be used to cover accommodation and utilities, transportation, etc.
  • Other benefits include; 25 days of annual leave, Employer Pension contribution and medical insurance cover (staff and family) based on MSF EA terms/conditions.

How to apply

  • The vacancy closing date is: 07th July 2026.
  • This vacancy is open to candidates based in Kenya or Rwanda who have valid authorization to work in their respective country.
  • By applying to this position, the applicant confirms they have read, understood and agreed to fully comply with MSF Charter and MSF Behavioral Commitments and Data Privacy Policy.
  • In line with MSF’s Safeguarding Principles, successful candidates undergo a rigorous vetting process that includes background checks and self-declaration.
  • If you recognize yourself in this profile, we welcome you to apply directly via the vacancy link.
  • Applicants are required to submit a single PDF document containing a Letter of Motivation and a Curriculum Vitae (CV) (in English). Please note that applications submitted without a Letter of Motivation will not be considered.

If you have any questions regarding your application, please contact recruitment@nairobi.msf.org before the vacancy closing date. Kindly use this email only for technical issues related to your application, for example, if you do not receive an automated response or encounter problems uploading documents. Applications sent directly to this email will not be considered.

Information

The protection of your personal data is important to MSF. By submitting your application, you consent to MSF using your personal data only for the recruitment process to have all the information and documents necessary to proceed with the recruitment, validation of your application and selection of the most suitable candidate. Your personal data will be treated confidentially. MSF will not use your personal data in any other way not foreseen for purposes of recruitment.

MSF is an equal opportunity employer and does not charge any application/ recruitment fee.

Lately, MSF is a civil society initiative that brings together individuals committed to the assistance of other human beings in crisis. As such MSF is by choice an association. Each individual applying for MSF roles does it out of conviction and is ready to uphold the values and principles of MSF.