Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters, and exclusion from healthcare. Médecins Sans Frontières provides assistance to populations in distress, to victims of natural or man-made disasters and to victims of armed conflict. They do so irrespective of race, religion, creed, or political convictions. www.msf.org
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Health Promotion Community Engagement Officer
Location: Awka, Anambra
Contract Period: Definite
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Implement Health Promotion and Community Engagement (HPCE) activities with patients and local population to make the bridge between the community and the medical activities!
Inform patients and communities about MSF and services it provides.
According to medical priorities, deliver information to the patients and community on specific health topics
Implement activities of health education and awareness (sessions in schools, churches, community), under the indications and supervision of the HPCE Supervisor.
Under the guide of HPCE Supervisor, assess the impact of activities (with questions, verifications and behaviors observations), and report problems, success and constraints to him/her.
Collect all type of information related to specific health and living conditions of the population, in particular to identify the most vulnerable populations to target.
Report to HPCE Supervisor: activities, problems met, strengths and constraints.
Establish and maintain contacts with social partners, including other NGO’s, governmental health services that can provide answers to social problems.
Keep education and communication areas clean and tidy and professional materials available.
Participate in creation of any material needed for the activities of information, education and communication.
MSF Section / Context Specific Accountabilities
Contribute to the Health Seeking Behaviour Assesment by gathering community insights, barriers and facilitators to accessing care
Identify community focal points and establish a strategy of collaboration with them (services promotion, feedback/suggestions/concerns collection, awareness raising)
Together with the Health Promotion and Community Engagement (HPCE) supervisor, ensure HPCE materials are tailored to literacy levels and cultural norms
In collaboration with relevant stakeholders and HPCE supervisor, contribute to the design of the survivor referral pathway and ensure clear, accessible information is shared with communities and relevant staff
Contribute to training/capacity building of community focal points on violence awareness raisons with a specific focus on gender-based violence, sexual violence and survivor-centred approach, including principles of confidentiality, respect, non-discrimination, and informed consent.
Contribute to the data collection based on the system decided at project level
Safeguard confidentiality to ensure all survivor-related information is handled with strict confidentiality and follow protocols for safe documentation, storage, and communication of sensitive information
Minimum Required Skills and Qualifications
Education:
Essential: Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences, Social Work, Behavioural Sciences, Public Health, or Community Health.
Experience
Essential: Minimum of 1-year professional experience in health promotion activities (or prevention, counselling, education and mobilization, social work, teaching)
Desirable:
Experience with MSF and qualitative research methodologies (e.g. focus groups, interviews, participatory assessments); proficiency in basic IT tools (MS Office, email, data entry system).
Skills:
Strong communication skills, with the ability to adapt messages to diverse audiences
Capacity to adopt a community-based approach
Cultural sensitivity and respect for diversity, particularly in working with vulnerable populations
Ability to build trust and maintain confidentiality, especially with addressing sensitive issues such as gender-based violence
Team spirit, fostering collaboration and capacity building among MSF staff and community focal points
Behavioural flexibility
Stress management
Knowledge of socio-economical context, capacity to identify its key people
Interested candidates should submit their application, including cover letter, resume and copy of relevant certificates and NYSC certificate / Exemption Letters using this link above.
MSF is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates from Anambra State, and notably from Awka preferred.
Applications should ONLY be sent through the indicated channel, meeting all requirements, otherwise application will not be entertained.
Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the next recruitment steps.
MSF reserves the right to cancel any step or whole of the process at any stage of recruitment.
MSF Belgium takes this opportunity to thank all potential candidates for their applications.