About Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Doctors Without Borders) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, healthcare exclusion and natural or man-made disasters to populations in danger in more than 70 countries.

Job Summary

Understanding that community and patient engagement should be embedded in all MSF activities as part of a People Centred Approach (PCA), and in close collaboration with the Field Coordinator and PMR, the objectives of the Community Engagement Manager (CEM) are: To establish regular participatory dialogue with key stakeholders (different segments of the community, patients, staff, MoPH ..) to involve them in the definition of problems and identification of potential solutions- as an ongoing process an approach (not just part of initial as-assessment). To design and deliver contextually adapted health promotion and health education that supports communities and patients’ agency, demonstrates respect for the local cul-ture and that responds to the project’s objectives and priorities as well as the community’s critical needs. To ensure timely analysis and communication to coordination team (PM, PMR, Log, admin/HR manager) of detected changes/concerns or requests from patients/groups/community which may lead to an adapta-tion of strategy/improvement of services.

Duties & Responsibilities

Development and implementation of the community engagement and health promotion strategy and action plan:

•            Co-Defining (updating) the Community Engagement and Health Promotion strategy

•            Considers all key stakeholders (communities, patients/caretakers, staff, MoH, other actors)

•            Ensures cohesiveness between CEHP strategy and key project components (e.g., crisis monitoring, security management, medical packages/activities (curative and preventative), WASH, protection, …)

•            The drafting and validating of the strategy are a collaborative process lead and facilitated by CEM ensuring input from PC, PMR, LTL and admin/HR manager, the CEHP strategy is validated by the PC.

Together with FC and PMR, build and maintain relationships with the communities/ key stakeholders, patients and caregivers (using a variety of methods) in order to:

•            Involve the community in the identification of priorities, the definition of problems and the identification of potential solutions (participatory assessment and/or problem solving), ensuring that the perspectives/interests of the various segments of the population are taken into account.

•            Ensure communities/patients/caregivers’ perspective and participation in the process of monitoring, evaluation, learning continuous improvement (formal and informal feedback)

•            Improve acceptance, accountability and trust

•            Enhance collaboration with key stakeholders

•            Knowledge of individuals/groups /associations (networking/actors and service mapping) -> share with FC and Ass FC and update the relevant tools

Contribute to the deepening of the understanding of the context, culture and populations’ needs

•            Implement a system of data collection (quantitative and qualitative) and knowledge management and that draws from different categories of information and that is received through a variety of channels (formal and informal) using agreed tools and standards

•            Detect risks/safety concerns (for the population and for MSF) and changes in relation to critical needs

•            Identify existing protective factors, positive practices, strengths/coping mechanisms and resilience

•            Identify factors of vulnerability and how they affect different segments of the community

•            Identify and address barriers of access of all segments of the community to MSF services (in terms of ethnicity, religion, gender, age, various vulnerabilities, etc.)

•            Further the understanding of community dynamics, health seeking behaviour, cultural practices, demographic and geographic specificities, and how the crisis is impacting the population

Health promotion, health education and services promotion

•            Ensure the cultural adaptation and the local relevance of the MSF response (based on the understanding of local beliefs and practices around health, wellbeing, birth, death and dying, violence, identification of strengths and coping mechanisms, improved tracking of the evolution of perceived needs and priorities)

•            In collaboration with medical teams, develop culturally adapted HP/HE materials according to project needs and operational priorities

•            Design participatory methodologies to deliver key messages adapted to audience (consider age, gender, literacy level…). Consider locally used methodologies for transferring knowledge (oral, through stories, theatre, songs…) finding balance between creativity, innovation and local preferences

•            Ensure pre-testing of activities, methodologies and tools to ensure adequacy, relevance and cultural adaptation

Proactive problem solving:

•            Proactively contribute to the detection of issues/concerns/gaps that require active engagement with patients, a given segment of the community or another key stakeholder (either to resolve the issue or to identify a potential solution which then leads to an action/adaptation/improvement of the MSF response).

•            Ensure that data collected is analysed in a timely manner, that it is channelled to the people in the team that need to know, that it contributes to project reporting, and that it is used to inform key strategic decisions

Transversal collaboration and strategic contribution

•            Actively contribute to ongoing strategic exchange/sparring with the project coordination team

•            Regular collaboration and coordination with the PMR and MSF medical team, to (1) ensure the optimum delivery of Health promotion and health education activities throughout the continuum of care (2) ensure optimum articulation of community engagement in DMC activities and at any other medical actions done at community level (e.g., vaccination campaigns, surveillance)

•            Collaboration with logistic teams to ensure optimum engagement with communities around WASH, NFI, distribution and/or other logistical activities in the community and in MSF facilities

•            Support the Project Coordinator in stimulating transversal collaboration

•            Suggest topics for discussion (and assist in the framing of the conversation) in project coordination meetings

•            Contribution to strategic design, monitoring/evaluation, learning and continuous improvement

Team supervision, training, and role in broader coordination of community-based teams/activities

•            Supervising the CE/HP team and their activities, in and outside health facilities, reporting difficulties and progress as well as adapting format and content, when necessary, in close collaboration with medical and logistical teams (depending on the content). Planning and supervising the HR associated processes (recruitment, training, evaluation, development, and internal communication) of the CE / HP staff of the project. This will be done in close coordination with the HR department, the administration manager, PMR and project coordinator and according to MSF vision, values, and procedures.

•            Regular training/coaching of MSF teams (and where relevant also MoH staff) on community/patient engagement to integrate the PCA approach transversally in all positions (the curiosity, the empathy, the listening, the accountability, etc.)

•            Proactively contribute to the coordination of all community-based teams to maximize synergies, avoid duplication, improve duty of care and simplify management (even if individual team members are hierarchically under different activity managers/coordinators)

On request

•            Participate in field assessments or exploratory missions (focus on understanding the consequences of the crisis on the population, their priorities and preferences as well as strengths and coping mechanisms)

MSF Section/Context Specific Accountabilities

The set up of this project is at Tertiary Level within a Teaching Hospital, within the Pediatric services. This is a vertical project and it is exclusively providing medical care within a MoH Health Facility. The health promotion work and the community engagement activitiesso far have taken place almost exclusively within the facility with caretakers.

·     Follow up the CEHP strategy: update, implementation, and monitoring  

·     Mapping actors and patientes needs to enhance nteworking and develop referrals pathway for patients with special needs and protection concerns.

·     Help provide a better picture of the access to healthcare in Balkh Province especially for pregnant women, safe deliveries and children <15.

·     Understand the community needs; listen to their ideas, recommendations, etc. Share inputs with PC and PMR to adapt our humanitarian response (participatory assessment and/or problem solving)

·     Assess, develop, and adapt CEHP/IEC materials according to the needs of the projects and contexts of intervention involving CEHP supervisors. Ensure content and format have been pre-tested with target groups to ensure the adequacy, relevance, full understanding of the messages

·     Implement a system of data collection (quantitative and qualitative) and knowledge management that draws from different categories of information that is received through a variety of channels (formal and informal) using agreed tools and standards CE tools

·     Close contexts follow up and timely sharing of information with the Field Coordinator

·     Proactively seek to improve the coordination of all teams (Med/CE/Log/HR) to maximise synergies improve duty of care, LAMA reduction/mitigation measures and simplify management

·     Design and facilitate training calendars and technical support to CEHP team according needs, interests, challenges and gaps.

·     Plan and supervise the HR associated processes (recruitment, training, evaluation, development and internal communication). This will be done in close coordination with the HR department and Project coordinator and according to MSF vision, values and procedures

·     Provide feedback and work in coordination with the other operational departments     

·     Empower the people to increase their copying mechanism and resilience via the PCA

·     To enhance PCA discussion and practice in a transversal way among the staff and the project

·     On request: Participate in field assessments or exploratory missions (focus on understanding the consequences of crisis on the population, their priorities and preferences)

·     Enhance mapping and networking with key stake holders among the catchment area at district/community level to improve communication, context monitoring, surveillance and community-based activities. 

NB: This list of activities is not exhaustive; MSF may ask to perform other tasks according to the needs of the context.

Job Requirements

Minimum Requirements and Competencies

Education

Experience

Languages

Knowledge

Either (1) a university degree in social sciences, social communication, health promotion or related studies, or (2) sufficient relevant work experience to develop the necessary expertise to fulfill the role (which would include community engagement and/or project management experience)

Essential, working experience of in related jobs (community engagement, project coordination, social research) Demonstrable background in the development of strategies and workplans. Experience in quantitative and qualitative data analysis 

Mission Language essential; Local Working Language Desirable

Essential computer literacy (word, excel and internet)

Working hours and Salary

-       Full Time / Schedule: 176 hours per month - due to the nature of the position the candidate must be willing and capable to sometimes work outside regular office hours

-       Salary will be paid according to the MSF salary grid (L-10)

Submission Guideline

How to apply

1. Follow the below link OR scan the QR code to access the online job application survey. Candidates must fill in the survey in order to be considered for shortlisting: https://forms.office.com/e/BqJAVcv22v

2, After completing the survey, send the following documents to email: msf-balkh-recruitment@msf.org

1.      CV and motivation letter

2.      School certificate and Diploma

3.      Supporting documents to justify your previous work experiences

4.     Taskira/ National ID card both sides

The interested candidates must answer the online survey and submit their documents before 08^TH February 2025 at 4:00 PM

**Only applications completing the online survey and sending supporting documents by email will be considered**

**Female Candidates are highly encouraged to apply**

**Only shortlisted Candidates will be contacted**

The reference COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER must be stated in the email to be valid. If you do not clearly state the position for which you are applying & attach the required diploma & other supporting documents, your application may not be considered.

Only candidates who meet the essential criteria will be shortlisted and contacted.  

MSF does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. All applications are free for all candidates and no one should require any payment or compensation during the recruitment process. May the candidate be asked for any fee, he/she must report to MSF Administration through the recruitment contact.

If you are selected to be part of the reserve pool, it means that MSF has validated you to be called in to work on a temporary basis, as needed. It does not guarantee that you will be offered a contract or a permanent position, even if such a position becomes available. A new recruitment can be done according to the current need.

Functional Area

Community

Community Mobilization

Countries

Afghanistan

Provinces

Balkh

Submission Email

msf-balkh-recruitment@msf.org

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