Association Engagement and Communication officer

## **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