Head of Accountability & Transparency Unit (ATU)

Role Overview

The Head of the Accountability & Transparency Unit (ATU) provides strategic leadership, independent oversight, and operational management of the ATU. The role is responsible for institutionalizing and embedding a culture of accountability and transparency across MSF Eastern Africa systems, governance structures, decisions, and operations, promoting organizational integrity, responsible use of resources, and continuous learning.

In addition to managerial duties, the job holder provides strategic oversight and quality assurance for ATU investigations, personally leading high-risk, complex, or sensitive investigations into alleged fraud, corruption, financial misconduct, serious breaches of organizational protocols, and other integrity-related misconduct within the ATU mandate. Safeguarding matters remain under the mandate of the Safeguarding function.

This position will be hierarchically and functionally accountable to the MSF EA General Director and will collaborate with MSF Ubuntu teams.

Tasks & Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Policy Development

• Lead the development, periodic review, and implementation of MSF EA Accountability and Transparency Framework and associated policies, ensuring alignment with MSF International standards and best practices.
• Ensure coherence and complementarity with related organizational frameworks and functions (Safeguarding, EDI, Data Protection, HR, Finance, Legal, Procurement, Medical, and Operations).
• Translate the ATU Framework into strategic priorities, annual objectives, workplans, indicators, and measurable deliverables.
• Lead the annual planning and budgeting process for the ATU, presenting proposed plans to the Accountability Steering Committee (ASC).
• Manage the ring-fenced unit budget and ensure transparent, efficient, and accountable resource allocation.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the ASC, providing regular briefings on performance, emerging risks, and strategic priorities.
• Lead periodic gap analyses, stakeholder consultations, and organizational learning processes to strengthen MSF EA accountability systems.
• Establish ATU standards, procedures, tools, quality-assurance mechanisms, and performance indicators.
• Provide strategic and technical advice to the General Director, Management Team, and relevant governance bodies.
• Ensure that the ATU's annual priorities are risk-based and aligned with MSF EA's strategic plan and institutional risk profile.

Unit Leadership and Operational Management

• Provide overall leadership, direction, and operational management of the ATU, ensuring delivery against its approved mandate, annual plan, budget, and performance indicators.
• Recruit, supervise, support, and develop ATU staff, establishing clear roles, delegated authority, and performance expectations.
• Assign investigations, accountability reviews, and compliance assessments based on risk, complexity, competence, capacity, and potential conflicts of interest.
• Establish effective case-management, workload-monitoring, recordkeeping, and quality-assurance systems.
• Promote timely integration of lessons learned into policies, procedures, internal controls, training, and management practices.
• Monitor and report on implementation of approved corrective and preventive actions.
• Ensure that ATU staff receive appropriate technical supervision, psychosocial support, and measures to manage occupational risks associated with sensitive investigations.
• Secure appropriate specialist or external expertise where a case requires additional independence, capacity, or technical competence.
• Regularly assess the Unit's capacity, resources, and operational risks and propose corrective measures where necessary.

Active Investigations and Quality Assurance (Dual Role)

• Provide strategic oversight of all ATU investigations, ensuring cases are triaged, assigned, prioritized, and conducted consistently per the ATU Investigation Protocol.
• Personally lead and conduct high-risk, complex, or sensitive investigations into allegations of serious misconduct (non-safeguarding), fraud, conflict of interest, breaches of protocol, or violations of MSF principles.
• Ensure adherence to the ATU Investigation Protocol, handling all cases with due process, confidentiality, and fairness.
• Develop investigation plans (Terms of Reference), oversee evidence collection (including forensic and digital), conduct witness interviews, and produce comprehensive, evidence-based reports.
• Review and approve investigation plans and reports prepared by ATU investigators.
• Collaborate with HR, Safeguarding, and Legal advisors per established referral pathways.
• Maintain secure investigation records, evidence logs, and chain-of-custody documentation.
• Submit final investigation findings and recommendations to the authorized decision-maker.
• Monitor approved investigation recommendations and analyze recurring patterns to strengthen prevention.

Compliance Oversight & Monitoring

• Ensure compliance oversight is guided by a risk-based approach prioritizing high-risk areas.
• Oversee the maintenance of the ATU Compliance Register, tracking adherence to applicable policies, donor agreements, and national laws.
• Issue formal Compliance Gap Reports with tracked corrective action plans to the Management Team and Board.
• Lead proactive monitoring activities, including thematic or comprehensive accountability audits of missions and departments.
• Approve risk-based monitoring plans and Terms of Reference.
• Coordinate with Safeguarding, EDI, Data Protection, HR, Finance, Legal, Procurement, and other functions to promote complementary oversight.
• Monitor management responses and implementation of corrective actions, escalating overdue high-risk findings.

Feedback and Response Mechanisms (FRM)

• Provide strategic leadership and standards for the design, implementation, and periodic review of context-appropriate Feedback and Response Mechanisms.
• Clarify institutional ownership, accountability, and referral pathways for FRMs.
• Ensure sensitive complaints are securely recorded and promptly referred to the appropriate function.
• Utilize aggregated FRM data to identify systemic concerns and inform management decisions.

Reporting & Transparency

• Oversee the production of the public-facing Annual Accountability Report and Quarterly Internal Dashboards.
• Ensure the development and management of the Transparency Portal, providing accessible information on projects, budgets, and evaluation reports.
• Ensure all reporting products are decision-oriented and provide actionable insights.

Stakeholder Engagement & Independence

• Establish confidential escalation and alternative reporting arrangements for allegations involving senior leadership.
• Act as the guardian of the unit's independence, strictly enforcing the Whistleblower Protection Policy.
• Facilitate briefings to the Board and Association on accountability performance.
• Represent MSF EA in inter-sectional accountability networks and coordinate with MSF International bodies.
• Promote awareness of safe reporting channels, whistleblower protections, and non-retaliation requirements.

Capacity Strengthening and Organizational Culture

• Lead the development and delivery of an ATU capacity-strengthening strategy.
• Ensure training content is aligned with Safeguarding, HR, Legal, EDI, and Data Protection policies.
• Strengthen management and staff capacity to recognize, report, and appropriately refer misconduct concerns.

Qualifications and Competencies

• Education: Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in Law, Criminology, Forensic Accounting, or a related field. Professional certification (e.g., Certified Fraud Examiner - CFE, Certified Internal Auditor - CIA) is highly recommended.
• Experience: Minimum 8–10 years of progressive experience in compliance, oversight, or investigative functions, with at least 5 years in a senior management or leadership role. Experience in humanitarian or non-profit environments is preferred.
• Key Competencies: Investigative acumen, leadership, systems leadership, strategic thinking, ethical judgment, excellent communication, and stakeholder influence.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates can apply online through the MSF Job Application Link.