Head of Community Engagement

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) or Doctors Without Borders, is an international humanitarian-aid non-governmental organization (NGO) and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, best known for its projects in war-torn regions and developing countries facing endemic diseases. MSF is seeking a Head of Community Engagement to join their team in Nairobi.

Purpose of the Role

The Head of Community Engagement reports to the Director of Operations and is a member of the Executive Management Team. The key role is to institutionalize Community Engagement (CE) strategically and operationally across all departments (Operations, Medical, Advocacy, Communications, HR). You will ensure people/community-centeredness, protection, equity, empowerment, and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) in all projects and decisions. Additionally, you will lead the development and implementation of the CE Policy, Framework, and Operational Manual in collaboration with partners.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead the development, implementation, and institutionalisation of the Ubuntu Community Engagement Framework, including related policies, standards, and operational tools.
• Embed People-Centred and Protection principles across all operational departments (Medical, Logistics, HR, Advocacy, Communications).
• Integrate Information, Education, Communication, and Health Promotion (IECHP) strategies into the CE framework.
• Advise the Director of Operations and Management Team on CE strategy, alignment, and performance.
• Ensure CE approaches reflect MSF’s operational values of interdependence, equity, and solidarity.
• Promote interdepartmental collaboration across CE, AAP, Protection, Inclusion, Safeguarding, and IECHP workstreams.

Context Analysis, Security Management, and Access Negotiations Support

• Coordinate with access and security teams to provide community-level analysis that informs security risk assessments.
• Develop community networks and provide insights on local tensions and power dynamics to support acceptance-based security management.
• Facilitate sustained community dialogue to build trust and assist in access negotiations.
• Analyse community perceptions and relationships with non-state actors to enable access to contested areas.
• Support negotiated access processes to ensure programming proceeds safely with informed community consent.

Technical Guidance and Project Support

• Provide expert support for the practical integration of CE into planning, assessments, project design, and evaluation.
• Strengthen participatory mechanisms such as community committees and dialogue platforms.
• Oversee the development and delivery of IECHP initiatives tailored to local needs.
• Supervise the integration of social science, anthropology, and qualitative research into operational design.
• Ensure CE and IECHP learnings inform adaptive programming and protection strategies.

Safeguarding and Inclusion

• Apply safeguarding and protection frameworks within CE activities in coordination with relevant teams.
• Ensure engagement approaches are ethical, culturally appropriate, and protection-sensitive.
• Support teams to engage meaningfully with diverse and historically marginalised community groups.
• Act as a technical resource for inclusive and safe community engagement practices.

Knowledge Management and Capacity Building

• Develop a Community Engagement Learning and Knowledge Management Strategy.
• Oversee training materials, toolkits, and learning modules.
• Mentor CE focal points and programme leaders to build a strong leadership pipeline.
• Coordinate documentation and dissemination of best practices and operational innovations.

Representation and Partnerships

• Represent MSF Ubuntu in international platforms and CE Technical Working Groups.
• Build partnerships with civil society organisations, patient networks, and local health systems.
• Engage with regional advocacy coalitions and research forums.

Qualifications and Experience

• Education: Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, Anthropology, Public Health, Development Studies, or International Relations (or equivalent professional experience).
• Experience: Minimum 7 years of professional experience working with communities, preferably in humanitarian operations, with at least 2 years in senior leadership roles in CE.
• Skills: Proven track record in developing CE/AAP frameworks; knowledge of international protection standards and EDI principles; experience with capacity building and cross-departmental coordination.
• Languages: Proficiency in English is essential. Knowledge of Swahili, Arabic, or French is desired.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should apply online via the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) portal at https://www.myjobmag.co.ke/apply-now/1155401.