COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER – Baidoa, Somalia

INTERNAL/EXTERNAL VACANCY

MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES (MSF)–SOMALIA MISSION

MSF is an independent humanitarian medical organization providing emergency medical aid to populations in need. MSF Somalia mission is seeking a qualified person for the position below:

Job Title : COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER Work Location : Based in Baidoa – Somalia.

Start date                           : As soon as possible

Length of contract            :  One Year at 100% activity rate (including 3 months probation) – with possibility of extension

Main Purpose:

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, ..) to involve them in the definition of problems and identification of potential solutions- as an ongoing process & an approach (not just part of initial assessment). To design and deliver contextually adapted health promotion and health education that supports communities and patients’ agency, demonstrates respect for the local culture 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, ad-min/HR manager) of detected changes/concerns or requests from pa- tients/groups/community which may lead to an adaptation of strategy/improvement of services.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

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 is 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 PC 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, Emergency response (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:

Community engagement in areas of operations:

     Focal person for community acceptence in relation to MSF operations and the services provided.

 Continious advisory for Project coordinator in approaches, changes of plans and people centered approach interventions. And daily practices in MSF facilities that enhance suitability of intevrnetion to community and patients.

 Plays a key role on safeguarding standards in operations, People centered approach, and patients centered approach.

 Engagement and work along with different activity managers on activities conducted in community, evaluate, monitor and adjust.

Health promotion in the BRH, Health Posts and Community.

• With specific attention for FGM and Fistula prevention & referrals, MHPSS and violence survivors’ referrals, develop culturally adapted health promotion and community sensitisation materials tailored towards the context (messages, posters, audio and video).
• In collaboration with the project epidemiologist, develop the PESS survey concept note and train the community health workers’ supervisors and community health workers in conducting semester patient exit survey activities at the Bay Regional Hospital (BRH). Analyzing the result of this activity with the support of the epidemiologist and discussing and sharing the report with the PMR and PC for onward action.
• Follow up with the implementation of the patient charter in MSF-supported services at BRH and the health posts.
• In close collaboration with the relevant managers, participate in coordinating health days sensitization and engagement activities in the BRH, health post or at the community level.

Contribute to the understanding of the context, culture and populations’ needs in Baidoa.

• Revise the system of data collection (quantitative and qualitative) in the project.
• Update, manage and share regularly the HPCE feedback tracker with the PC and PMR.
• Contribute to the community-based surveillance, alerts investigation, active case findings, identification of protection concerns, referrals and any emergency responses within the targeted communities

Training and Capacity Building.

• Planning and supervising the HPCE human resource associated processes (training, evaluation, development and internal communication) of the project. This will be done in close coordination with the HR department, PMR and the project coordinator and according to MSF policies in the Somalia mission.
• Provide training, guidance, and supervision for the community health workers and supervisors in health education, community-based surveillance, context data collection and feedback data collection in the communities.
• Provide training and supervision to the community health workers and supervisors in conducting qualitative data collection via focused group discussion with the various community groups and stakeholders. Analyzing the result of this activity and sharing the report with the PC and PMR for onward action.

• Provide any other training related to health education and health promotion as directed by the line manager.

Others:

Participate in any other activity geared towards the success of the project implementation as directed by the line manager.

Requirements:

Education 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 fulfil the role (which would include community engagement and/or project management experience) Experience Essential: working experience in related jobs (community engagement, project coordination, social research). Demonstrable background in the development of strategies and work plans. Experience in quantitative and qualitative data analysis Languages Mission Language (English) and fluency in South West state Mai-mai Somali are essential. (Other local language spoken in South west is an asset) Knowledge Essential computer literacy (word, excel and internet). Basic knowledge of the Windows environment is a must. Knowledge of qualitative data analysis software like NVivo, graphics editing software (like Photoshop) and/or other software (such as KOBO Collect, OsMand, QGIS) is an added value. Competencies •People Management and Development L3 •Commitment to MSF principles L3 •Behavioral Flexibility L3 •Results and Quality Orientation L3 •Teamwork and Cooperation L3

If you meet the above requirements, please apply through the link attaching your CV & motivation letter as a single file by 5th July 2026. The detailed advertisement and application portal can be accessed via the following link:

https://ko-hr.kenya.msf.org/jobs

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Female Candidates and people with special needs are highly encouraged to apply.

(MSF is an equal Employer and does not charge any application/recruitment or training)

Apply Here

 

………………………………………………………………………………………

QaranJobs.com

………………………………………………………………………………………

PLEASE JOIN US – QARAN JOBS

Follow us on our Social Media: