Health promoter
Caption An MSF health promoter working with a community in the Democratic Republic of Congo on the transmission of HIV/AIDS. © Rob Verrecchia/MSF
We are currently prioritising applicants who speak French (B2 level) and who have experience with working with other NGOs or in low resource settings.
Being a health promoter with us is an energetic, exciting job.
From a mobile app campaign to get victims of sexual violence to access care in our hospitals through to holding community meetings to explain the importance of handwashing in refugee camps, health promoters are a direct link to the community outside the walls of the hospital.
They are vital to ensure that Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) projects are accessible and relevant to the communities they serve.
Responsibilities
Our health promoters work in projects all over the world to develop strategies to address a wide range of health issues, from sexual violence care through to Ebola prevention.
It’s an exciting and diverse role and you would be responsible for some or all of the following:
1. Analysing and understanding the local behaviour and/or practices at risk of transmitting a disease within a target group
2. Coordinating the IEC-activities (Information Education Communication) on different topics in order to support the medical activities. This might include promotion of the medical services, hygiene promotion, information on themes linked to maternal health, malnutrition, malaria, HIV/AIDS, Ebola, etc
3. Researching, designing and implementing appropriate interventions
4. Building capacity of a local team to implement a health promotion campaign
Application guide
Read our guide on the application process for all overseas roles
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Role requirements
Formal education:
At least one of the following:
5. Master in Social Sciences or Behavioral Sciences (e.g. Anthropology, Sociology, Motivation Psychology)
6. Master in Public Health with health promotion orientation
7. Master in Community Health (or Nursing Diploma in community health) you can also check the anthropologist job role in case your experience is more suited to that position. Please only apply to one position
Professional experience:
8. Minimum 2 years of relevant post-education professional experience in health promotion/education, prevention or community mobilization
9. Experience in using qualitative methodology, strategy design and implementation and monitoring
10. Broad experience in Health Education working with communities
11. Experience in supervising, managing and training others
12. Able to work well as a part of a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary team
13. Willing to work in unstable areas and ability to cope in a difficult and unpredictable environment
14. Available for a minimum of nine to twelve months
15. Minimum of three months’ work, volunteering or travelling experience in developing countries
16. Flexible and able to manage stress
17. Fluency in English
Assets
18. Familiarity with tropical diseases/infectious diseases
19. Previous field experience in a similar role with another non-governmental organisation (NGO)
20. Previous field experience in a similar role in an unstable environment
21. Knowledge of qualitative data treatment software like Nvivo
22. Knowledge of graphics editing software like Photoshop
23. Experience with social media management or marketing
24. Experience as an illustrator or graphic designer
25. Experience in humanitarian settings/previous NGO work
Languages
We particularly welcome applications from candidates who can also speak a second language: French, Spanish, Portuguese or Arabic.