Health Promotion Officers

CONTEXT

The MSF project in Belgium intends to address within a multi-disciplinary and collaborative approach, the health needs and main social determinants of populations in situation of exclusion in parallel to pro-actively engaging on the visibility of the problematics and promoting institutional change. The target population includes (undocumented) migrants in transit, migrants in stagnation, asylum seekers excluded from reception and those in administrative detention Specific attention goes to Unaccompanied Minors (UAM)

Most of them stay in reception facilities, squats, other temporary shelters or on the street.  Since it is a project of choice, it integrates medical and advocacy activities with a common catalytic objective. Where possible, MSF chooses to work in partnership with actors providing shelter, social and legal protection services and/or health care. Today, the Belgium Project is structured around following axes of intervention:

• Outreach: the mobile team is providing sensitization, prevention, health promotion, primary health care, mental health and referral to specialized medical care if necessary

• Detention: volunteer MDs (+ psychologists TBC) provide a second medical advice to migrants held in administrative detention centres

• Infection Prevention and Control (IPC): the project aims for dignified living conditions in squats and reception centres for UAM, by taking measures against bed bugs, scabies and other EH related issues

• Emergencies: the project responds to specific identified emergencies when needed

As Health Promotion Officers, you implement Health Promotion activities with patients and local population to raise their knowledge and skills on relevant medical topics. We are currently looking for an Oromo & Amharic speaker and a Tigrinya & Amharic speaker.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Inform patients and communities about MSF and services it provides

• Provide health talks to the patients and community members on specific health topics according to medical priorities and assessed needs

• Implement activities of health education and service promotion (mobile activities squats, MENA centres…) under the indications and supervision of the HP Supervisor

• Under the guide of HP Supervisor, assess the impact of activities (with questions, verifications and behaviours observations, feedback tracing), and report problems, success, and constraints to him/her

• Collect all type of information related to specific health and living conditions of the population, to identify the most vulnerable populations to target

• Report to HP Manager: activities, problems met, strengths and constraints

• Participate in creation of any materials needed for the activities of health education and service promotion

MSF Section/Context Specific Accountabilities

MSF's mission in Belgium aims to address, through a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach, the health needs and key social determinants of the most vulnerable segments of the population, including migrants in transit and undocumented migrants, while proactively engaging in assessing main difficulties and promoting institutional change

• Inform and guide patients and communities about all psycho-medico-social services / institutions available to them in the Brussels network and how to access them

• According to medical priorities and assessed needs, organize health education activities for the patients and community on relevant health topics (such as primary health care, infectious diseases: TB, scabies, etc, vaccination, hygiene, nutrition, sexual violence), mental health (stress management, self-care) and transversal topics (MSF awareness, health system in Belgium, services promotion)

• Provide information, raise awareness, and link to care to empower the target population and enable them to take informed decision about their (physical or mental) health and how to get access to healthcare.  This will be achieved through service information and guidance on the Belgium health care system, other NGOs’ services and health education on most prevalent health/mental health issues in the target group

• Participate in the realization and implementation of situation analysis, needs assessments, community mappings and diverse HP projects under the guidance of the HP Supervisor.

• Reflect with the outreach team (collaboration with the med/MH staff) to adapt activities and messages to ensure smooth flow of activities, avoiding misunderstandings and improving the quality of services to make sure our response is aligned with the actual needs of the beneficiaries

• Network with relevant community actors (e.g. community-based organization, migrant-led committees) and follow up activities with them based on a community engagement approach

• Implement activities such as health talks, RQA (Rapid Qualitative Assessment), DHP (Digital Health Promotion) participation in events with other partners etc

• Support in monitoring of HP activities and produce regular reports to the supervisor

• As part of intercultural mediation responsibilities connected to working in the migration context, participate in team case management meetings and attend supervision sessions with members of the team

• As part of intercultural mediation responsibilities connected to working in the migration context, provide quality and culturally sensitive interpretation between the care providers and the person(s) receiving a service (trialogue) in the language in which they would like to express themselves (source language/target language), supporting intercultural awareness, sensitivity and clear communication between the parties

• As part of intercultural mediation responsibilities connected to working in the migration context, assist care providers and the people receiving services in addressing negative consequences of sociocultural differences, supporting the therapeutic/social intervention through sharing with the care providers relevant aspects of the cultural background of the person(s) receiving a service, acting as a cultural broker; identifying and reporting barriers impairing fairness and equality in access to services

• Some tasks shifting between the health promotion responsibilities and intercultural mediation responsibilities will vary according to the evolution of the context, activities and needs

• The HPO in a migration context is committed to upholding MSF's principles and fostering an environment free from racism, discrimination, or cultural insensitivity. Therefore, to refrain from participating in interventions where such principles are compromised or where there's a risk of offense to the customs, culture, beliefs, and values of any party involved, be it the person receiving services, staff, or the HPO themselves

• Guarantee confidentiality, impartiality and neutrality, declare conflict of interest

• When requested, support other mission activities (NFI distribution, crowd control, etc.)

REQUIREMENTS

Education & Experience

• Essential secondary education

• Desirable: education level in social sciences, social work, behavioural sciences, public health, community health, nursing or teaching

• Essential: previous notable experience in social work and/or community mobilization with migrant or refugee populations

• Desirable: experience in health promotion activities or similar activities

• Desirable: previous experience with MSF or other NGOs in similar position

Competencies

• Cultural awareness

• Stress & conflict management

• Service orientation

• Teamwork and cooperation

• Active listener, empathetic, open to discussion and collaboration

• Good organizational skills

• Solution-oriented, autonomous, flexibility

Languages

• HPO 1: Proficiency in Oromo, Amharic and English, all written & spoken is mandatory (Arabic is an asset)

• HPO 2: Proficiency in Tigrinya, Amharic and English, all written & spoken is mandatory (Arabic is an asset)

• Good knowledge of French is an asset

CONDITIONS

• Expected starting date: As soon as possible

• Location: Brussels*, mainly carried out in the project (Belgium)

*Due to legal administrative constraints, given the duration of the contract, candidates must already have the permanent right as Belgian or EU national, and/or valid work permit with mention of "Unlimited access to the labor market" to work in Belgium

• Contract type: Fixed-term contract – full-time

• Contract duration: 6 months (renewable)

• Salary according to MSF-OCB grid

• Meal Vouchers – Hospital Insurance (DKV) – Pension Plan – 100% reimbursement for public transportation costs

• Adhere to the MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment

• Adhere to the MSF Behavioural Commitments

Deadline for applications: 13th of January 2026 

How to apply?

• Submit your application via the 'Apply here’ button

• Thank you in advance for having your CV and motivation letter (in PDF format ready to upload)

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted

MSF values diversity and is committed to create an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, color or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

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