Community Engagement and Advocacy Intern

About MSF

Doctors without Borders (MSF) Southern Africa is a global network of principled professionals who specialise in medical humanitarian work driven by our common humanity and guided by medical ethics. We work together in teams, small and large, to respond to the medical needs of people affected by conflict, disasters, epidemics, and those excluded from healthcare.

Doctors Without Borders team members are on the ground, working directly, every day. We bear witness and describe what is happening, to raise awareness about the experiences of the people we assist and the situations where we work. We alert the public to emerging crises, acute emergencies, and serious challenges, such as lack of access and exclusion from healthcare and to mobilise support for MSF’s work and social mission, provoking change. Today, MSF is present in more than 70 countries, where thousands of MSF doctors, nurses, logisticians, water and sanitation experts, and other medical and non-medical professionals work together to bring essential health services to people caught in humanitarian crises. MSF South Africa is in Johannesburg with an office in Cape Town too. MSF SA is governed by the MSF Southern Africa Association, which is made up of more than 300 members from seven countries in the region.

Background

MSF South Africa is looking for a Community Engagement and Advocacy Intern with good planning and administrative skills, high flexibility and the ability to work under pressure with competing priorities and deliver results. The candidate must have a passion for humanitarian work and development. The intern will be responsible for the development of rich and timely context analysis on specific health related thematic areas, advocacy planning and implementation, research in areas of community engagement, supporting the development of community engagement tools, collecting and compiling strategic information, assisting with the organisation of events, trainings, and webinars, providing administrative support, and follow up with Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). This position will suit an enthusiastic all-rounder who is eager to learn and has a flexible attitude and strong work ethic.

Responsibilities:

Conduct primary mapping, information gathering, research, analysis, and writing on specific health- related thematics, such as HIV/TB, migration, NHI, climate change etc., dependent on the needs of projects or the Johannesburg office.

Assist with monitoring, analysing, verifying, and updating key information and data concerning the specific health-related thematic areas, ensuring to generate credible analysis that is evidence-based.

Monitor xenophobia incidents on various online platforms, corroborate, and verify incidents and keep an up-to-date record on the incident recording tool.

Assist with interagency meetings related to xenophobic incident mapping.

Support research, analysis, and strategies for community engagement/working with communities and document good practices on community engagement and related work.

Support the development of community engagement tools for CBO capacity-building needs. 

Assist in mapping and assessing international and national funding opportunities, including private sector funding opportunities, for both local and regional CBOs. 

Assist in mapping external humanitarian actors, academic institutions, and civil society organisations for knowledge exchange and possible partnership opportunities.

Support the consistent monitoring of the impacts of funding cuts on grassroots organisations and NGO partners across the region

Create and maintain a good up to date electronic filing system of key documents that can be shared and accessed by field advocacy teams and the OSU team.

Assist with administrative tasks on working with CBOs and Projects

Assist with administrative tasks for the unit, including sitting on office working groups on specific topics (knowledge management, data privacy) and implementing for the unit.

Other research and advocacy tasks as needed on an ad hoc basis. 

Maintain a stakeholder database (comprising of key stakeholders such as civil society, government officials, MSF staff etc.).

Conference, meetings, and advocacy events:

Assist with organising meetings, conferences, trainings, and workshops with CBOs/CSOs and other key stakeholders.

Manage conference call, meetings, and workshop notes and minutes

Administration:

Assist with the development of advocacy-related materials, liaise with designers and printers

Coordinate the printing and shipping of advocacy-related materials, reports,

Conduct regular media monitoring of print, online and broadcast outlets through online content monitoring services, newspaper subscription and online media alerts of advocacy and community engagement related developments.

Requirements:

Commitment to MSF’s core

Minimum university graduate or postgraduate student, ideally in Social Science, Public health, Politics, International Relations, or related field, or with a demonstrable interest in working in the health policy analysis, community engagement and advocacy field. 

Interest/experience or knowledge of qualitative research, data collection, and analysis. 

A good understanding of conducting context analysis within the socio-cultural, political, economic, and geographic scope.

Knowledge and understanding of local and regional civil society work

Preferred demonstrable experience or demonstrable strong interest in working with communities at grassroots level.

Interest in national and global health policy and organisations, with particular interest in HIV/TB, access to medicines, health impact of the climate crisis, migration, xenophobia, etc.

Knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint essential.

Excellent networking, diplomacy, and negotiation skills.

Good analytical and writing skills with attention to detail

Creative social media skills.

Creative and highly flexible approach to work, and ability to work within a team, multi-task and good stress management skills and ability to deal with the high workload at specific times.

Remuneration and resources:

Resources needed such as working space, computer, internet, stationery, and other resources will be made available.

Monthly Stipend: R 5000

100% Medical aid

Transport allowance

Cell Phone allowance

Commitment

Length of commitment: 12 months

Closing date: 12 | February | 2026

Starting date: ASAP

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. NB: Information

The protection of your personal data is important to MSF SnA. By submitting your application, you consent to MSF using your personal data only for the recruitment process to have all the information and documents necessary to proceed with the recruitment, validation of your application and selection of the most suitable candidate. Your personal data will be treated confidentially. MSF SnA will not use your personal data in any other way not foreseen for purposes of recruitment.

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, colour or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation, and all other diversity characteristics.

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