Health Promotion Officer in Migration Context (Amharic & Tigrinya Speaker)

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides assistance in more than 70 countries to populations in distress, to victims of natural or manmade disasters and to victims of armed conflicts, without discrimination and irrespective of origin, religion, creed or political affiliation. 

HEALTH PROMOTER OFFICER IN MIGRATION CONTEXT (AMHARIC & TIGRINYA SPEAKER)
Brussels  – MSF Belgium

CONTEXT

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. 

The Belgian mission is structured around 5 axes of intervention:

• Outreach: multidisciplinary package of care including primary health care, mental and psychosocial support, health promotion, intercultural mediation and referral to specialized medical care if necessary, in parkings/squats/centres along the migration routes in Belgium
• Mental health:  Mental health care services at the areas of interventions
• Detention: access to a second medical opinion consultation, through a medical volunteer group, for migrants in the administrative detention centres in Belgium
• Emergency response
• Advocacy & communications’ interventions on the policy of non-reception

MAIN PURPOSE 

Implement Health Promotion activities with patients and local population to raise their knowledge and skills on relevant medical topics.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Inform patients and communities about MSF and services it provides
• According to medical priorities and assessed needs, provide health talks to the patients and community members on specific health topics
• 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 Supervisor: activities, problems met, strengths and constraints
• Participate in creation of any materials needed for the activities of health education and service promotion

Context Specific Accountabilities 

• 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), 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 (in 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 task shifting between the health promotion responsibilities and intercultural mediation responsibilities will vary according to the evolution of the context, activities and needs
• The Health Promotion Officer (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:     

• Essential: secondary school diploma. 
• Desirable: education level in social sciences, social work, behavioural sciences, public health, community health, nursing or teaching
• Essential: computer literacy (word, excel and internet)

Languages:    

• Working language: English
• Essential: native speaker Amharic and Tigrinya languages. Knowledge of Arabic, Tigray, Somali and especially Oromifa is highly desirable and will be considered a strong asset
• Desirable: knowledge of French and / or Dutch

Experience:    

• Minimum one-year experience in similar position, preferably in provision of medical services and/or with NGOs
• Previous experience in migration/refugee contexts is an asset

Competencies:         

• You have a real interest in the problems of asylum seekers and are sensitive to the issue of immigration
• Commitment to MSF’s Principles
• Cultural awareness
• Behavioural flexibility
• Stress management
• Service orientation
• Teamwork and cooperation
• You are an active listener, empathetic, open to discussion and collaboration; 
• You can manage conflicts and the stress they can generate; 
• You have good organizational skills according to the responsibilities entrusted to you; 
• You are solution-oriented; 
• You work independently while respecting the imposed framework

CONDITIONS

• Expected starting date: 2nd January 2025
• Contract type: Fixed-term contract 100% (6 months, possible extension)
• Location: based in Brussels
• Salary according to MSF-OCB HQ grid – Hospital Insurance (DKV) – Pension Plan – 100% reimbursement for public transportation cost – Lunch allowances

Deadline for applications: 20th November 2024 

Applicants must have the permanent right and/or valid work permit with the mention “Unlimited access to the labor market” to work in Belgium. 

How to apply?

➢ Submit your application via the 'Apply here' button   
➢ Thank you in advance for having your CV and motivation letter ready to upload 

NB: No applications will be accepted after the deadline. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Application documents are non-returnable; please do not submit original documents. Copies of certificates necessary to prove education and work experience.

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.

MSF does not charge fees or accept any money during the entire recruitment process

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