The Anthropology Unit Lead is responsible for establishing and leading the Anthropology Unit within MSF East Africa. This role is central to building trust and acceptance with the communities MSF serves by designing programs, tools, and approaches that deepen understanding of social and cultural dynamics. By embedding anthropological insights into operations, the Unit Lead will strengthen MSF’s commitment to a more people-centered approach, ensuring that humanitarian interventions are contextually appropriate, culturally sensitive, and ethically sound. The unit plays a transversal role in helping MSF become a more people-centered organization.
Responsibilities
Strategic Responsibilities
- Actively participate in the development and review of the overall organizational strategy.
- Develop, review, and implement the Anthropology Unit strategy.
- Contribute to organization-wide strategies and processes to advance MSF’s thematic and operational priorities, methodological approaches, and values for strong community engagement strategies.
- Provide socio-cultural and situational analysis to guide operational decisions, humanitarian access, and program design.
- Develop and implement more people-centric and community-led approach systems and activities.
- Build knowledge within the movement to contribute to organizational learning.
Technical and Operational Responsibilities
- Position the Anthropology Unit as a technical support platform for MSF operational missions in the region.
- Develop and implement the Anthropology Unit framework and applicable approaches in relation to MSF field operations.
- Establish and build the structure and capacities of the Unit.
- Identify key areas of interest and develop pertinent links and partnerships with operations across other MSF entities in the region and globally.
- Contribute to organizational decision-making through formal and informal engagement, including leadership meetings and cross-organizational working groups.
- External networking and partnerships.
Program Development and Operations Support
- Support and advise operations teams during the conception, implementation, and monitoring of medical and paramedical projects.
- Continuously consolidate information on local knowledge and practices during emergencies/crises to enable productive dialogue between affected communities and field teams.
- Support operations teams on context and security analysis and management.
- Organize, conduct, and facilitate field visits and intersectional forums across MSF units.
- Contribute to missions and prepare mission reports for implementation and dissemination.
- Provide rapid social/situational analysis during emergencies, outbreaks, and humanitarian crises.
Build Knowledge and Learning Promotion
- Conduct field capitalization and operational research on thematic and emerging areas relevant to MSF projects.
- Initiate and contribute to collaborative programs for enhancing innovation and leadership in humanitarian areas.
- Facilitate dissemination of research results, learnings, and best practices through internal and external platforms, including publication.
- Collect, analyze, and update cognitive material related to MSF missions in East Africa.
- Identify relevant stakeholders in anthropology applied to the humanitarian context.
- Develop, plan, and facilitate trainings for the Unit and other sections.
- Build, manage, and update the Unit's database.
- Assist in creating research questions and developing concept notes and study protocols.
- Ensure research methodologies adhere to MSF Ethics Review Board (ERB) guidance.
- Provide technical support to Principal Investigators and research teams.
- Provide editorial and writing support for manuscripts, research briefs, and policy briefs.
- Data analysis support including appropriate data management and theoretical interpretation of findings.
Transversal and Intersectional Capacity Strengthening
- Formulate effective interventions for impactful responses while building local capacity for community engagement.
- Foster strategic engagement and partnership with other relevant units and operational missions.
- Engage in information-sharing on key policy issues to build synergies across programs.
Other Responsibilities
- Offer support to the Head of Community Engagement in implementing project portfolios.
- Lead, mentor, coach, and supervise staff in the Anthropology Unit.
- Develop annual plans and budgets for the Unit.
- Ensure accurate integration of EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) and Safeguarding aspects into all policies.
- Ensure compliance with data protection laws, including the Data Protection Act, 2019.
- Participate in the individual performance management process for the team.
Qualifications and Experience
- Education: A Master’s degree in Anthropology from a recognized academic institution.
- Technical Knowledge: Excellent knowledge and experience in cross/multicultural communication and collaboration.
- Experience: At least five (5) years of demonstrated experience in medical humanitarian field operations.
- Sector Experience: Complex development sector project management experience.
- Skills: Experience in knowledge generation and research, community engagement, or a similar role.
- Environment: Experience working in multi-cultural, diverse environments (urban and rural).
- Language: Fluency/excellent level of written and spoken English; knowledge of French and other languages is an advantage.
- Research: Published papers would be advantageous.
- Stakeholder Management: Demonstrated experience in design strategies in a multifaceted and diverse stakeholder organization.
- Inclusion: Commitment to advancing multicultural collaboration, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should apply through the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) portal at msf.or.ke.
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