Communications Officer (M/f) In Cairo, Egypt

BACKGROUND   Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, humanitarian medical organisation. MSF provides lifesaving medical care in emergency contexts due to war, epidemic outbreaks or natural disasters, in more than 70 countries worldwide, on the basis of needs alone, regardless of ethnic origin, gender, creed or political affiliation.   MSF runs primary and secondary healthcare programmes, including nutrition, surgery, antenatal and postnatal care, and mental healthcare. Through longer-term programmes, MSF teams treats diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, as well as neglected diseases such as sleeping sickness and kala azar.   Annually, some 2,500 volunteer doctors, nurses and support staff travel to crisis areas to work alongside 25,000 locally employed staff. MSF volunteers also have a duty to bear witness and sometimes to speak out to raise awareness on humanitarian crises and to gain independent access to patients.   To maintain its independence from external interference, MSF relies on donations from private individuals for the majority of its income.   In order to raise awareness about MSF’s activities and the plight of the populations it assists, MSF is opening a Communications Officer position in Cairo, Egypt. The Communications Officer is accountable to the Humanitarian Advisor in Cairo and has functional links with the Communications Department in Brussels, Belgium, as well as with MSF representatives and offices in the Middle East region, such as the UAE office.   OBJECTIVES AND TASKS Objectives Develop a network of local, regional and international journalists based in Cairo reporting on humanitarian issues; Increase the visibility, knowledge and understanding of MSF and its activities among the media and public audience in Egypt and the region; Ensure adequate monitoring of media reporting on humanitarian issues and MSF; Support MSF emergency activities in the region and operate as emergency communications officer as the need arises.   Tasks Develop the communications office in Cairo; Develop and maintain a network of contacts among Egyptian, regional and international media based in Cairo; Organise press conferences and briefings as requested; Follow key media in their reporting on issues relevant to MSF (notably medical/humanitarian) and produce regular overviews of such reporting; Develop and maintain close and regular contacts with MSF field communications officers working across the Middle East with awareness of regional communications plans; Establish and maintain collaboration with communications staff from other relevant organisations and bodies; In collaboration with the MSF Egypt Head of Mission, develop appropriate communications initiatives and tools (leaflets, press releases, campaigns etc) to increase visibility and acceptance of MSF and its activities in Egypt; Train and coach field staff in communications skills and techniques; If requested, produce communications materials for MSF and external media; In case of MSF emergency operations in the Middle East region, travel to the field and operate as emergency communications officer. Raise the profile of MSF and its activities among the Cairo-based media; Disseminate relevant MSF communications, including press releases, about the organisation and/or its activities;