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/introduction
The Project: ACCESS-LA
MSF is launching ACCESS-LA (Accelerating Community-Centred Equitable Scale-Up of Long-Acting PrEP), a three-year Access Fund initiative designed to catalyse equitable, timely, and affordable access to Long-Acting (LA) PrEP for HIV prevention. The project focuses specifically on the introduction of Lenacapavir (LEN-LA)—a twice-yearly injectable—and other LA formulations (e.g., Cabotegravir) to address the prevention needs of marginalized and criminalized populations who face systemic exclusion from existing health services.
The project operates through three integrated pillars:
- Advocacy & Communication: Addressing licensing, pricing, and regulatory barriers.
- Implementation: "Light-touch" support to introduce LA-PrEP in diverse MSF-supported contexts
- Monitoring & Research: Generating operational and effectiveness evidence to inform global guidelines, procurement, and advocacy.
The Role
The Digital Communications Officer supports the HIV Access portfolio’s advocacy objectives by developing and disseminating strategic digital content and monitoring its impact.
The role translates complex global health access issues into compelling, accessible, and ethical digital storytelling across multiple platforms. The officer will plan and execute digital campaigns that support advocacy goals, strengthen civil society engagement, and amplify key messages related to equitable access to HIV prevention tools.
Scope of Responsibilities
A. Digital Strategy & Campaigning
- Develop and implement digital communication strategies aligned with the HIV Access
- Portfolio’s advocacy goals
- Plan and run digital advocacy campaigns across platforms (social, web, email) that
- support public pressure, mobilization, or policy momentum.
- Conduct audience and platform analysis to improve reach, engagement, and impact.
B. Content Creation
Produce high quality, ethical, and MSF compliant content including:
- Webinars (coordination, production and editing)
- Audio clips
- Social media posts
- Shortform videos, captions, and scripts
- Infographics and simple data visualisations
- Blog posts, Q&As, and web articles
Work closely with field teams, clinical advisors, civil society organisations and champions to transform complex information into accessible, human-centred narratives
Ensure that MSF content has been validated by the appropriate expert or mandated entity
Coordinate the translation of content, where required
Uphold the MSF communications and safeguarding guidelines, ensuring that content has been created ethically and with informed consent.
C. Social Media Management
- Manage relevant social media platforms
- Monitor online conversations on issues relevant to the project; identify opportunities for rapid response content as well as instances of harmful information, escalating where necessary
- Ensure timely posting during newsworthy events, operational updates, and advocacy moments.
- Moderate discussions where necessary to maintain safe, respectful communities.
- Summarise reactions and comments for inclusion on webinars
D. Data, Insights & Optimisation
- Track analytics (reach, sentiment, engagement, conversion).
- Use insights to adjust messaging, targeting, and platform strategies.
- Prepare monthly or campaign-based performance reports
- Stakeholder engagement and collaboration
- Work closely with civil society organisations to coordinate content contributions
- Work closely with civil society champions to ensure they are capacitated to respond to media
- Queries and post relevant, engaging content on their own social media channels
- Identify relevant, responsible social media influencers, sensitising them to access issues around HIV
- Products and providing them with relevant talking points and information
- Collaborate with internal teams including advocacy advisors, communications advisors, press /media officers, field communications officers and operations teams
Requirements:
Education
- Degree in Communications or a related field (essential).
Experience
- 3–5 years’ experience in digital communications, social media strategy, or online campaigning.
- Strong writing and editing skills with proven ability to translate technical or political content into public friendly language.
- Demonstrated experience producing content for advocacy, human rights, or humanitarian issues.
- Proficiency in digital storytelling formats (video, graphics, interactive formats).
- Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple deadlines during crises.
- Understanding of SEO, analytics tools, and platform algorithms. · Basic design skills (Adobe suite, Canva, or similar).
- Familiarity with MSF’s mandate and operations (asset).
- Strong grasp of global political and humanitarian issues (asset).
Languages
- Spoken and written English is essential.
- Additional languages (eg. Portuguese, French, Swahili, Spanish)
Competencies
- Strong editorial judgement and ability to navigate sensitive subjects.
- Commitment to humanitarian principles and ethical storytelling.
- Collaborative, adaptable, solution-oriented and proactive.
- Excellent planning, organisational, and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously and the ability to work in fast paced environments with calm and focus.
- Clear and professional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders.
Contract conditions and benefits
- Three-year fixed-term contract – 80%
- Based in Africa, Asia or Central/South America.
- Monthly gross salary will depend on the location, professional experience and years of MSF experience.
- Hospitalization insurance, transport allowance.
Closing date: 14 May 2026
Contract start date: June 2026
This job description may be amended in line with the activities or evolution of the project.
By signing, the employee acknowledges that he/she has read, understood and accepted this document.
MSF is a civil society initiative that brings together individuals committed to the assistance of other human beings in crisis. As such MSF is by choice an association. Each individual working with MSF does it out of conviction and is ready to uphold the values and principles of MSF.
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