Overview
This role focuses on leading high-level strategic engagement, diplomatic outreach, and external relations to advance malaria elimination as a priority. The position aims to build influential relationships with senior leaders and mobilize political and financial commitment for malaria programs.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide high-level support to the CEO in engaging leaders, Ambassadors, and ministers within the African Union and other malaria endemic regions.
- Align malaria elimination within AU frameworks, regional economic communities, WHO AFRO, Africa CDC, NEPAD, and other development platforms.
- Coordinate senior-level dialogues with governments to secure commitment and national ownership of malaria elimination goals.
- Advise on political and development trends relevant to the malaria agenda.
- Align malaria elimination efforts with broader global and regional priorities.
- Support the CEO in framing malaria as a driver of social and economic development.
- Coordinate representation at political and development fora.
- Oversee the preparation of high-level strategic briefings, public remarks, and technical inputs.
- Cultivate long-term relationships with national governments, AU institutions, RECs, and diplomatic missions.
- Create platforms and identify opportunities for the CEO to engage with high-level government officials.
- Organize high-level country missions and diplomatic briefings for the CEO.
- Support senior-level engagement with donors, multilateral development banks, and philanthropic institutions.
- Assist in framing investment cases for malaria financing.
- Identify and cultivate new funding opportunities.
- Leverage Addis Ababa’s position to deepen engagement with AU organs, UN agencies, and donor missions.
- Build strong working relationships with AU Commission departments, Africa CDC, and international diplomatic representatives.
- Coordinate high-level meetings, policy dialogues, and regional consultations.
- Build strong working relationships with partners in the Americas and Asia Pacific.
- Lead high-level oversight and direction for strategic communications/advocacy.
- Supervise the Advocacy and Communications Specialist.
- Provide strategic leadership and oversight for the organization’s advocacy and communications function.
Required Experience
- Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in external engagement, strategic communications, policy advocacy, diplomacy, or international development, preferably in the global health sector.
- At least 5 years must include direct engagement with senior government officials at Ministerial level or above, or senior leadership of international organizations.
- Demonstrated experience advising senior leaders and supporting diplomatic engagement at major global or regional forums.
- Demonstrated experience leading or supporting external engagement, advocacy, or strategic communications initiatives.
- Demonstrated experience engaging bilateral donors, development banks, and philanthropic institutions.
- Demonstrated experience working on global health policy, malaria, infectious diseases, health systems strengthening, or related development sectors.
- Desired: Experience working in global health partnerships or malaria programs.
- Desired: Prior experience within UN agencies, multilateral organizations, or international NGOs.
- Desired: Strong understanding of the African Union system, regional economic communities, and multilateral global health governance structures.
Qualifications
- Advanced degree in Public Health, International Relations, Communications, Development Studies, Political Science, or related field.
- Alternatively, a bachelor's degree in Public Health, International Relations, Communications, Development Studies, Political Science, or related field with a combination of two additional years of relevant experience.
