External Engagement and Communications Advisor – Ethiopia 3 views

RBM Partnership to End Malaria

The past fifteen years have seen tremendous gains in reducing the burden of disease and progressing towards malaria elimination. Since 2000, global malaria deaths have been cut by more than half, saving 12.7 million lives, primarily among children less than five years of age. Expansions in financing, strong political commitments, novel diagnostic and preventative measures, and multi-sectoral co-ordination have facilitated this progress. Since 1998, RBM Partnership to End Malaria has been central to the global fight against malaria. It has been essential to mobilizing resources and scaling up innovative interventions, putting the world onto a path towards eliminating malaria. The Partnership comprises more than 500 partners committed to end malaria, including malaria endemic countries, their bilateral and multilateral development partners, the private sector, nongovernmental and community-based organizations, foundations, and research and academic institutions. The Big Push against Malaria provides the overarching collective approach to nurture an eradication ready ecosystem through six coordination pillars.

The RBM Partnership’s Vision is guided by the Unity30 2026-2030 strategic framework for a world free from the burden of malaria.

The RBM Partnership, hosted by UNOPS, is based in Geneva with several small hubs on the African Continent, including in Addis Ababa.

Role Purpose

The External Engagement and Communications Advisor, in close collaboration with partnerships, RECs, and program colleagues, will lead the organization’s high-level diplomatic, strategic engagement, and external relations efforts across Africa and globally. Based in Addis Ababa, the role will focus on building influential relationships with leaders, regional institutions, multilateral organizations, and donors to advance malaria elimination as a priority within the broader health and development agenda.

The Advisor will support the CEO in positioning malaria elimination as a central pillar of sustainable development, health equity, and economic resilience, while contributing to securing increased commitment and sustainable financing for malaria programs through direct engagement and diplomacy with key stakeholders.

The role includes advancing high-level partnerships, securing political commitments, strengthening RBM’s visibility across regional and global platforms, leading strategic communications, and contributing to resource mobilisation efforts to ensure coherent advocacy and sustained momentum toward malaria elimination. The Advisor reports to the CEO, oversees the RBM Communications and Advocacy unit, and has secondary supervisory reporting lines to the Global Malaria Advisor based in Addis Ababa.

Functions / Key Results Expected

Strategic Engagement and Policy Alignment

• Provide high-level support to the CEO in engaging leaders, Ambassadors, and ministers, particularly within the African Union (AU) and its Member States and in other malaria endemic regions working in close collaboration with the Global Malaria Advisor
• Position malaria elimination within AU frameworks, regional economic communities, WHO AFRO, Africa CDC, NEPAD, and other development platforms in other malaria endemic regions
• Coordinate senior-level dialogues with governments to secure commitment and national ownership of malaria elimination goals in close collaboration with the CEO and or the Global Malaria Advisor.
• Provide advice and insights on political and development trends relevant to the malaria agenda for the CEO.
• Align malaria elimination efforts with broader global and regional priorities including Universal Health Coverage, pandemic preparedness, climate resilience, and sustainable financing.
• Support the CEO in framing malaria as a driver of social and economic development.

2. External Relations and Government Engagement

• Align closely with the CEO and coordinate the representation of the organization at some political and development fora (e.g., AU Summit, UNGA, WHA, regional ministerial meetings).
• Oversee the preparation of high level strategic briefings, public remarks, and technical inputs for the CEO in high-stakes meetings and strategic discussions.
• Cultivate long-term relationships with national governments, AU institutions, RECs (e.g., SADC, ECOWAS), and diplomatic missions and in other malaria endemic regions to strengthen country-level commitment.
• Create the platform/networks and look for opportunities and avenues for the CEO to engage with high level government officials to advocate for malaria to be prioritized in national development strategies and budgets.

3. Resource Mobilization Diplomacy

Working in close coordination with the Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Manager,

• Support senior-level engagement with traditional and emerging donors, multilateral development banks, philanthropic institutions, and high-net-worth individuals.
• Assist in framing investment cases for malaria financing, linking them to development and economic impact.
• Support the partnership to Identify and cultivate new funding opportunities, including innovative finance, private sector engagement, and south-south cooperation.

4. Strategic Positioning in Africa and global

• Leverage Addis Ababa’s unique position as a diplomatic and political capital 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 based in Addis Ababa but also in other parts of the globe.
• Coordinate high-level meetings, policy dialogues, and regional consultations from the Addis office in close alignment with the CEO’s priorities.
• Build strong working relationships with the partners in the Americas and Asia Pacific to deepen engagements in those regions.

5. Strategic Communications/Advocacy

• Lead high-level oversight and direction for the organization’s strategic communications/advocacy in line with the Advocacy and Communications strategy to ensure alignment with its mission, vision, and global engagement objectives.
• Supervise the Advocacy and Communications Specialist, with oversight on the Advocacy, Resource Mobilization and Communications Partner Committee, ensuring delivery of high-impact content and campaigns that amplify the organization’s visibility and influence among leaders, development partners, and the public.
• Supervise the development and review of key communications outputs—such as press releases, op-eds, reports, and multimedia materials—to effectively articulate the organization’s impact, priorities, and strategic messages to diverse audiences.
• Ensure that all communications activities support broader external engagement and advocacy strategies, reinforcing the organization’s position as a credible voice in global health and malaria elimination efforts.

Key results expected:

RBM significantly elevated the visibility and prioritization of malaria across African Union institutions, national governments, and global platforms—driving stronger political ownership and policy integration. The CEO’s enhanced strategic influence, coupled with effective diplomacy and high-level engagement, positioned malaria as a critical, cross-cutting investment aligned with broader agendas like UHC, climate resilience, and pandemic preparedness. Strategic communications and partnerships deepened stakeholder commitment and reinforced RBM’s credibility, while resource mobilization efforts unlocked new opportunities, including innovative finance and south-south cooperation.

Education Requirements

Required

• Advanced degree in Public Health, International Relations, Communications, Development Studies, Political Science, or related field.
• 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 may be accepted in lieu of the master’s degree.

Experience Requirements

Required

• Minimum of 7 years of progressively senior experience in global health, external relations, policy advocacy, or international diplomacy.
• Proven track record in influencing political agendas, building strategic partnerships, and leading high-level stakeholder engagement in Africa and globally is required.
• Experience in supporting high level resource mobilization efforts is required.

Desired

• Strong knowledge of the African Union system and the workings of multilateral and bilateral development institutions is desirable

Language Requirements

English Fluent Required

French Intermediate Desirable