Background

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare. MSF offers assistance to people based on need, irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation. MSF is therefore guided by the principles of neutrality and impartiality. These principles must apply to all MSF staff

MAIN PURPOSE

Performing professional translation activities and delegated duties depending on supervisor’s specialization and instructions and according to MSF protocols, standards and procedures, in order to ensure a proper representation and translation of MSF activities and core values

ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Performing professional written and oral interpretation and translation activities according to supervi-sor’s specialisation (e.g. MD, RN, IC, Pharmacy, Mental Health, Lab, Logistics, Operations, HR), ensuring medical confidentiality, neutralitiy and respect towards patients, collaborators, authorities, military factions and MSF staff.
• Performing administrative tasks required by supervisor (arrangement of meetings, minute taking, and follow-up for patient care). Providing necessary feedback to supervisor following discussions and negotiations. Assisting with report writing (MSF and Government required reports), ensuring that all meeting minutes are recorded and that translated documents are properly filed
• Depending on the supervisor’s specialisation and the needs of the respective department, establishing and maintaining professional contacts with relevant authorities and communicating MSF’s messages to MoH counterparts and authorities (specifically related to patient care)
• Ensuring that supervisor is aware of cultural nuances when dealing with MoH authorities and counter-parts to ensure a good working relationship. Educating supervisor on effective methods of culturally sensitive communication and informing international staff about local customs, tradition, etc. that will help in better communication and understanding of the context.
• Immediately informing supervisor of any problems that might be linked to individual behaviour (counter- productive and/or culturally insensitivity) and declaring any “conflict of interest” when asked to translate (e.g. personal involvement).
• Upholding MSF’s core principles, values, quality standards and Code of Conduct. Respecting MSF’s identification materials and not abusing their use aside from their intended purposes.
• Observing security rules and regulations, NOT putting self and others in danger. Promoting and main-taining MSF quality standards

Context Specific Accountabilities

For GBS study role and responsibility:

• According to the needs of the Liwale GBS study titled “Feasibility of Screening-based Intrapartum Antibiotic Chemoprophylaxis for Group B Streptococcus Disease Prevention”, facilitate the communication of the study team with the enrolled participants across the different study processes.
• Ensure that the information is correctly transmitted to the study participants in their own language, regarding the study and informed consent, that they fully understand the study process and translate any questions or concerns to the study midwifes/coordinator.
• Ensure confidentially of the private and medical information of the study participants.
• Conduct interviews (qualitative part of the study) in the needed language (Swahili, Sukuma or Ngindo);
• Support to moderation of qualitative encounters (i.e., focus group discussions).
• Note-taking during qualitative encounters (i.e., focus group discussions), if requested by responsible for qualitative data generation.
• Transcribe and translate from Swahili, Sukuma or Ngindo to English, the field notes and of audio-recorded individual interviews and focus group discussion data in MS Word .docx format, ensuring data quality, accuracy and completeness as well as protection of study participants’ confidentiality and privacy.

For General medical activity support role and responsibility:

• According to the needs at the medical facilities where MSF supporting and at the community where MSF activity take place, support medical team to translate and to communicate with Sukuma women.
• Translate the medical documents into Sukuma as required.

Minimum Educational Qualification:

• Essential secondary education, higher education desirable, health knowledge advisable.
• Formal training or diploma in transcription and translating would be an asset

Experience:

• Essential secondary education, higher education desirable, health knowledge advisable.
• Formal training or diploma in transcription and translating would be an asset

Languages:

• Essential: Sukuma and/or Ngindo, Swahili, and
• Desirable: English

Knowledge:

Good computer skills (MS word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook)

Competencies:

• Results and Quality Orientation
• Team work and cooperation
• Behavioural flexibility
• Stress Management
• Commitment to MSF Principles
• Service orientation

Women, people living with a disability or any person feeling like being part of a minority is encouraged to apply. MSF is dedicated to fostering a safe work environment with zero tolerance for any form of abuse.

• Performing professional written and oral interpretation and translation activities according to supervisor’s specialisation (e.g. MD, RN, IC, Pharmacy, Mental Health, Lab, Logistics, Operations, HR), ensuring medical confidentiality, neutrality and respect towards patients, collaborators, authorities, military factions and MSF staff.
• Performing administrative tasks required by supervisor (arrangement of meetings, minute taking, and follow-up for patient care). Providing necessary feedback to supervisor following discussions and negotiations. Assisting with report writing (MSF and Government required reports), ensuring that all meeting minutes are recorded and that translated documents are properly filed
• Depending on the supervisor’s specialisation and the needs of the respective department, establishing and maintaining professional contacts with relevant authorities and communicating MSF’s messages to MoH counterparts and authorities (specifically related to patient care)
• Ensuring that supervisor is aware of cultural nuances when dealing with MoH authorities and counterparts to ensure a good working relationship. Educating supervisor on effective methods of culturally sensitive communication and informing international staff about local customs, tradition, etc. that will help in better communication and understanding of the context.
• Immediately informing supervisor of any problems that might be linked to individual behaviour (counter-productive and/or culturally insensitivity) and declaring any “conflict of interest” when asked to translate (e.g. personal involvement).
• Upholding MSF’s core principles, values, quality standards and Code of Conduct. Respecting MSF’s identification materials and not abusing their use aside from their intended purposes.
• Observing security rules and regulations, NOT putting self and others in danger. Promoting and maintaining MSF quality standards
• According to the needs of the Liwale GBS study titled “Feasibility of Screening-based Intrapartum Antibiotic Chemoprophylaxis for Group B Streptococcus Disease Prevention”, facilitate the communication of the study team with the enrolled participants across the different study processes.
• Ensure that the information is correctly transmitted to the study participants in their own language, regarding the study and informed consent, that they fully understand the study process and translate any questions or concerns to the study midwifes/coordinator.
• Ensure confidentiality of the private and medical information of the study participants.
• Conduct interviews (qualitative part of the study) in the needed language (Swahili, Sukuma or Ngindo);
• Support to moderation of qualitative encounters (i.e., focus group discussions).
• Note-taking during qualitative encounters (i.e., focus group discussions), if requested by responsible for qualitative data generation.
• Transcribe and translate from Swahili, Sukuma or Ngindo to English, the field notes and of audio-recorded individual interviews and focus group discussion data in MS Word .docx format, ensuring data quality, accuracy and completeness as well as protection of study participants’ confidentiality and privacy.
• According to the needs at the medical facilities where MSF supporting and at the community where MSF activity take place, support medical team to translate and to communicate with Sukuma women.
• Translate the medical documents into Sukuma as required.

• Good computer skills (MS word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook)
• Results and Quality Orientation
• Team work and cooperation
• Behavioural flexibility
• Stress Management
• Commitment to MSF Principles
• Service orientation

• Essential secondary education, higher education desirable, health knowledge advisable.
• Formal training or diploma in transcription and translating would be an asset