Anthropology Jobs in Kenya

Company: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF Eastern Africa)
Location: Kenya – Nairobi
Job Type: Full-Time
Contract Type: Open-ended Contract
Start Date: 21st Jan 2026
Application Deadline: 07th Jan 2026

MSF Eastern Africa is seeking an experienced Anthropology Unit Lead to establish and lead its Anthropology Unit in Nairobi, Kenya. This senior humanitarian leadership role focuses on strengthening community trust, improving humanitarian acceptance, and embedding socio-cultural understanding into medical and humanitarian interventions. The selected candidate will help MSF develop a more people-centered operational approach by integrating anthropological research, cultural analysis, and community engagement into humanitarian programming.

Professionals seeking senior NGO and humanitarian careers in East Africa can explore more opportunities through jobs in Kenya where humanitarian, health, and development sector vacancies are frequently updated.

Job Description (JD)

The Anthropology Unit Lead will be responsible for building and operationalizing the Anthropology Unit at MSF Eastern Africa while ensuring humanitarian interventions are culturally sensitive, contextually relevant, and ethically sound.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Participate in organizational strategy development and reviews.
• Design, implement, and manage the Anthropology Unit strategy.
• Provide socio-cultural and situational analysis to support operational decisions, humanitarian access, and program planning.
• Promote community-led and people-centered humanitarian systems.
• Strengthen institutional knowledge and organizational learning across MSF.

Technical & Operational Responsibilities

• Establish the Anthropology Unit as a technical support platform for field missions.
• Develop operational anthropology frameworks supporting humanitarian and medical interventions.
• Advise operational teams during the planning, implementation, and monitoring of humanitarian and medical projects.
• Provide rapid socio-cultural analysis during emergencies, disease outbreaks, and humanitarian crises.
• Conduct field visits and support context and security analysis.
• Build partnerships with humanitarian stakeholders, academic institutions, and operational MSF entities.

Research, Knowledge & Learning

• Conduct operational research and thematic studies relevant to humanitarian healthcare.
• Support development of concept notes, study protocols, and ethical review processes.
• Draft and review manuscripts, research papers, policy briefs, and publications.
• Facilitate training sessions and knowledge-sharing programs.
• Build and maintain anthropology databases and learning materials.
• Analyze research findings and support dissemination through conferences, workshops, and publications.

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Team Leadership & Management

• Lead, supervise, mentor, and coach Anthropology Unit staff.
• Develop annual budgets and operational plans.
• Manage consultant terms of reference and thematic communities of practice.
• Ensure safeguarding, equity, diversity, inclusion (EDI), and data protection compliance within the unit.
• Participate in staff performance management and professional development initiatives.

Educational Requirements

Applicants must possess:

• A Master’s Degree in Anthropology from a recognized academic institution.
• Strong expertise in cross-cultural communication and collaboration.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Knowledge of French or additional languages is considered an advantage.

Experience Requirements

To qualify for this role, candidates should have:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in medical humanitarian field operations or a related humanitarian field.
• Strong project management experience within complex development or humanitarian settings.
• Proven experience in research, community engagement, anthropology, or knowledge generation.
• Experience working across multicultural environments and rural/urban communities.
• Published research papers (advantageous).
• Demonstrated ability to design strategies within diverse stakeholder environments.
• Experience promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and multicultural collaboration.

Job seekers exploring international development and humanitarian vacancies in Africa may also browse jobs in Nigeria for NGO, public health, and humanitarian opportunities.

Required Skills & Competencies

Technical Competencies

• Strong report writing and analytical skills.
• Ability to produce concise and actionable recommendations.
• Excellent presentation and stakeholder communication abilities.

Behavioral Competencies

• Commitment to MSF humanitarian values and principles.
• Strategic thinking and organizational leadership.
• Cross-cultural awareness.
• Teamwork and people management.
• Planning, networking, and relationship building.
• Security awareness and humanitarian risk management.
• Innovation and problem-solving mindset.

Salary & Benefits

MSF Eastern Africa offers a highly competitive international humanitarian benefits package, including:

Salary

• Annual Salary: EUR 40,582
• Annual Increment: 2% yearly increase (up to 10 years)

Work-Life Financial Benefit

• Monthly allowance between EUR 620 – EUR 1,159, depending on personal and administrative status.

Additional Benefits

• 25 days annual leave yearly.
• Maternity leave (21 weeks) and paternity leave (4 weeks).
• Employer pension contribution (10% of basic salary).
• International medical and disability insurance.
• Relocation support for eligible non-Kenyan staff.
• Flexible working schedule with 2 work-from-home days weekly.
• School fee support for eligible dependents.
• Annual home leave ticket for eligible international staff and dependents.
• Access to continuous professional training, peer learning, and career development opportunities.
• International travel exposure through trainings, meetings, and workshops.

Training & Career Development

MSF provides substantial professional development support, including:

• Regular internal and external humanitarian trainings.
• Language learning opportunities.
• Peer-to-peer mentorship.
• Leadership development programs.
• Research publication and conference participation opportunities.
• International networking within the MSF movement.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV) in English
• Letter of Motivation (Mandatory)

Applications submitted without a motivation letter will not be considered.

Applicants must also comply with MSF safeguarding, behavioral commitments, and data privacy policies. Successful candidates will undergo background screening and safeguarding checks as part of the recruitment process.

Application Deadline: 07th Jan 2026
Job Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Employer: MSF Eastern Africa (Open to Local & International Applicants)