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.
The External Engagement and Communications Advisor, in close collaboration with partnerships, regional economic communities (RECs), and program colleagues, will lead the organization’s high-level strategic engagement, diplomatic outreach, and external relations efforts across Africa and globally.
Based in Addis Ababa, the role will focus on positioning malaria elimination as a strategic political and development priority, building influential relationships with senior government leaders, regional institutions, multilateral organizations, and donors.
The Advisor will support the CEO in advancing malaria elimination within regional and global political agendas, strengthening the organization’s visibility and influence, and mobilizing political commitment and sustainable financing for malaria programs.
The role also provides strategic oversight of the organization’s advocacy and communications efforts, ensuring that external messaging and engagement effectively support high-level diplomacy, partnerships, and resource mobilization objectives
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.
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.
Organize high-level country missions and diplomatic briefings for the CEO to mobilize commitments and follow up on political pledges.
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.
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.
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.
Provide strategic leadership and oversight for the organization’s advocacy and communications function, ensuring that messaging, publications, and campaigns effectively support high-level diplomatic engagement, strengthen the organization’s visibility and influence, and mobilize political and financial commitment for malaria elimination.
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:
Malaria elimination is elevated as a priority within African Union institutions, regional economic communities, and global health platforms, strengthening political commitment and policy alignment across malaria-endemic countries.
The CEO’s strategic engagement with governments, regional institutions, and multilateral partners leads to stronger political ownership and commitments to malaria elimination.
RBM’s visibility, credibility, and influence are strengthened across regional and global platforms, supported by strategic advocacy and communications aligned with diplomatic engagement priorities.
Strategic partnerships and engagement with donors, development banks, and philanthropic institutions contribute to increased political and financial commitments for malaria elimination.
