Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is a non-profit, independent international humanitarian organization committed to delivering medical aid to populations facing crises, with a steadfast commitment to impartiality and without regard to race, religion, creed, or political affiliation. In Malawi, MSF works closely with the Ministry of Health and local communities, focusing on the Cervical Cancer project in Blantyre and Chiradzulu districts, as well as the CBO Project in Zalewa and Dedza districts. The CBO project run by MSF France supports two Community Based Organizations — one in Zalewa, Neno District, and another in Dedza District—to enhance sex workers’ access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services.

MSFF is looking for its CBO Project:

TRANSCRIBER – 1 POSITION 

Workplace           :     Limbe office, Blantyre, Malawi

Type of contract :        Fixed-term contract for 3 months

Duration               :    Mid-October

Main purpose of the position

Together with their counterparts based in Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and MSF Epicentre (Principal Investigator (PI), Lead Social Scientist (LSS), field Study Coordinator and Qualitative Research Assistant), the Transcriber will participate in the qualitative component of a mixed-methods study on the feasibility and acceptability of injectable long-acting cabotegravir (CAB-LA) as pre-exposure HIV prophylaxis for female sex workers and other vulnerabilized populations accessing sexual health and rights services provided by MSF in Dedza and Neno districts. The Translator/Transcriber will perform note-taking and verbatim transcription and translation following the CAB-LA study protocol and MSF standards to ensure that an accurate and complete dataset of qualitative data be available for qualitative analyses purposes.

Accountabilities

• Transcribe and translate field notes and of audio-recorded individual interview and natural group discussion data in MS Word .docx format, ensuring data quality, accuracy and completeness as well as protection of study participants’ confidentiality and privacy.
• Ensure secured storage of all collected data according to study-specific procedures. Support the field study coordinator, the qualitative interviewer and LSS in accounting for cultural nuances to enhance communication and understanding.
• Maintain confidentiality, neutrality and respect towards collaborators, study participants and MSF staff while contributing to data collection and processing activities.
• 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.

Specific Responsibilities 

• Verbatim transcript preparation of participants’ qualitative insights (from audio files to MS Word) and of field notes (from paper notebooks to MS Word).
• Preparation of translation of transcripts into English from Chichewa.
• Back-translation of English transcripts into Chichewa (for transcripts prepared by other research team members).
• Archive all written, recorded, translated/transcribed documentation as per study protocol and study-specific procedures.
• Demonstrate attention to detail in ensure the completeness and quality of prepared transcripts.
• Demonstrate responsibility for the maintenance and functioning of equipment and/or supplies required to carry out the tasks requested.
• Participate in regular daily meetings with field study coordinator, qualitative interviewer and LSS to report progress.                                                                                         
• Note-taking during qualitative encounters (i.e., natural group discussions), if requested by person responsible for qualitative data generation.

Qualitative encounters can produce between 30-180 minutes of audio data (in either Chichewa or English) and will be transcribed and translated along three stages as listed below. The transcription of a single encounter is not considered finalized until all three stages are completed.

• Verbatim, simultaneous transcription and translation of audio data to MS Word format.
• Review of preliminary transcript and translation against audio, including possible back-translation to Chichewa.
• Cross-validation of transcript and translation with a team member to ensure data quality.

  Requirements

Applicants meeting the requirements are encouraged to send their Cover Letter, Updated CV, ID Copy, and relevant certificates, in Pdf or word format, to The Personnel Development Manager at Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) France through email to  msff-lilongwe-recruitment@paris.msf.org. Please use the subject line “Transcriber, Your Full Name,”and ensure that each file is appropriately labelled, such as “CV – (Name)”. Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered. Indicate only the Position and Your Full Name as the Subject Line of the email.

Closing date for receiving applications is Monday, September 29, 2025 Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

 MSF is an equal opportunity employer: all applicants will be equally considered under the same criteria and expectations. We encourage all suitably qualified people to apply, regardless of their ethnic, national or cultural

origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, beliefs, disability or any other aspect of their identity. MSF does not charge any application/recruitment or training fees: if ever you are requested to pay any amount to process your application or access employment with MSF, do not pay and please inform the MSF administration on email: msfflilongwe-recruitment@paris.msf.org as soon as possible.