Amref Health Africa is the largest Africa-based international health development NGO, headquartered right here in Nairobi. For Kenyans interested in health, development, or humanitarian careers, Amref is one of the most respected employers in the sector. Here’s a complete, step-by-step guide on how to apply for Amref jobs — from finding genuine vacancies to avoiding the fake shortlisting scams the organisation has publicly warned about.

About Amref Health Africa

Amref Health Africa — formerly the African Medical and Research Foundation — traces its roots to 1957, when three pioneering surgeons began using aircraft and radios to bring healthcare to remote, underserved communities as the “Flying Doctors of East Africa.” Today, Amref works across more than 30 African countries, with a country programme in Kenya that is the largest and oldest in its network, running an average annual budget of roughly USD 40 million and having contributed to transforming millions of lives through health systems strengthening, training, and community health programmes.

Beyond its African country offices, Amref also maintains fundraising and advocacy offices in Europe and North America, reflecting the scale and international reach of its work.

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What Kinds of Roles Does Amref Hire For?

Amref Kenya’s vacancies span a wide range of technical and support functions, including:

• Programme and project roles — programme officers, project coordinators, technical advisors across health systems strengthening, disease response (including outbreak preparedness work like Ebola response), and community health
• Monitoring, evaluation, and learning — M&E officers, learning and evidence leads
• Health financing and policy — health financing specialists and interns
• Communications — communications officers supporting Amref’s public-facing work
• Clinical and academic support — roles facilitating clinical placements and student learning support
• Internships — structured internship opportunities across technical directorates for students and recent graduates
• Driver and support roles — logistics and operational support positions

Where to Apply: Amref’s Official Careers Portal

All genuine Amref Health Africa vacancies are posted on the organisation’s official careers site at careers.amref.org (also accessible via amref.org/careers). Amref is explicit that all applications must be submitted through this official portal — the organisation does not accept applications through unsolicited email requests or third-party agents.

Step-by-Step: How to Apply for Amref Jobs

1. Visit the official Amref careers page. Go to careers.amref.org and browse the current listings, or use the search and filter options to find roles matching your skills and location.

2. Select a role and review the requirements. Click into the specific listing to review the job purpose, responsibilities, and minimum qualifications. Amref’s job descriptions are typically detailed, so make sure you meet the stated requirements before applying.

3. Click “I’m Interested” to start your application. Amref’s application system lets you apply by uploading your CV directly, or by applying via LinkedIn or Indeed if you prefer.

4. Prepare only the documents you actually need. Amref specifically asks applicants to attach only a CV/resume and a cover letter — the organisation notes that additional documents like ID, passport, or academic and professional certificates are not necessary at application stage and can slow down the review process. The one exception is driver positions, where a driving licence may be requested, and this will be clearly stated in the job advert.

If your CV needs updating, Kompeaa’s CV Builder and free CV templates can help you put together a clean, NGO-ready application quickly.

5. Add a message to the hiring team (optional but recommended). Amref’s application form allows you to write a short message and answer role-specific questions before submitting — use this space to briefly highlight why you’re a strong fit for the specific role.

6. Review and submit. Double-check that all the information in your application accurately reflects your background before clicking submit.

7. Track your application status. Amref has stated that it makes it a priority to communicate with all candidates about their application status, whether or not they’re moving forward, though timelines vary depending on the role.

Important Warning: Fake Shortlisting Scams

Amref Health Africa has publicly flagged a growing problem of fake interview shortlisting notices and job confirmation letters being circulated, falsely claiming to be from the organisation. To protect yourself:

• Never pay any fee at any stage of Amref’s recruitment process — application, shortlisting, or interview. Amref has confirmed it does not charge applicants at any point.
• Verify any job advert or shortlisting notice directly on careers.amref.org before responding or sharing personal information.
• Be cautious of individuals or organisations claiming to represent Amref or its affiliates and requesting payment or personal financial details.

Tips to Strengthen Your Amref Application

• Tailor your CV and cover letter to the specific technical area — health systems strengthening, M&E, communications, and clinical support roles each look for different emphasis in your experience.
• Highlight relevant NGO, public health, or community development experience, even from volunteer work, attachments, or internships.
• Keep your application lean — since Amref explicitly asks you not to attach unnecessary documents, a focused CV and cover letter make a stronger first impression than an overloaded application.
• Apply through LinkedIn or Indeed if that’s more convenient, since Amref’s portal supports both as alternative application routes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a fee to apply for Amref jobs? No. Amref does not charge any application fees at any stage of its hiring process. Always verify a role is listed on the official careers site before applying, and be wary of anyone requesting payment.

What documents do I need to apply for an Amref job? Just a CV/resume and a cover letter for most roles. Additional documents like ID, passport, or certificates aren’t required at application stage — the exception is driver roles, which may require a driving licence.

Can I apply for Amref jobs outside the official careers portal? No. Amref requires all applications to go through its official portal, though you can apply via LinkedIn or Indeed as alternative routes into the same system.

Does Amref hire interns and recent graduates? Yes. Amref runs structured internship opportunities across various technical directorates, offering a practical entry point into health and development work for students and recent graduates.

How will I know if my Amref application was successful? Amref has stated it aims to communicate with all applicants about their status, though response timelines vary by role — keep the contact details on your application active and check back on the portal periodically.

Final Thoughts

Applying for a job at Amref Health Africa is straightforward: use the official careers.amref.org portal, submit only a CV and cover letter unless told otherwise, and never engage with anyone asking for payment in Amref’s name. For help preparing a strong application, try Kompeaa’s CV Builder, and check our latest jobs page for more NGO and health-sector openings in Kenya.