Humanitarian Affairs Officer

Introduction

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) translates to Doctors without Borders. We provide medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare. Our teams are made up of tens of thousands of health professionals, logistic and administrative staff - bound together by our charter.  Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of impartiality, independence and neutrality. We are a non-profit, self-governed, member-based organization.

MSF was founded in 1971 in Paris by a group of journalists and doctors. Today, we are a worldwide movement of nearly 63,000 people.

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Rationale/Objective for position

Contribute to the development of humanitarian affairs activities in the Mission by supporting the Management Coordination Team in the analysis of context, humanitarian situation, security and in the definition of advocacy strategies, according to MSF policies and values, to improve the humanitarian and human rights situation among population.

Tasks & Responsibilities

• Perform data collection and research concerning local and international context, with regards to security, medical, nutritional and humanitarian issues, to provide reliable information for further decision-making.
• Support the Head of Mission and field coordinators in the analysis of the data collected, to better orientate the programmes and projects, to provide an optimal response to population needs.
• Compile regular updates of the ongoing (inter-)national activities and plans of NGO’s, UN, ICRC, donors, authorities and other actors on lobby, policy and operational plans and initiatives to adequate MSF ’s activities and objectives.
• Collaborate with the HoM, the Operational/Humanitarian Affairs Department at HQ and other relevant parties to develop a coherent global strategy, to address the humanitarian situation.
• Define and review messages, tools, lobbying activities and other advocacy action plans and strategies, to raise all humanitarian issues in the mission and seek assistance and protection to affected population.
• Ensure smooth working relationship with local authorities, other NGO’s, local communities and other factors, to facilitate MSF teams a better access to the population and improve MSF activities’ coordination with third parties.
• Organize discussions, trainings, briefings, etc. about human rights and humanitarian law issues and current and future advocacy activities, to raise awareness of MSF staff regarding these matters.
• Participates in the elaboration and updating of the Country Risk Analysis
• Promotes and assists in the implementation of advocacy activities locally, nationally and internationally.
• Supervises humanitarian affairs related staff in the Mission.

Qualifications

• Education
• • ​Essential, degree in Law, Humanitarian affairs, Political Sciences or related university degree.
    
• Experience
• • Essential, working experience of at least two years in relevant and similar jobs, in research, analysis and advocacy.
  • Essential, working experience with MSF or other NGOs, in developing countries.
  • Desirable, working experience in developing countries.
    
• Competencies 
• • Essential, mission language/Bilingual (English & French). 
  • Essential, computer literacy (word, excel, internet).
  • People Management.
  • Commitment to MSF Principles.
  • Flexibility.
  • Results-oriented.
  • Teamwork.