Médecins Sans Frontières (also known as Doctors without Borders or MSF) is a private, non-profit, international humanitarian medical organization that intervenes in emergencies and crises situations to relieve human suffering resulting from unmet medical needs. MSF observes strict neutrality with respect to politics and provides its assistance without discriminating on the bases of race, religion, ideology, or political affiliation. MSF’s members are required to respect humanitarian principles and principles of medical ethics at all times.

 Main Purpose/Job Summary: Supporting the Emergency Coordinator/ Deputy Head of Mission in delegated administrative tasks, ensuring a smooth relationship with local and national authorities, contributing to the context analysis and follow-up, providing translations and interpretations according to MSF protocols, standards, and procedures in order to facilitate the mission coordination tasks.

 Accountabilities   

•   Supporting the EmCo/depHoM in promoting and protecting the MSF image externally and assisting in context analysis, disseminating relevant context information to the coordination team, regularly informing them on key issues, updating general information on the context for MSF internal documents and advising on cultural appropriateness of organized activities and individual behaviors.

•   Analyzing the risks and the security level of the context of the mission and assisting in conducting risk assessments and in the development security plans for the mission and project. Advising the PCs and EmCo/depHoM on aspects of security management

•   Establishing and maintaining external relationships with relevant authorities and stakeholders. Keeping good knowledge of counterparts in different administrations and departments and keeping up to date records of field contacts (other NGOs, UN agencies, local authorities, etc.) verifying that they are easily accessible, in order to facilitate contacts and meetings.

•   At the request of the Head of Mission, assisting the EmCo/depHoM or representing MSF in meetings (NGOs, official bodies and administrations, etc.). Taking minutes of meetings and preparing full report

•   Ensuring the follow up of relevant administrative dossiers such as the MSF registration in the country, working permits, immigration policies, national protocols, etc.

•   At the request of the EmCo/depHoM, preparing and conducting an information briefing, focusing on the country context for International Regional and Relocated Staff

•   Translating documents and acting as an interpreter when needed. Writing letters and correspondences with officials and partners and preparing reports, internal memos and formal requests. Monitoring the correspondences in the absence of the EmCo/depHoM.

•   Assisting in the elaboration of the advocacy plan of the mission in collaboration with the PCs, eMedCo, Humanitarian Affairs and Advocacy Officers and the Communications responsible and supporting its implementation and follow up.

•    MSF Section/ Context Specific Accountabilities

•   EmCo/depHoM Support

•   Pro-active and initiative taking support to the Head of Mission and his/her Deputies and delegated positions, in preparation of representational documents. For example briefing papers or fact sheets, for different audiences and different causes.

•   Pro-active and autonomous preparation of Tigray project reports, on quarterly, mid-term and annual basis. These can be internal reports within the mission, internal reports to headquarters or external reports to external authorities. It includes self-directed liaison with the medical, financial and other departments, preparation and error-checking before submitting to the EmCo/depHoM for quality control and EmCo/depHoM for signature. Reports need to be prepared in pro-active and self-driven manner, including mission situation report(s).

•   Active support in communications and advocacy, for example planning of meetings, events, workshops or conferences. Pro-active and autonomous preparation for meetings or events, including preparation of support material, presentation material, liaison with participants and presenters, and more. Self-driven preparation of brochures, ability to take quality pictures and use relevant systems to prepare excellent quality documentation for meetings and events.

•   Self-driven and initiative taking analysis, flagging and informing of the EmCo/depHoM and Deputy EmCo/depHoMs or any other delegated persons of context changes, situation analysis, trends or similar self-evaluated examination or study of topics that are relevant. Preparation of graphs, trend study, etc.

•   Representation during meetings, forums or conferences, where and when delegated by the EmCo/depHoM.

•   As a participant to the Tigray Management Team, take minutes, contribute with ideas, concerns and vision to the meetings, take on a preparatory role when delegated.

•   Context analysis, together with Logistics and Operations, in order to give reliable security recommendations, for example where and when teams can travel, when trucks or cars can pass, or similar situations in tense environments.

•   Representation with regional health authorities, medical (i)NGO’s and other relevant actors

•   Liaise with HoM Support in Addis, depHom/EmCo and PC Support within Tigray, and other MSF staff  

Job Requirements

Education

•       University degree or similar level of education

Experience

•       Experience in humanitarian aid preferably within MSF. Essential strong understanding of the workings of the different administrations of the country

•       Experience working in political, security and humanitarian issues in the country-   

•       Medical background is a major asset as representation to be done with regional health authorities, medical (i)NGO’s and possible support to Emergency Dep Medco and Humanitarian Affairs Officer/Advocacy Officer).

•       Able to provide medical context analysis, assist in medical actor mapping and awareness of ongoing trends of disease / mortalities

Languages                             

•       English, Tigraina, mission and local language essential

Knowledge

Essential computer literacy (word, excel and internet)

Competencies

•       People Management and Development L2

•       Commitment to MSF Principles L2

•       Behavioral Flexibility L3

•       Results and Quality Orientation L3

•      Teamwork and Cooperation L3

How to Apply

Register using the following LINK