The Main Purpose of the Positions

The Humanitarian Affairs Manager is responsible for managing all humanitarian affairs and advocacy activities in the country in line with MSF policies and values, following the Operational line and linked with the HQ Analysis department. The Humanitarian Affairs Manager is a member of the Country Management Team (CMT) and acts as a sparring partner for all operational and medical teams.

Accountabilities 

CORE TASKS

• Defining, and coordinating all MSF humanitarian affairs and advocacy activities for the country team, including identifying the humanitarian issues of concern to MSF, drafting advocacy strategies addressing the medical and humanitarian priorities, and ensuring that advocacy components are included in project and country operational strategies.

• Analysing and reporting on key humanitarian issues and trends; provide regular updates on humanitarian aid system dynamics (medico-humanitarian actors’ funding, activities and positioning) to increase the leverage and the impact of MSF advocacy in line with operational plans, regular activities and medical-humanitarian advocacy objectives.

• Draft ad hoc talking points and internal/external reports in relation to MSF main medical-humanitarian concerns.

• Advises the country management team on perception related to MSF positioning and operational strategy.

DATA COLLECTION - ANALYSIS

• Design and support the implementation of data collection systems with regards to the country context (focus on national level with potential regional/global repercussions, and local developments in project locations), and medical-humanitarian issues, in order to provide reliable information for operational and strategic decision-making and advocacy activities. 

• Provide data and discourse analysis in support of the Head of Mission to inform MSF positioning in-country (project-level and at national level), particularly in terms of political / operational environment (regulation frameworks, donor/aid agreements, trade and economic developments). 

• Propose improvements in the methodologies and tools used, and provide trainings to in-country teams as required 

• Undertake actor mapping and stakeholders’ analysis on behalf of projects and, while providing guidance / support to Project Coordinators for the management of relations with local authorities, and strategic advice to Head of Mission / Medical Coordinator for national-level organizational positioning

REPRESENTATION - COMMUNICATION

• Support networking needs by participating in representation duties in non-project locations (on delegation from the Head of Mission), including with medical-humanitarian actors, domestic civil society, professional groups (doctors’/nurses’ associations), and local academics/universities. 

• Link with other MSF sections in-country to share analysis, define common positions and develop inter-OC advocacy initiatives. 

• On request/project basis, interact with the international MSF advocacy network (reflection centres, the HRT network, the MSF Access Campaign, etc.) to provide updated contextualized medical-humanitarian content and support on defining tailored advocacy strategies and messages. 

• Lead discussions, trainings, briefings, etc. on the country’s medical-humanitarian context, MSF principles, international humanitarian law, medical ethics, and advocacy activities/strategies to raise awareness of MSF staff on these topics.

ON REQUEST

• Undertake in country assessments (in relation to data gathering/context analysis or exploratory assessments) and other work-related traveling as required. 

MSF Section/Context-Specific Accountabilities

Context: 

In Ethiopia, Doctors without Borders - Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) intervenes in collaboration with the Ministry of Health to support victims of conflict and violence, displaced people, and people affected by natural disasters, outbreaks and malnutrition through its regular and emergency projects. MSF Belgium’s regular projects are currently located in the North (Korem and Afar) and an emergency project and team is being set up to respond to emergencies throughout the country (cholera, measles, malaria, displacements, flooding etc). 

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Undertake a detailed analysis of  the health and humanitarian environment (including health and humanitarian funding) in MSF projects’ locations (regional, zonal and woreda levels) and support projects’ coordinators in updating their medical-humanitarian actors mapping.

• Undertake a detailed analysis of essential drugs supply system, highlighting constraints and challenges in MSF projects locations to inform advocacy activities (using MSF data and collecting additional, including testimonies, as needed).

• Support general networking and external representation in Addis on delegation of the Head of Mission, including attending health and humanitarian clusters and bilateral meetings with partners.

•  Maintain a meeting logbook for the country team. Share meeting notes with coordinators and facilitate the follow up of MSF engagement with key actors maintaining an advocacy engagement tracker). 

• Draft and update internal advocacy talking points and messages, to use for bilateral meetings and/or public communication.

• Strenghten coordination with MSF Holland and MSF communication team on advocacy and definition of external messages.

• Brief new colleagues and organise regular trainings on humanitarian affairs and advocacy with country and project teams, as well as workshops to monitor, evaluate and revise the  advocacy action plan(s) and strategy as needed. 

• Undertake field visits in order to meet project teams, gather data for advocacy (in line with MSF ethical guidelines), support context analysis and engagements.

Job Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s degree (medical studies or public health, anthropology/social/political sciences, law, gender studies, protection) with first-rate writing skills and excellent research / analytical skills 

Experience: Essential previous working experience of at least three years in humanitarian affairs, research, analysis, or advocacy. 

                    Essential experience with MSF or other NGOs. 

                    Experience with medical organisations is an asset.

                    Good understanding of current humanitarian debates and of the dilemma/compromise nature of modern humanitarian intervention

How to Apply 

If you are interested, please send your National ID, CV, and cover letter (not more than one page) with “ Humanitarian Affairs Manager ” position written in the subject line through THIS LINK or msfocb-addis-recruitment@brussels.msf.org

Deadline: February 1, 2025. 

• Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

  MSF values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender, marital status, race, color, or ethnic and national origins, religion, or belief. 

   The protection of your personal data is important to MSF. By submitting your application, you consent to MSF using your personal data. 

  Female applicants are highly encouraged to apply!