Background and experience required

• Former HoM level experience within MSF or other NGO’s
• Extensive experience of the region (including relevant language skills). Preferably a national of the region. 
• Political Science, journalism or another relevant academic background 
• Experience of working in both unstable / insecure environments as well as stable missions.
• Experience of interacting with MSF and partner sections
• Proven track record in negotiation and networking.

 

Skills and capacities

• Ability to take initiatives and to work independently
• Capacity to develop and implement a strategic vision
• Strong networking skills are essential
• Strong analytical skills
• Ability to represent MSF toward multiple counter-parts 
• Very good written and oral communication skills.
• Team player

 

Availability

• Available for regular travel within the region and beyond when required.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides assistance in more than 60 countries to populations in distress, to victims of natural or manmade disasters and to victims of armed conflicts, without discrimination and irrespective of religion, creed or political affiliation. To enhance our support from Brussels, the Analysis Department is looking for a:

Latin America Humanitarian Access Advisor (m/f/x)

CONTEXT

In 2012, the MSF-OCB Analysis and Advocacy Unit (AAU) split into two teams under separate coordination. The Humanitarian Innovation Team (HIT) developed to focus on conflict and displacement settings, through the use of polyvalent specialist profiles that were able to provide strategic support to operations, engage in reflection and writing and conduct advocacy and analysis. The Health Access Team (HAT) continued to develop in-depth specialized research on a range of topics including health financing and HIV/AIDS. 

 In 2017, a decision was taken to build on the successes of both the HIT and the HAT and to merge the teams into a stand-alone department within OCB. 

The Analysis Department plays an important role within OCB in terms of analysing our political environment, defining advocacy strategies, shaping public messages and supporting or challenging operations on topics ranging from new project locations to negotiated access. 

The vision for an analysis department is to have a multi-disciplinary team that contributes to the MSF social mission by: (1) conducting in depth humanitarian and health policy related research/reflection; (2) developing and implementing advocacy strategies; (3) expanding our operational networks; (4) supporting and challenging operations; and (5) positioning the organisation on the politics of health and humanitarianism based on MSF’s operational experiences.

Within this new department there are 4 teams:

• The health politics team 
• The forced migration team 
• The conflict and humanitarianism team 
• The humanitarian access and networking team 

This advertised position forms part of the Humanitarian Access and Networking Team. This team focuses on supporting operations in increasing its context analysis and networking capacity. The team works together with operations to build a networking strategy that is in direct support to the Heads of Mission and Field Coordinators. This will be done primarily through the provision of support and coaching of the national staff assistant Head of Mission and assistant Field Coordinator positions. These positions will be redefined to better clarify their role in developing networks alongside the Head of Mission and Field Coordinator. This regional position will act as a technical referent for these field positions.  

OBJECTIVE OF THE POSITION  

The purpose of the Regional Humanitarian Access Advisor is to increase our networking and negotiation capacity at field level, and to provide direct support to operations at field and HQ levels.

The Regional Humanitarian Access Advisor will be responsible for developing an in depth regional context analysis and will support Heads of Mission in the region in developing their operational networks. This will involve coaching and supporting field based national staff who form part of the operational decision making line.  

Frequent travels to the field will be necessary as well as flexibility to respond to sudden demands of support outside of assigned portfolio.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Support and coaching

• Help to implement the revision of the Assistant Head of Mission and Assistant Field Coordinator positions within priority contexts of the region.
• Develop a strategy to support and coach key national staff positions (including through the exchange of best practices, training opportunities, regular meetings etc. at regional level)
• Work alongside HoMs and Field coordinators to develop and implement a regional networking strategy

Context analysis and networking

• Together with the operations (‘Assistant HoM’ or ‘Assistant FieldCo’) ensure a regular actor mapping is carried out of all political, military and civil society actors that have relevance to our area of operations. 
• Support in the development of networks that help to open doors for MSF operations.
• Based on the actor mapping, identify links between actors in different countries of the region 
• Develop an in-depth analysis of political and military dynamics in key identified contexts and its regional implications

Overall strategy development

• Support the operations in the development of a country level networking strategy that is coherent across the region.
• Identify ways to support operations in its engagement with non-state armed actors (based on identified gaps) 
• Identify ways to support operations in its engagement with gov²ernments and civil society (based on identified gaps) 
• Develop a written regional strategy paper for networking

Specific task

• Maintain frequent relationship and, from the needs, support the Supply and Procurement field in the region;
• Work in synergy with assessments and context analysis with MSF offices in the region, especially in the MSF Brazil office;
• Map and support MSF's follow-up/participation strategy in multilateral organizations in the region, such as the OAS, in collaboration with offices in the region;
• Participate in activities of MSF associates in the region in order to keep alive a network of MSF personnel in Latin America.

CONDITIONS
 

• Expected starting date: As soon as possible
• Contract type: Open-ended contract, full-time
• Location: Preferably based in Brazil (Rio or Sao Paulo) or Mexico. Other MSF Offices in Latin America can be discussed. Please note that we can only contract in another country where we have an MSF office. Final outcome will depend on local legal limitations (residency, work permit etc…).
• Compensation package will also vary accordingly, defined by local status.
• Adhere to the MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment
• Adhere to the MSF Behavioral Commitments

Deadline for applications: 13/02/2022 (midnight)

How to apply?

Please, send your CV and cover letter to Recruit-HQ-DG@brussels.msf.org and mention “Latin America Humanitarian Access Advisor” in the subject of your email.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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

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