Organization: Médecins Sans Frontières
Country: Spain
Closing date: 22 Jun 2017
GENERAL CONTEXT
Médecins Sans Frontières is an international independent medical-humanitarian organization, which offers assistance to populations in distress, to victims of natural or man-made disasters and to victims of armed conflict, without discrimination and irrespective of race, religion, creed or political affiliation.
The MSF movement is built around five operational directorates supported by MSF’s 21 sections, 24 associations and other offices together worldwide. MSF OCBA is one of those directorates. The operations are implemented by field teams and the mission coordination teams; together with the organizational units based in Barcelona, Athens and decentralised in Nairobi, Dakar and Amman. The field operations are guided and supported by 5 Operational Cells, the Emergency Unit and other departments supporting operations
and finance supporting operations.
GENERAL OBJECTIVE AND JOB ENVIROMENT
As highlighted in MSF OCBA’s strategic Plan for 2014-2017, together with effective medical action, we aim to maximise our transformation potential (the capacity to change, or contribute to bringing about changes that improve the medical status and the humanitarian condition of the populations we work with/for) through complementary engagement and advocacy strategies. Our ambitions range from increasing access to vulnerable populations, to mobilising other agencies to respond, advocating for changes of medical protocols, to contributing to changes at an international policy level, and they will all constitute an intrinsic building block of our medical-humanitarian operations in the field.
The HAA is a full member of the Centre for Applied Reflection on Humanitarian (ARHP) Practice with a particular focus on supporting operations and developing in-house analytical capacity. S/he works closely with the head of the ARHP, the Operational Program Managers (RECO) and the Heads of Mission (HoM) of the priority contexts. The HAA reports hierarchically and functionally to the Head of the ARHP.
The work of the HAA has three main components:
1) Surge Humanitarian Affairs capacity in priority contexts: involves guiding and supporting MSF operational managers (particularly Heads of Mission and RECO) in humanitarian affairs analysis, identifying key messages and developing advocacy strategies, from field-level negotiations through to international influencing at the highest levels.
2) Mentoring: both in mission (HAOs) and at the end of the mission (field coordinators)
3) Specific analytical and research assignments: critical event investigations or research
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Facilitate the delivery of OCBA’s humanitarian affairs ambitions in priority contexts
- Advise Desk and HoM on positioning and advocacy strategies in a maximum of three priority contexts (at a given time). This is not structural support, but surge and ad-hoc support in moments of crisis and/or emergency as agreed between the Director of Operations and the Head of the ARHP.
2. Manage the end of mission mentoring programme of field coordinators on humanitarian affairs analysis and reflection
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Oversees the process of identification and management of end of mission mentoring to field coordinators[1] in close collaboration with the Desks, the medical referents and the head of ARHP.
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Directly mentors coordinators who are part of the programme providing assistance in (i) defining the issue/dilemma to be analysed or capitalised, (ii) defining the needed research if relevant, (iii) structuring the reflection and (iv) providing feedback during the work.
3. Participate in the oversight and mentoring of the pool of humanitarian affairs officers / field advocacy managers in coordination with the Human Resource and Operations Departments
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Assist in the HAO selection process (define tests, analyse results, conduct interviews).
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Debrief all HAOs/advocacy managers returning from the field and identify issues to address/correct regarding the structural management of this pool (to discuss with HR and Ops)
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Provide punctual (around 2 weeks) on-the-job mentoring to HAOs/advocacy managers in the field as per priorities identified by HR/Ops/ARHP, and this in support of the soon-to-be-recruited full time field mentor for humanitarian affairs and advocacy (max 2 times per year)
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Main contact between the field mentor for humanitarian affairs and advocacy and the ARHP
4. Carry out specific field research
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Whether responding to direct field requests or as ARHP initiatives, short field research assignments to produce high quality reports
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Could be requested to lead the investigation after a critical event which would include(i) supervising the gathering of evidence, (ii) analysing the data, (iii) producing the report (establishing the facts, lessons learnt, identification of messages and advocacy plan)
5. Participates in the trainings for first missions, field coordinators and heads of mission (shared with other members of the ARHP)
SELECTION CRITERIA
Education, skills and experience
Essential
· Social Sciences profile, with an international component and/or expertise, including: (International) Political Science, International Law, Development’ Studies, Anthropology or similar
· Previous experience in humanitarian advocacy and/or humanitarian affairs, whether in MSF or externally
· Previous field operational experience in a humanitarian crisis, whether in MSF or externally
· Knowledge of the practical workings of the humanitarian and wider aid system in acute and protracted conflict (including UN coordination structures, international NGOs, integrated peacekeeping missions, donors and the role of host governments)
· Ability to analyse complex operational environments and synthesise the core elements into conclusions and recommendations for MSF operations and advocacy
· Outstanding analytical and advisory skills
· Ability to understand medical data and epidemiological analysis
· Excellent verbal communication skills, with the ability to represent MSF in high-level external meetings
· Proven excellence in written English, with a track record of published reports and position papers
Desirable
· Experience in line management, including coaching and professional development
· Knowledge of protection issues in armed conflict, including those relating to International Humanitarian Law and the human rights of internally displaced persons
· Advocacy and/or humanitarian affairs training, whether MSF or external
· French and Arabic language skills
Competences
· Commitment to MSF’s Principles
· Cross-cultural Awareness
· Behavioural Flexibility
· Strategic Vision
· Results and Quality Orientation
· Service Orientation
· Planning and Organising
· Initiative and Innovation
· Teamwork and Cooperation
· Leadership
· Security Awareness and Management
Others
· Availability to travel frequently, including to insecure environments (up to 40% of the time)
CONDITIONS
· Temporary position based in Barcelona, at the Médecins Sans Frontières-Spain Headquarters
· Full time role,
· 2 year contract
· Annual gross salary: 39,448.49 € (based on a 40 hours per week) Divided in twelve monthly payments + Secondary Benefits based on MSF-OCBA Reward Policy
· Start Date: ASAP
[1] Heads of Mission, Medical Coordinators, Deputy Heads of Mission, Field Coordinators and Project Medical Coordinators
How to apply:
To apply, all applicants should please send their CV and cover motivation letter under the reference “**Humanitarian Affairs Advisor**” to: recruitment-bcn@barcelona.msf.org.
Please submit your CV and cover letter in ONE file and name the file with your LAST NAME.
Replies will only be sent to short-listed candidates.
Médecins Sans Frontieres, as a responsible employer, under article 38 of “Ley de Integración Social del Minusválido de 1982 (LISMI)” invite those persons with a recognized disability and with an interest in the humanitarian area to apply for the above mentioned position.
