🇸🇱 Job Vacancy @ Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) – Humanitarian Affairs Officer
VACANCY: HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS OFFICER (INTERSECTIONAL OCA – OCB)
INTERNAL/EXTERNAL (Only for Sierra Leone Nationals)
MSF HOLLAND SIERRA LEONE
Title: Humanitarian Affairs Officer
Directly reports: Humanitarian Affairs & AdvocacyManager
Position Status: Full Time
Location: Freetown, Sierra Leone
Introduction
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters, and exclusion from healthcare. MSF offers assistance to people based on need irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation. MSF is therefore guided by the principles of neutrality and impartiality. These principles must apply to all MSF staff.
Main objective of the 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, in order to improve the humanitarian and human rights situation among population.
Required Criteria
Generic Job Accountabilities :
Perform data collection and research concerning local and international context, with regards to security, medical, nutritional and humanitarian issues, in order to provide reliable information for further decision- making.
Support the Head of Mission and field coordinators in the analysis of the data collected, in order 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 in order 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, in order to address the humanitarian situation.
✓ Define and review messages, tools, lobbying activities and other advocacy action plans and strategies, in
order 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, in order 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, in order 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.
Job Accountabilities Field Focus
Two MSF Operational Centers are currently operating in Sierra Leone, Operational Center Brussels (OCB) and Operational Center Amsterdam (OCA). The Intersection Humanitarian Affairs Officer (HAO) will work with both teams, but will be administratively managed by Operational Center Amsterdam (OCA), under the direct management (reporting line) of the Intersection Humanitarian Affairs and Advocacy Manager (also OCA managed).
MSF OCA is working in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health (MOH) in some of their health structures in Bombali and Tonkolili districts, by supporting their staff through training, mentoring, and empowering them in decision–making ability. MSF OCA is currently running three projects in the country, one focusing on tuberculosis, and two on mother and child health (at primary and at secondary level) and will exit from Sierra Leone in 2025.
MSF OCB is working in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health (MOH) in Kenema district. MSF OCB is currently running one project in the country, with a secondary healthcare component and a primary and community–based component, focusing on mother and child health.
SPECIFIC TASKS
All below tasks are to be performed under the close supervision of the Intersection Humanitarian Affairs & Advocacy Manager, upon request and/or delegation. In the absence of the Humanitarian Affairs & Advocacy Manager, the OCA Head of Mission can directly request support from the HAO.
Under the close supervision of the Intersection Humanitarian Affairs & Advocacy Manager, prioritize direct support to the projects (particularly Kenema due to its size and request for support), with the implementation of their humanitarian affairs and advocacy priorities (data collection, testimonies collection, training of staff, monitoring and reporting, context analysis, etc.). This will require regular visits to the project locations for hands–on collaboration on identified priorities as per the Advocacy strategy (patients referrals, medical supplies, human ressources for health).
Support Intersection Humanitarian Affairs & Advocacy Manager to ensure all relevant staff (LRS and IMS) and relevant visitors receive humanitarian affairs and advocacy briefing and debriefing.
Contribute to the active monitoring and reporting of the humanitarian context (including red–flags) in MSF areas of operations and the country in general, and advise on potential response by MSF.
Contribute to the external actors/stakeholders mapping, networking and engagement strategy development and documentation (engagement planning meeting, arranging meeting, meeting logbook, minutes, contact lists, etc.).
When required, contribute to the project and mission direct networking as requested (meeting attendance, minute taking, etc.).
Support the documentation of the humanitarian affairs and advocacy context and activities by contributing to the mission monthly and quarterly reports to HQ (SitRep, QMM, etc.).
When delegated, engage with the intersection Communication department to ensure coordinated activities regarding joint priorities (communication for advocacy objective, communication on topics identified as advocacy priorities, etc.).
Assist in the production of humanitarian affairs and advocacy materials for dissemination of our positioning relying on data, quotes, analysis, etc. (data base, briefing documents, reports, talking points, analysis, etc.). Support through other delegated tasks and responsibilities as requested, in particular in case of emergency response.
Required Criteria:
Education
Experience
Languages
Knowledge
Essential degree in Law, Humanitarian affairs, Political Sciences or related university degree.
Essential previous working experience of at least two years in research, analysis and advocacy
Essential experience with MSF or other NGOs.
Desirable working experience in developing countries
English language essential. Local language desirable
Essential computer literacy (word, excel and internet)
Additional (Flexible) Requirements
Education
Experience
Essential degree in Law, Humanitarian affairs, Political Sciences or related university degree
Previous experience working in an international environment desirable
Previous experience in organizational campaigning and/or humanitarian affairs desirable
Previous experience in the health sector desirable
Excellent command of English (oral and written)
Languages
Knowledge
Good networking and external relations and representation skills
Good understanding of health sector in Sierra Leone (desirable)
Outgoing personality, good balance between initiative and working in a team
Competencies (Generic)
Commitment to MSF Principles L2
- Behavioral Flexibility L2
Stress Management L3
Results & Quality Orientation L2
- Teamwork & Cooperation L2
Competencies (Field Focus)
- Analytical thinking: level 2 – compiles information and breaks down a problematic situation into parts
and identifies basic relationships
- Strategic vision: level 2 – signals and identifies organizational targets and strategies and has an overview
and links current actions with organizational objectives
- Networking and Building Relationships: level 2 – maintains existing networks and develops and
diversifies networks.
Technical Skills
- Social sciences methodology: level 1 – Under Supervision, able to administrate a quantitative questionnaire (interviewer), able to administrate socio–economical closed questionnaire, able to collaborate in the mapping of a geographical area, able to collaborate in the mapping of the different actors, organization, etc.
Application Information:
All interested applicants(previous applicants are also encouraged to re–apply) should submit:
CV
Reference letters including a letter from at least one previous employer
Letter of motivation, not longer than 150 words
Applications may be delivered to any of the following:
MSF OCA Mile 91 Office, 119 Bo Road, Mile 91
MSF OCA Magburaka Office, 109 Kono Highway, Magburaka
MSF OCA Makeni office, 50 Makama Road Makeni
MSF OCA Freetown Office 49k Ronsab Drive, Off Spur Road or Off Wilkinson Road
Specify POSITION NAME, your
name and telephone number on
envelope.
Thanks
Or via e–mail. On your email subject indicate “HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS OFFICER“) to:
CLOSING DATE: 13 January 2025
MSF works with transparent recruitment policy and will opened a vacancy for positions that are in need of staffing. Anybody who would like to work for us is most welcome and can apply for a position that is vacant by sending us a motivation letter.
A selection will be made, based on skills and experience for that position. Candidates that fulfil the criteria will be invited by HR department for a written test and interview in Freetown. The best candidate will be offered a job. No payment is required, never!
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted + supporting documents are non–returnable.
MSF employees on a full–time contract are not permitted to work for any other employer than MSF. All candidates who are applying for a full–time job committed themselves that after being hired by MSF, MSF will be the only Employer.
