Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent medical humanitarian organisation that provides assistance to people worldwide, regardless of their background, religion or political convictions. Above all, we aim to save lives and to offer medical care to victims of disasters, wars and epidemics. Working together with local staff, we give direct support to the population. MSF also appeals to those in power, including governments and international organisations, and speaks out about the abuses we encounter in the course of our work.
MSF Operational Centre Amsterdam (OCA) currently operates medical humanitarian interventions in 25 countries. On a yearly basis MSF-Holland deploys over 1100 international staff and employs approximately 7000 national staff. At headquarters in Amsterdam, approximately 170 employees offer their support to the projects.
With immediate effect MSF OCA has a vacancy for the position of
Humanitarian Affairs Adviser (100%)
member of the OSCAR team
In 2013, the levels of need for medical, humanitarian assistance are vast, yet it becomes increasingly challenging to fulfill MSF’s social mission. Syria, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Myanmar, Congo are but a few of the places where violence, abuse and neglect lead to extensive medical and humanitarian crises. Entire populations are blighted by the ongoing HIV pandemic and the emergency of new and resistant bacteria, responses to which continue to be inadequate. And factors such as urbanisation, migration, climate change and associated displacement may bring new types of health needs.
At the same time, humanitarian responses must navigate an ever shifting political and humanitarian landscape. The war on terror; the rise of political Islam; a reassertion of sovereignty outside Western / Northern states; and the increased scale, politicisation, militarisation, privatisation and nationalisation of humanitarian assistance have all affected the way humanitarian agencies operate and impacted on their ability to respond.
OSCAR (Operational Support: Communications, Advocacy and Reflection) has been devised as a mechanism to meet the need for intelligent, strategic and thoughtful deployment of our advocacy, communications and reflective capacity. OSCAR comprises the Humanitarian Affairs Advisers, the Operational Communications Team and the Programme Unit in the UK.
The work of the Humanitarian Affairs Adviser in OSCAR will include both direct country support and thematic work.
Direct country support includes:
• directing the witnessing and protection role of MSF in conjunction with field teams;
• assuring the development and implementation of advocacy strategies;
• supporting operations with political and context analysis;
• acting as a sparring partner to the Country Management Team and Operational Manager on protection issues, humanitarian principles and organisational positioning;
• advising the field on the process of the gathering, analysis and synthesis of information/data;
• drafting of letters, position papers, briefing documents, reports, etc.
Thematic work includes:
• identifying and developing key humanitarian themes for MSF, writing papers, organising discussion, etc.;
• reviewing and analyzing operational challenges;
• sharing MSF thinking and analysis through attending debates, workshops and conferences, writing articles and making presentations;
• developing and maintaining relevant networks, bringing relevant thinking into the organisation;
The Humanitarian Affairs Adviser also engages in training and development of tools in order to strengthen MSF’s humanitarian mission in the field.• assuring the development and implementation of advocacy strategies;
• supporting operations with political and context analysis;
• acting as a sparring partner to the Country Management Team and Operational Manager on protection issues, humanitarian principles and organisational positioning;
• advising the field on the process of the gathering, analysis and synthesis of information/data;
• drafting of letters, position papers, briefing documents, reports, etc.
Thematic work includes:
• identifying and developing key humanitarian themes for MSF, writing papers, organising discussion, etc.;
• reviewing and analyzing operational challenges;
• sharing MSF thinking and analysis through attending debates, workshops and conferences, writing articles and making presentations;
• developing and maintaining relevant networks, bringing relevant thinking into the organisation;
The position is based at headquarters but also travels to the field.
PROFILE• Substantial experience (6-8 years) with international organisations in the field of humanitarian action or human rights; at least 3 years field experience in the types of countries where MSF is active (field experience with MSF is an advantage);
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of recent developments in the field of humanitarian action, protection and international relations;
• Academic background in areas relevant to MSF’s work, such as international relations, international human rights & humanitarian law, political science;
• Strong analytical and advisory skills and the ability to translate complex context analysis into clear conclusions and recommendations;
• Able to travel to the field for periods of up to 6 weeks;
• Proven excellence in written English (reports, position papers, etc.);
• Excellent communication and training skills;
• Affinity with the principles and objectives of MSF’s work;
• Fluency in English; working knowledge of French and/or Arabic is an advantage;
• Sense of humor, good team-player, flexible, ability to work independently and under pressure.
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of recent developments in the field of humanitarian action, protection and international relations;
• Academic background in areas relevant to MSF’s work, such as international relations, international human rights & humanitarian law, political science;
• Strong analytical and advisory skills and the ability to translate complex context analysis into clear conclusions and recommendations;
• Able to travel to the field for periods of up to 6 weeks;
• Proven excellence in written English (reports, position papers, etc.);
• Excellent communication and training skills;
• Affinity with the principles and objectives of MSF’s work;
• Fluency in English; working knowledge of French and/or Arabic is an advantage;
• Sense of humor, good team-player, flexible, ability to work independently and under pressure.
WE OFFER
• A contract for one year with a full-time appointment based on 5 days per week, with the option for renewal based in Amsterdam.
• A gross salary in scale 7 of a minimum of € 3,018 and a maximum of € 4,312 per month, based on relevant work experience, for full-time employment (based on a 40-hour week).
• A stimulating, professional working environment in an international organisation.
• Ample holiday leave, a premium free pension scheme.
FURTHER INFORMATION AND APPLICATION
Additional information can be requested from Hernan Del Valle (Head of Department Humanitarian Affairs, Chair of OSCAR), Ph: +31 (0) 20 520 8761.
If you are interested in this position, please send your letter of application, CV and the answers to the attached questions before Sunday 1 December toofficejobs@amsterdam.msf.org, for the attention of Amanda van Hoorn, mentioning `Humanitarian Affairs Adviser, OSCAR’. Please also mention where you found this vacancy.
PLEASE INCLUDE WITH YOUR APPLICATION ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
These questions are intended to understand how you think. There are no right or wrong answers. Please express your views and explain them.
1. What do you think are the two key challenges for humanitarian action today? Justify your choices. [max 200 words]
2. MSF offers life saving HIV treatment to thousands of patients in hospitals run by a country’s Ministry of Health. State security forces have access to patient’s records being treated in these facilities. Several patients have been routinely harassed and detained. What are the dilemmas emerging for MSF? What is your advice in terms of possible actions the organisation could take? [max 250 words]
3. MSF is heavily involved in providing assistance to people affected by the conflict in Syria. Based on your knowledge of this conflict and its regional consequences, what do you think the main concerns are for an organization like MSF, both operationally and in terms of advocacy and communications? [max 250 words]
