Humanitarian Affairs Officer

JOB VACANCY

Humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) / Lekari bez granica is implementing a project of humanitarian medical assistance to the migrant population transiting through Serbia.

For its project in Serbia, MSF is recruiting HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS OFFICER for field work post in Belgrade.

Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is an international humanitarian organization providing assistance to populations in distress, to victims of natural or man-made disasters and to victims or armed conflicts, irrespective of race, religion, creed or political convictions.

MSF observes neutrality and impartiality in the name of universal medical ethics and the right to humanitarian assistance and claim full and unhindered freedom in the exercise of its functions.

Main Purpose of the Position

Contribute to the development of humanitarian affairs activities in the Mission by supporting the Management Coordination Team (CMT) in the analysis of humanitarian context in the definition of advocacy strategies, according to MSF policies and values, and acts as an important interlocutor for operational and medical teams with aim to improve the humanitarian and human rights situation among affected population.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Defining, implementing and coordinating all MSF advocacy activities, including responsibility for drafting advocacy strategies addressing medical-humanitarian priorities in relation to mission needs - ensure that advocacy components are included in project and mission operational strategies as member of the CMT.
• Design and support the implementation of data collection systems with regards to the mission 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.
• Conduct data collection and research concerning local and international context, with regards to medical, nutritional and humanitarian concerns while strengthening the integration of humanitarian affairs (analysis, critical reflection, contextual understanding) and operational communications in order to provide reliable information for further decision-making.
• Support the Project Coordinator in the humanitarian analysis of the data collected, in order to better orientate the programmes and projects, to provide an optimal response to population needs. Monitor and 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 to increase the leverage capacity and the national impact of MSF lobbying in line with operational plans, regular activities and medical-humanitarian advocacy objectives.
• Collaborate with the Project Coordinator, the Operational/Humanitarian Affairs Department at HQ and other relevant parties to develop a coherent 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. Support networking needs by leading or participating representation duties in non-project locations (on delegation from the Project Coordinator), including with NGOs, domestic civil society, professional groups (doctors’/nurses’ associations), and local academics/universities. 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 and advises CMT and Project Coordinator/Project Medical Referent on perception related to positioning and operational strategy with a particular view on increasing local/national visibility and ensuring good acceptance for MSF projects/presence.
• Promotes and assists in the implementation of advocacy activities locally, nationally and internationally.
• Supervises humanitarian affairs related staff in the Mission
• Strong focus on design and execution of operational research
• Reference: DBqQvjzB3jP_kOoRYI6a6GvmfPbFvm7HqTIE0-DbSng.

MSF Section/Context Specific Accountabilities

• Participate in development and ensuring the follow up of the advocacy strategy of the MSF OCB mission;
• Collaborates with other advocacy responsible personnel in the missions, regions and HQ working on Migration topic;
• Improve and maintain MSF’s evidence collection systems to identify population’s needs and challenges and enable evidence-based advocacy;
• Train and brief MSF team on advocacy, humanitarian affairs, protection and other humanitarian affairs issues and data collection tools, systems;
• Represent MSF OCB and participate in external humanitarian meeting; Participate and coordinates protection and legal referrals to relevant actors within the project locations; Regular visit to project programmes location (30% projects, 70% coordination);
• Participate in assessments missions within the country/region when the needs arise and ensure incorporating the humanitarian affairs perspectives into the assessments;
• Participates actively in the Operational Research.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Education
• Essential degree in Law, Humanitarian affairs, Political Sciences or related university degree.
• Experience
• Essential previous working experience of at least two years in research, humanitarian analysis and advocacy.
• Essential experience with MSF or other NGOs in humanitarian sectors in the field of refugee and migration.
• Good understanding of current humanitarian debates and of the dilemma/compromise nature of modern humanitarian interventions.

WE OFFER:

• Salary according to MSF salary scale for national staff
• Private medical insurance
• 100% paid sick leave up to 30 days
• 24 days of annual leave

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:

• CV and cover letter in English

Please send your supporting documents electronically.

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview.