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Background:
The Humanitarian Affairs Manager (HAM) is responsible for defining, implementing, and managing humanitarian affairs and advocacy activities in the Country, with a strong humanitarian access, public health and health systems perspective, in line with MSF’s principles, policies, and operational priorities. The HAM works closely with the HQ and relevant network of Humanitarian Affairs or Reflection Unit within the movement and ensures good coordination with other sections’ HAM in the Country. The role ensures that humanitarian, medical and public health evidence informs MSF advocacy strategies and positioning, and that humanitarian analysis contributes to operational decision‑making, external advocacy, and policy influence at national and international levels. The position acts as a strategic member to operational, medical, and coordination teams, ensuring coherence between field realities, public health concerns, and advocacy messages.
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Duties and responsibilities:
CORE TASKS - Defining, implementing and managing all MSF humanitarian affairs and advocacy activities for the country team, including identifying the humanitarian issues of concern to MSF, drafting advocacy strategies addressing the medical and humanitarian priorities, and ensuring that advocacy components are included in project and country operational strategies.
- Supervise the quality of field-level data collection (under MSF ethical guidelines) for humanitarian affairs and advocacy purpose.
- Analysing and reporting on key humanitarian issues and trends; provide regular updates on humanitarian aid system dynamics (NGO/Donor planning, Red Cross movement activities and positioning) to increase the leverage and the impact of MSF advocacy in line with operational plans, regular activities and medical-humanitarian advocacy objectives.
- Draft ad hoc talking points and internal/external reports in relation to main medical-humanitarian concerns while strengthening the integration of humanitarian affairs (analysis, critical reflection, contextual understanding) and operational communications.
- Advises CMT and Country Coordinator/Medical Coordinator on perception related to positioning and operational strategy and in collaboration with the FCC/FCM supports insurance of good acceptance for MSF projects/presence.
- Drafts regular situation reports for country team/HQ as well as reports for external use in line with country advocacy strategy.
- If relevant, manages, supervises and develops staff under his/ her direct responsibility.
- Supports in close coordination with the Operations staff and HR department, the associated processes (recruitment, training, performance management, development and internal communication), of the appropriate staff to ensure both the sizing and amount of necessary knowledge.
DATA COLLECTION - ANALYSIS - Design and support the implementation of data collection systems with regards to the country 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.
- Provide data and discourse analysis in support of the Country Coordinator to inform MSF positioning in-country (project-level and at national level), particularly in terms of political / operational environment (regulation frameworks, donor/aid agreements, trade and economic developments).
- Propose improvements in the methodologies and tools used, and provide trainings to in country teams as required
- Undertake actor mapping and stakeholders’ analysis on behalf of projects and, while providing guidance / support to PCs for the management of relations with local authorities, and strategic advice to Country coordinator / Medical Co for national-level organizational positioning.
REPRESENTATION - COMMUNICATION - Support networking needs by participating in representation duties in non-project locations (on delegation from the Country Coordinator), including with domestic civil society, professional groups (doctors’/nurses’ associations), and local academics/universities.
- Link with other MSF sections in-country to share analysis, define common positions and develop inter-OC advocacy initiatives.
- Interact with the international MSF advocacy network (reflection centres, the HRT network, the MSF Access Campaign, etc.) to provide updated contextualized medical-humanitarian content and support on defining tailored advocacy strategies and messages.
- Lead discussions, trainings, briefings, etc. on the country’s medical-humanitarian context, MSF principles, international humanitarian law, medical ethics, and advocacy activities/strategies to raise awareness of MSF national and expatriate staff on these topics.
ON REQUEST - Undertake in country assessments (in relation to data gathering/context analysis or exploratory assessments) and other work-related traveling as required.
- Draft Terms of Reference, supervise, and evaluate other humanitarian affairs staff deployed to the country (Humanitarian Affairs Officers).
Humanitarian and Advocacy Strategy - Identifying key humanitarian and public health issues (e.g. humanitarian access/space, barriers/access to care, health system collapse, protection concerns, disease outbreaks etc.) requiring advocacy or positioning by MSF;
- Establishing priorities, and drafting a country-tailored strategy including objectives, target audiences, messaging, and risk mitigation;
- Designing yearly implementation action plans.
- Developing stronger knowledge on Sudan solidarity, community and social networks.
- Support project teams in developing tools to gather patient experience data to inform the advocacy strategy.
Public Health Analysis and Evidence‑Based Advocacy - Integrating public health analysis into humanitarian and advocacy work, including:
- Health system capacity and functionality
- Epidemiological trends and disease burden
- Access to essential services and medicines
- Impact of conflict, displacement, and policy decisions on population health
- Translating medical and epidemiological evidence into clear advocacy messages, policy briefs, talking points, and reports for internal and external audiences.
- Contributing to reflection on the impact of policies, sanctions, funding decisions, and governance failures on population health outcomes.
NB: This is not exhaustive. Additional roles/duties may be assigned as deemed necessary by the organization.
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Minimum Qualification, Skills and Experience Required:
Education: - Essential Master University Degree (5-year university degree), preferably in public health or relevant field (Law/International Humanitarian Law, political sciences, humanitarian action etc.) or MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery)
- Demonstrated analytical and high-level writing skills
- Campaigning organizational experience an asset
Experience: - Minimum 3 years’ experience in humanitarian affairs, advocacy, public health analysis, or research with Essential previous working experience of at least three years in humanitarian affairs, research, analysis or advocacy.
- Demonstrated experience in taking a leading role on humanitarian, public health, or advocacy issues, including autonomously designing strategies, defining objectives, and developing actionable plans.
- Essential 2-years’ experience with MSF or other NGOs.
- Desirable working experience in other humanitarian contexts abroad.
- Strong understanding of current humanitarian and global health debates and the ethical dilemmas of humanitarian action.
Language: Fluent in English. Knowledge: Essential computer literacy (database design/analysis, MS package, and internet-based research). Competencies: - Commitment to MSF’s Principles L2 / L3
- Analytical Thinking L3
- Strategic Vision L3
- Planning and Organising L2
- Teamwork and Cooperation L2
- Leadership L2
- People Management and Development L2
- Networking and Building Relationships L2
NB: Candidates from the humanitarian sector, including MSF, whose experience does not meet the requirements outlined in this job description will not be considered
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