Humanitarian Representative to the African Union and Africa-CDC at Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

Humanitarian Representative to the African Union and Africa-CDC

Employer: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

Employment: Full-Time | Contract

Place of Work: Addis Ababa, Addis Abeba - Ethiopia

Posted date: 6 months ago

Deadline: Submition date is over

I. MSF INTERNATIONAL

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, healthcare exclusion, and natural disasters. MSF offers assistance to people based only on need and irrespective of race, religion, gender, or political affiliation.

MSF International is the legal entity that binds MSF’s 23 sections, 25 associations, and other offices together. Registered in Switzerland, MSF International provides coordination, information, and support to the MSF Movement and implements international projects and initiatives as requested.

II. POSITION BACKGROUND

The Humanitarian Representation Team (HRT) supports the MSF operations through linkages and actions to and from external networks (political, humanitarian, medical, and civil society). It is managed by the International Operations Coordinator, the Head of Humanitarian Representation (IOHRC), and the Deputy Head of the Humanitarian Representation Team (HRT). The HRT maintains active relations with its network and continually informs the MSF operations of the relevant analyzed information. The HRT influences its network through specific actions for the benefit of the MSF programs and MSF operations’ goals. In carrying out its actions, the HRT responds to direct requests from the operational program managers (desks).

The HRT maintains active and effective internal links to coordinate its work. These include the reflection and advocacy centers of the operational sections, the Access campaign, the International President, Secretary General, International Medical Secretary & Medical Co-ordinator, medical working groups, and others as necessary. The HRT in Africa aims to reinforce the links and coordination with MSF WACA, MSF Ubuntu, and any other MSF entities that may develop. The HRT may interact with the field missions of MSF (HoM-level) to improve the overall quality of the support to operations at the request of desks.

III. PLACE IN THE ORGANISATION

Part of the MSF International Office Humanitarian Representation Team (HRT), the Representative to the African Union works under the coordination of the Humanitarian Representative for Central and East Africa. The AU representative aligns its work with the demands of the operations departments of the six MSF operational directorates (Amsterdam, Barcelona, Brussels, Geneva, Paris, and West Africa), other key advocacy resources of the International Office, and the MSF movement.

IV. MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POSITION

1. Develop an engagement framework between MSF and the African Union

With this position, MSF aims to formalize its relationship with the African Union through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), regulating and safeguarding MSF's relationship with the bloc.

Main tasks

• Discuss and negotiate the terms of the MOU between MSF and the AU’s HSS (and additional entities if pertinent), governing the principal framework of interaction between the African Union and MSF international.
• Discuss and negotiate a framework of engagement with the Africa CDC.
• Ensure MSF’s internal coordination during those processes, including all pertinent stakeholders in operational, medical, analysis, and international legal departments.

2. Medical Humanitarian Representation

The main objective of this position is to define and implement, in close collaboration with MSF operations, medical and advocacy departments, a coherent and efficient advocacy & humanitarian diplomacy strategy towards the African Union, its institutions, and permanent representations of member states as well as third states and non-state actors based in Addis Ababa. This includes monitoring and providing relevant analysis of the AU’s work, policies, and decisions that could have an impact on MSF’s operations, anticipating potential risks and opportunities for collaboration.

Main tasks

• To pursue negotiations with the AU to formalize a partnership between MSF and the African Union.
• To develop and maintain a network of relevant contacts for MSF operations and the MSF movement with key AU institutions, officials, and diplomats from permanent missions and with representatives to AU of non-state actors.
• To engage and collaborate with the Africa CDC based on MSF’s medical humanitarian expertise. This work will be coordinated with MSF’s Access to Products for Health Care initiative.
• To represent the MSF movement and positions towards the AU based on operational realities. This includes the preparation, organization, and facilitation of meetings between MSF operational representatives, AU Commission, and Africa CDC officials as well as AU Member States representatives to discuss needs and operational challenges in the medical humanitarian response to crises.
• Ensure adequate and regular understanding of key stakeholders present and active at the AU bodies: actors, dynamics, challenges for MSF, new policies, and positioning on major topics of interest for MSF.
• To prepare MSF’s operations’ interventions or to intervene directly in relevant panels, public hearings, international conferences, and other events on behalf of MSF’s operations, using agreed speaking points.
• To closely work with the HRT EA and the HRT UN based in Geneva to coordinate the medical topics and interlinks among Africa CDC and WHO AFRO / WHO HQ.

3. Facilitating MSF’s operational dialogue

A third objective is to contribute to and support with analysis of the MSF’s operations intersection dialogue. As such, the HRT AU representative will facilitate, for several countries, regular meetings between MSF’s section operations managers (“Interdesk meetings”).

Main tasks

• Ensure the preparation of the Interdesk meetings Agenda and dissemination of the meeting outcomes to key stakeholders.
• Facilitate the Interdesk meetings, following up on the outcomes and action items collectively agreed by the Interdesk.
• Foster the exchange of relevant and strategic information inter-sectionally and facilitate the identification of important challenges and opportunities for operations (internal and external).

Job Requirements

• Solid relevant humanitarian experience in operations, advocacy, analysis, or humanitarian diplomacy. Experience with MSF is an asset.
• A background in public health will be considered an important asset.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of the African Union institutions and advocacy experience towards the AU and/or countries on the African continent. A solid network of contacts within the organization and pertinent member states is a strong asset.
• Excellent diplomatic skills (in writing as well as in personal interactions), interpersonal skills, judgment, and the ability to build and maintain a network of contacts are a must.
• In-depth knowledge of the international aid system and current trends and dilemmas, as well as an analytical understanding of the role of MSF within the aid system; a basic understanding of the provisions of international humanitarian law is preferred.
• Ability to synthesize complex and sensitive material and analyze and report on it convincingly to colleagues.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Fluent in written and spoken English and French. Knowledge of any of the African Union's official languages is a strong asset.

Location: Addis Ababa (with a transition period in Nairobi before accreditation)