Regional Humanitarian Access and Networking Advisor for West Africa – Abidjan – MSF Belgium At Doctors Without Borders

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is a humanitarian medical aid organization. In more than 80 countries, MSF teams provide assistance to people in distress and victims of war, without discrimination based on origin, nationality, religion, philosophy or politics.

Regional Humanitarian Access and Networking Advisor for West Africa (m/f/x) – Abidjan – MSF Belgium

CONTEXT

Within MSF-OCB (Operational Centre Brussels), the Analysis department is a multidisciplinary team that contributes to MSF’s social mission by conducting in-depth research/reflection on humanitarian and health policies, developing and implementing advocacy strategies, expanding our operational networks, supporting and challenging operations, and positioning the organization on health and humanitarian policy drawing on MSF’s operational experiences.

Within this new department, there are 4 teams:

• The “Health Policy” team
• The “Forced Migration” Team
• The “Conflicts and Humanitarianism” team
• The “Humanitarian Access and Networking” Team

As a Regional Humanitarian Access and Networking Advisor for West Africa , you are part of the Humanitarian Access and Networking Team . This team is composed of four Regional Advisors and a Coordinator. They provide strategic advice to senior levels of operations to develop and maintain strong networks and effective humanitarian negotiations, working in some of the most complex and challenging conflict environments. They are called upon to advise and assist in some of OCB’s most sensitive and challenging negotiations.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Context analysis

• Provide continuous in-depth analysis of the region, monitor political, economic and military dynamics, advise the operations department (Epool, Cells and missions involved)
• In collaboration with operations, ensure that regular mapping of political, military and civil society actors relevant to our area of ​​operations is carried out
• Provide strategic advice to the Operations Directorate General on political developments, identify opportunities and conduct risk analyses in sensitive contexts
• Monitor and analyze regional developments and linkages between countries in the region to help operations understand the impact of political developments in the region on our operations
• Produce regular updates on policy developments based on priority contexts/groups set by the Operations and Analysis Department, including positions/threats/opportunities for aid actors

Networking

• Support country managers and operations coordinators in their networking and negotiation strategies, particularly in sensitive and complex situations
• Provide guidance and advice to national operations networking strategies to ensure consistency across the region
• Represent OCB at relevant meetings with the MSF regional hub in Dakar and liaise with senior management, including humanitarian representatives and other MSF sites in the region on access and networking issues
• Continue to develop its network in the region with external specialists, in coordination with its colleagues in the operations and analysis department

Support and coaching

• Support and mentor national frameworks involved in context analysis and networking (including through exchange of good practices, training opportunities, regular meetings, etc. at regional level)
• Facilitate and support training on humanitarian negotiations in the region
• Organize regular workshops for MSF networkers in the region to provide up-to-date analysis of the context and networking strategies

Operational support

• Lead or participate in projects to identify potential new operations (emergencies or regular projects)
• Available for short-term missions in support of projects in the region (maximum 2 months)

PREREQUIS

Training and experience

• A degree in a field with medical qualification, political science, sociology or other relevant field
• At least 10 years of operational experience in humanitarian contexts
• High level international experience in MSF projects, in coordination roles
• Proven experience working in insecure environments and emergency response operations
• Proven experience in context analysis, negotiation and networking

SKILLS

• Strong humanitarian negotiation skills
• Excellent knowledge of West Africa and the Sahel region
• Proven ability to take initiative and work independently
• Ability to develop and implement a strategic vision
• Strong networking skills
• Strong analytical skills
• Ability to represent MSF to a variety of audiences
• Very good written and oral communication skills
• Team spirit
• Strong intercultural awareness

LANGUAGES

• Fluency in English and French, both spoken and written
• Proficiency in at least one of the main languages ​​spoken in the region (Hausa, Malenke, Fulani or other)

TERMS

• Start date: March 2025
• Location: Abidjan (Ivory Coast)
• Mobility: regular visits to projects (3 times a year) and short assignments in our projects (up to two months)
• Contract type: Fixed-term contract – Full time
• Contract duration: 2 years (extendable)
• Salary according to the MSF salary scale
• Contractual conditions and salary will be established according to the official residence of the selected candidate and in accordance with MSF standard function and salary scales.
• Family situation possible according to the policies and conditions of the host MSF entity
• Adhere to MSF principles and our management values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Responsibility
• Adhere to MSF’s behavioral commitments