Senior Health Policy Adviser – Coordinator of the Health Politics Team (m/f/x) At Médecins Sans Frontières

CONTEXT

The role of the Analysis Department is to support and critically engage with operations in navigating MSF’s political environment and in overcoming the obstacles faced by patients and operations.

The team’s role is to build in-depth analysis of MSF’s environment and to implement strategies alongside operations to address those challenges, be it through public positioning, advocacy, networking, negotiations, or the development of innovative operational models.

The analysis department is a multi-disciplinary team that contributes to the MSF Operational Center Brussels (MSF OCB) social mission through the following objectives:

• To conduct in depth humanitarian and health policy related research/reflection
• To strengthen context analysis and negotiation/networking capacity
• To take public positions on the politics of health and humanitarianism based on MSF’s operational experiences
• To develop and implement advocacy strategies, that are rooted in our operations, as a tool to achieve change
• To support in the development of innovative operational approaches and models of care
• To design data collection methods for the purposes of advocacy and analysis

The department has 4 thematic teams: a Forced Migration Team, a Health Politics Team, a Conflict and Humanitarianism Team, and a Humanitarian Access and Networking Team. It also includes a Humanitarian Learning and Development Coordinator as well as one polyvalent Senior Humanitarian Specialist.

Within OCB’s Analysis department, the Health Politics Team (HPT), in particular, is analyzing existing and emerging health policies, the political factors behind them and how this affects the environment in which MSF operates. The HPT contributes to MSF’s networking, information collection, analysis, positioning, policy dialogue/exchange and advocacy.

Besides direct interventions to improve availability and access of health care and support to service delivery, MSF also plays a role in influencing policies and practices linked to health, combining work on technical and political issues. MSF’s analysis of our experience and of the health landscape in which we operate, allows to improve strategic operational engagement, to determine the organization’s position on key issues, to speak out against certain problems and to advocate for action to improve the health and humanitarian response, especially for the most vulnerable, excluded and/or marginalized people.

As Senior Health Policy Advisor, you hold responsibilities as coordinator for the Health Politics Team as well as expert for analysis & advocacy of health policy dossiers that have relevance and consequence for MSF.

The workload linked to coordination tasks is estimated at one third of the position, but this can vary according to needs.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Coordination of the Health Politics Team

Currently the Health Politics Team includes 4 positions, with additional temporary team members for specific work as required. Thematical files are attributed according to needs and by taking into account each person’s expertise. At present some of those thematics include: Pandemic Preparedness & Response, Epidemic Outbreaks, Advocacy for HIV & TB response, AMR, Climate Change, Environmental Degradation & Health, Health Financing & Access to Health Care and other health issues such as Hepatitis, Lassa Fever, NCD, etc. One of the positions is also focal point for the Global Fund for MSF across sections. Providing thematic expertise is complemented by some specific support to the MSF countries of interventions.

• Lead on engagement, networking, analysis on health policy issues

Set the agenda and action plan for the Health Politics Team according to key global developments and challenging policy effects, including identifying and developing collaborations within and beyond MSF. Coach and lead the work of team members to priorities and optimize outputs of the team. Support the team regarding individual and collective action plans, including reporting and accountability. Supervise short-term consultants. Establish cross-fertilization, exchange, and coordination for optimal outputs as an overall team. Foster collective intelligence within the team. Creates a positive team dynamic, peer support and sharing of experience within the team.

• Analyze MSF’s role, opportunities and challenges within the broader global health landscape

Develop initiatives to deepen and broaden the reading of the global health landscape, identify, and develop opportunities and challenges relevant for MSF’s positioning and operations. Map specific global health events of importance for MSF and decide upon HPT’s (or others within MSF) participation in it. Contribute to dissemination and putting to use of this knowledge within OCB and the wider MSF movement.

• Coordinate with and support colleagues in the Analysis Department

As coordinator you keep the Director updated and informed about relevant issues. You take part in the regular meetings of the coordinators group which under leadership of the director exchanges on important events and priority actions, setting up initiatives and collaborations. You provide support to department-wide initiatives and facilitates dissemination of information. You actively contribute to the elaboration of the strategic plan of the Analysis Department (due for revision in 2025). You link specifically with the humanitarian learning and development coordinator for specific activities and support. You and the HPT team support in the definition of training priorities and participate in planned training sessions and other knowledge management initiatives.

• Communication and synergy with operations, medical and communications departments

Establish regular links for exchange, advice and support to the directors and relevant members of the operational and medical department. Participate and contribute to strategic platforms for exchange, analysis and reflection.

• Liaise with intersectional MSF initiatives and platforms

In particular, establish links for exchange and collaboration with the international office, the Humanitarian Representation Team (HRT), the Global health Actors network (GHAN), the MSF Access Campaign (soon Access to Products for Health), MSF Technical Working groups, reflection centers from other sections and other relevant MSF entities. Monitor, contribute to and influence overall MSF executive and associative debates.

• Oversee and coordinate administrative, HR, planning and budgetary tasks for the HPT

Analysis, Positioning & Advocacy within specific health policy dossiers

Within the Health Politics Team, the coordinator also takes responsibility of certain dossiers. This includes, lead on/contribute to relevant information collection and analysis, internal & external positioning, policy dialogue, specific advocacy efforts (international, regional & support to country-based advocacy)

Additionally, specific support to MSF’s analysis and/or advocacy at project level, country based, regional or international level will be requested according to emerging needs.

• Monitor, analyze and influence relevant policy issues

The following tasks are highlighted (where needed in collaboration and complementarity with others in the department):

• Lead and contribute to strategic reflection and analysis on MSF’s role and position
• Build OCB’s position and contribute to MSF’s overall position together with MSF other sections, the international office, the Global health Actors network (GHAN), the MSF Access Campaign (soon Access to products for Health), MSF Working groups and other relevant MSF entities
• Monitor various political and resource commitments, key policy areas and implementation of the relevant health response
• Build and expand the relevant network with relevant technical experts, academics, communities, CSO & NGOs, implementing agencies and financing actors
• Conduct in-depth policy analysis and advocacy support on prioritized files
• Document and contribute to lessons learned in specific thematics
• Contribute to analysis and MSF’s positioning in terms of changing emergency aid policies, system and organizational set-ups by key actors (WHO, UN, World Bank, major donors)
• Contribute to OCB’s and MSF’s overall analysis and position in the global health arena
• Policy and advocacy advisory support to operations

This includes support to the directors of operations and medical department, the operations and medical department, the countries of interventions and their projects in relevant strategies for improved operational interventions, policy dialogue and advocacy.

• Contribute to framing and implementing information and data collection, for better analysis of specific issues linked to health policies and context
• Support to and facilitate networking and liaising with relevant stakeholders at different levels
• Support to MSF operations on how to leverage engagement with stakeholders to advance MSF positioning, advocacy and operational priorities, including promoting the countries of interventions and operations understanding of relevant policies, funding modalities, etc.
• Support the countries of interventions’ ongoing efforts in relaying experiences on operational bottlenecks and advocating for improved program implementation or innovations
• Support missions in developing and implementing advocacy strategies and plans – this in collaboration with the department’s transversal support in advocacy
• Contribute to analysis & reflection of MSF’s experience for internal use and for external dissemination (publications, meetings, debates, etc.)
• When needed participate in or contribute to MSF task forces or similar set-ups constituted as part of specific operational response

REQUIREMENTS

Education & Experience

• Academic background in Public Health, Health Policy and International Relations
• (Para-)medical degree or master’s degree in a health-related field is a strong asset
• Minimum 5 years’ international experience with MSF in coordination positions or another humanitarian health organization is mandatory
• Operational experience with MSF is mandatory
• Solid experience in analysis & advocacy within MSF or other NGOs is mandatory
• Experience and expertise with Health & Humanitarian Policies and Global Health is mandatory
• Experience and interest in team management and coordination
• Experience working within OCB, interactions with other Operational Centers and other MSF entities is an asset
• Experience in health policy research is an asset

Competencies

• Strong networking skills and connections in global health
• Strong analytical skills and capacity to develop and implement a strategic vision
• Ability to work independently, take initiatives and seize opportunities
• Strong communication skills: active listener, clear and effective communication, and sense of diplomacy
• Ability to represent MSF toward multiple counterparts and willingness to act as a spokesperson
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Capacity to work within agreed timeline and ability to prioritize activities/tasks.
• Ability to establish and retain positive working relationships (internally and externally)
• Good team player with flexibility, creativity, and strong management skills
• Strong cross-cultural awareness and adaptability

Languages

• Excellent written and spoken communication in English and French
• Spanish, Portuguese, or Arabic is an asset

CONDITIONS

• Expected starting date: 15 February 2024
• Location*: Brussels (Belgium)

*Other location/s where there is an MSF entity could be exceptionally discussed. The final outcome depends on local legal limitations (residency, work permit, etc.) and on agreement with the hosting MSF entity/office of the/se location/s. The local contract and standard salary grid will then apply

• Mobility: willing to travel regularly (40% of working time) to MSF project locations, conferences, and meetings
• Contract type: Open-ended contract – Full-time
• Salary according to MSF-OCB HQ grid
• Meal Vouchers – Hospital Insurance (DKV) – Pension Plan – 100% reimbursement for public transportation costs
• Adhere to the MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment
• Adhere to the MSF Behavioral Commitments

Deadline for applications: January 7th, 2024