Background
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters, and exclusion from healthcare.
The Manson Unit is a multi-disciplinary medical team within MSF-UK who aims to improve the quality of MSF’s medical programmes worldwide, so the best possible care is delivered to our patients. To achieve this, MSF conducts operational research to assess the provision of healthcare being provided in our projects and suggest improvements that will directly benefit the populations we serve, according to medical, ethical, and humanitarian principles.
OSCARis MSF Operational Support Communications, Advocacy and Reflection centre (Operational Center Amsterdam). It focuses on speaking out against and denouncing dehumanizing instances, such as those of injustice, violence, armed conflict, as well as discriminatory and exclusionary policies. OSCAR’s public communications place agency and respect at its core. OSCAR has been critically reviewing their communication strategies and placing ethics at the core of this review. One specific aspect that has been analysed along these efforts has been how much the images reflect peoples’ own reality, and their own views related to representation (identity, ideology, values…).
Purpose of the partnership
OSCAR and Manson Unit are initiating a study that will focus on contextualization of MSF archival visual material (‘Gewoon Werk film collection’) produced in 1989 for fundraising and recruitment purposes by MSF Holland in Mozambique. The intention is to co-design, co-implement and co-reflect on the findings with Mozambican researchers and communities represented in the images. The objectives of the study will include:
- exploring what are represented communities’ current attitudes towards archive materials;
- to engage with community in reflective processes and identify elements that would make them feel represented today, potentially through co-designed communication product;
- to explore how to share ownership of the MSF video materials with community, national and international partners;
- to use this pilot study as guidance for future community-based advocacy in MSF settings;
The purpose of this research consultancy is to co-design the concept note and research protocol (background, literature review, methodology, ethics, shared accountability and dissemination plan) and to provide support in the ethical clearance process in Mozambique.
Activities
The consultancy partner (Mozambican Research institute) will be expected to perform the following activities in close collaboration with OSCAR and Manson Unit:
- Identify research team that will co-design below activities
- Review existing documentation and published literature on the topics of past and current representation of the local communities in Mozambique, critical views related to representation in humanitarian context, decolonization of the visual materials, and other potentially relevant topics (including relevant resources published in Mozambique)
- Analyze and write up the summary of the literature review
- Co-design and co-write methodology including ethical aspects of proposed research
- Co-design and co-write concept note and research protocol based on MSF templates
- Prepare documents for ethical clearance body in Mozambique
- Identify the relevant ethics clearance body in Mozambique, submit the proposal and follow up until the ethical clearance is processed
- Participate on regular updates calls with MSF collaborators (days/times will be mutually agreed on)
The start of this consultancy will be in September 2026 and the end date will be 31st December 2026.
Deliverables:
- Written summary of literature review on representation of the local communities in Mozambique, critical views related to representation in humanitarian context (different contexts), decolonization of the archival visual materials in contexts of Africa.
- Participation on calls where methodology will be discussed and co-designed
- Inputs into and drafting agreed upon sections of the concept note, research protocol and ethics clearance form (ERB, Mozambique)
- Complete submission package for ethical clearance, ERB Mozambique
- Regular updates on Mozambican ERB process, until clearance is obtained
Profile of consultancy partner(s):
Essential:
- Formally registered research institution or consortium of consultants, from Mozambique or with previous experience in Mozambique.
- Demonstrable experience in designing, implementing and disseminating qualitative research
- Demonstrable experience in processing research for ethical clearance in Mozambique
- Demonstrable experience in collaborations with other research institutions
- For researchers involved, a PhD in Anthropology or other discipline in social sciences
- Excellent English and Portuguese writing and speaking skills, with the ability to distil complex information and create concise, effective and persuasive narratives
- Experience of and commitment to participatory design and decision-making practices
- Interest in and understanding of current debates in the areas of localization, decolonization and representation related to humanitarian aid
- Strong team-working skills and experience
- Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills
- Ability to work independently, with minimal supervision and under pressure
- Ability for critical thinking and analysis
- Demonstrated ability to deliver in an international and multi-cultural environment
Desirable:
- Demonstrated successfully funded research grants
- Experiences implementing research in the study area e.g. Cuamba and surroundings
- Previous experience collaborating with INGO and other humanitarian organisations
- Experience with visual research methodology
How to apply
Applicants are expected to submit, before 23:59 (UK time) 15 June:
- A brief (max 3-page) proposal including their interpretation of the TOR, relevant experience, financial proposal
- CVs
- Research publications and evidence of research collaboration
For further questions, please contact: admin.mu@london.msf.org