Humanitarian Affairs Coordinator

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is a leading international independent medical humanitarian organisation, dedicated to providing expert medical relief to vulnerable populations at times of conflict or disaster. In over 71 countries worldwide, MSF provides both life-saving emergency relief and longer-term assistance to make basic healthcare services available to the most vulnerable or excluded communities. MSF Netherlands in Italy coordinates the Search and Rescue operations in the central Mediterranean which provide lifesaving activities and basic assistance operating with the Geo Barents ship.

Scope and objectives of the position

The Humanitarian Affairs Coordinator oversees all humanitarian advocacy activities in the country, ensuring alignment with MSF policies and values. In collaboration with the Head of Mission, contributes to overall country strategy and defines the country’s advocacy strategy. Coordinates and identifies humanitarian challenges, represents MSF’s interests where delegated by the Head of Mission before third parties and ensures compliance with MSF’s charter.

The Humanitarian Affairs Coordinator is a member of the Country Management Team (CMT) and acts as a sparring-partner for all operational and medical teams.
Responsible in coordination with Head of Mission and Project coordinators for supporting the identification of the population’s health needs and the humanitarian issues at stake. Assisting in the realization of organizational objectives to improve the target population’s health conditions and humanitarian situation.

Main responsibilities

• Contribute and provide strategic and analytical input to the country-wide strategy; including the Country Policy and Annual Plan.
• Leading, defining, and coordinating all MSF humanitarian affairs and advocacy activities in the country.
• Driving positioning, identifying humanitarian issues, and ensuring advocacy components are integrated into operational strategies as a member of the Country Management Team (CMT).
• Developing and coordinating country-level data collection for advocacy, representing MSF at national and local levels.
• Monitoring political and medical situations, and integrating humanitarian affairs into talking points and reports.
• Bearing witness, documenting needs, and defining and implementing MSF’s advocacy approach.
• Coordinating data collection and analysis, managing relationships with various stakeholders, and representing MSF in non-project locations.
• Networking, coordination with other MSF sections/missions, and driving discussions and training on relevant topics.
• Developing and reviewing messages, tools, lobbying activities, and advocacy action plans, contributing to raising awareness on humanitarian issues and seeking assistance for affected populations.
• Participating in the elaboration and updating of the Country Risk Analysis.

Specific Accountabilities

Advocacy Strategy

• Lead the development and implementation of the SAR mission advocacy strategy, working with the SAR Representative, Humanitarian Affairs Advisor, Legal Advisor, PC/DepPC, Humanitarian Affairs Officer and other mission staff.
• Coordinate with MSF Italy and MSF Migration Focal Points/MSF Partner Sections in identifying and engaging target advocacy stakeholders in Italy and Europe.
• Liaise and work closely with the mission legal advisor who will lead all legal initiatives, developing advocacy activities around them.
• Liaise with other relevant MSF missions to ensure synergies in advocacy engagements.
• Liaise and collaborate closely with the Field Communication Coordinator(FCC) of the mission, to ensure public comms is in line with the mission’s advocacy positions.

Representation & Networking

• Liaise with UN agencies, humanitarian and non-humanitarian actors on a regular basis to support the SAR mission advocacy strategy and project objectives.
• Continue building the network amongst SAR advocacy actors; and coordinate advocacy activities with them in support of identified advocacy priorities.
• In coordination with the SAR Representative, represent MSF at relevant coordination and lobbying meetings in and outside Italy, providing relevant updates to the CMT and project teams.
• Develop and maintain an actor mapping and contact list of the key mission stakeholders.

Protection

• Support the SAR Humanitarian Affair Officer (HAO) onboard in the elaboration and implementation of the project Protection activities and relevant standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Analysis and Advice
• Take the lead on collecting data (from primary and secondary sources) and harmonizing analysis on the situation in the Central Med.
• With input from the SAR Humanitarian Affairs Officer (HAO) and relevant parts of the MSF movement, closely monitor the political context in Europe and at EU level to identify opportunities for advocacy engagement.
• Produce ad hoc advocacy materials for meetings with external parties.
• Monitor developments in Libya and Tunisia relevant to the SAR mission.
• Input into the communications strategy and contribute to communication products to ensure it is aligned with and supports the mission advocacy strategy.

Reporting Tasks

• Compile regular updates of the ongoing (inter-)national policies, discourse and activities of UN, NGO’s, ICRC, donors and governmental authorities’ in order to advise on MSF internal (operational) and external (advocacy) positioning.
• Support the development of internal monthly reporting as part of the mission regular reporting (Sitreps etc).

Humanitarian Affairs Team

• Provide technical support and guidance to SAR Humanitarian Affairs Officer (HAO) on board, in the provision of technical guidance to Cultural Mediators onboard. Training of the HAO with regards to testimony taking and ensure adequate training information collection.
• In coordination with MSF Italy liaise with civil society in Italy as well as give support to other core sections on this issue as required/agreed on.
• Coordinate project-level humanitarian affairs and advocacy activities to ensure harmonization between project and CMT.
• Support the link between medical and humanitarian affairs data collection/analysis.
• Support SAR Humanitarian Affairs Officer (HAO) in the review, development and implementation of harmonized data-collection systems in order to provide reliable information for strategic decision-making and advocacy.
• Gap-filling for Humanitarian Affairs Officer (HAO) in SAR when needed.

Requirements

Education: Essential degree in Law, Humanitarian affairs, Political Sciences or related university degree.
Experience: Desirable previous MSF experience; desirable previous experience in MSF projects in Countries of Operation; essential experience in migration; desirable experience in advocacy/campaigning.
Languages: Fluent written and spoken English (C1 Level); Preferable Italian speaker (B2-C1 Level)
Knowledge: Analytic and strategic skills essential, able to independently develop advocacy frameworks and strategies; Knowledge of migration contexts; Knowledge of protection desirable.
Competencies: Results and Quality Orientation; Behavioural Flexibility; Cross Cultural Awareness; Commitment to MSF Principles; Teamwork and Cooperation.

Conditions

Contract: Fixed term contract (12 months), full-time. Level I of Italian CCNL of Commerce (Terziario Distribuzione e Servizi). Candidates should hold a work permit to work in Italy.
Gross Annual Salary: Between 36.504 Euros and 43.805 Euros, depending on MSF experience of the candidate.
Duty Station: Based in the MSF Netherlands Rome (RM) office. With travels to SAR vessel, and/or ports of disembarkation if and when necessary with specific ToR as well as travels for potential advocacy meetings around Europe.
Starting Date: 2nd May 2024
Application procedure: To apply for this role, please submit your application containing your detailed motivation letter and CV (both in English) to mediterranean-jobs@oca.msf.org

Subject: HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS COORDINATOR_Your Surname

The application deadline is 24th March 2024a

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Applicants not invited for interview within 4 weeks from the closure of the vacancy may consider their applications unsuccessful.

MSF-Netherlands is an Equal Opportunity Employer. No employee, or applicant for employment, shall be discriminated against in any term or condition of employment because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or sexual orientation. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values. We expect this same commitment from our staff.