JOB DESCRIPTION
Location: Any MSF office for the first two years, relocating afterwards to one of the Regional Hubs (to be decided) of the Access to Products for Healthcare (APH) Structure
Duration: Minimum two-year commitment with the possibility of extension
Compensation and benefits: MSF practice is to offer the standard package of the contracting MSF entity
Reporting to: Executive Director, APH Structure
Start date: As soon as possible, no later than 1 September 2024
Deadline to apply: 31.03.2024
I. MSF INTERNATIONAL
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation 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, 26 associations and other offices together. Registered in Switzerland, MSF International provides coordination, information and support to the MSF Movement, as well as implements international projects and initiatives as requested.
II. POSITION BACKGROUND
Access to Products for Healthcare (APH) refers to the accessibility, availability, affordability, appropriateness and quality of products for healthcare for the populations MSF assists and their communities.
Building on its successes in improving APH during the past 20 years, MSF is undertaking a step change in how it organises its work in this area. Part of the organisational model is a new structure that replaces MSF’s Access Campaign, with a different and broader scope of work.
The new structure has the following responsibilities:
- Gather input for common priorities for APH and propose them to the MSF movement
- Design and implement APH initiatives to respond to the agreed common priorities
- Provide, or help to find, support on APH matters to MSF entities that request it
- Maintain an overview of APH initiatives across MSF, and report on them annually
- Research, and stay informed of, the APH landscape globally
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III. PLACE IN THE ORGANISATION
The Head of Advocacy reports to the Executive Director of the APH Structure
IV. PURPOSE OF THE POSITION
The role of the Head of Advocacy is to design and lead transnational advocacy strategies for policy and practice change relating to access to products for health.
Médecins Sans Frontières is searching for a Head of Advocacy for a new structure dedicated to improving access to products for healthcare. As part of the structure’s management team, the successful candidate will contribute to the set-up of this structure and lead the advocacy department. The Head of Advocacy will design and implement transnational strategies for improving access to products for healthcare for current and future patients, their communities, and beyond.
V. RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategy, vision and leadership
- Participate as a member of the APH Structure Management Team
- Contribute to the development, review and implementation of the APH Structure’s strategic plan
- Consolidate outcomes and impact reporting against strategic and annual plans
- Contribute to the development of APH policies for the MSF movement
- Contribute to the development and review of the APH Structure’s internal policies
Strategy development
- Design approaches and plans for policy and practice changes for the APH Structure’s strategic plan, in collaboration with the analysis department
- Propose advocacy objectives and plans in response to emerging opportunities and threats for APH, in collaboration with the analysis department
- Plan and oversee the resources that the APH Structure requires for strategic communication, to support the policy and practice change objectives.
Implementation
- Lead the implementation of all transnational policy and practice change initiatives in accordance with the strategic plan
- Identify opportunities for high-level representation, coalition building, and public mobilisation in support of agreed APH advocacy objectives
- Maintain an overview of, and liaise with, colleagues across MSF involved in external representation and advocacy, including the Humanitarian
Representation Team
- Represent the APH advocacy agenda on MSF’s platforms for coordination of communication
- Mobilise colleagues across MSF for the agreed advocacy agenda of the APH and support them in their contribution to the agenda
- Provide, or help to find, representation and strategic communication services to the APH Structure and MSF entities to support the introduction of new products, participation in medical research and development, source and supply models, and funding and collaboration opportunities
Management
- Oversee the selection of all APH Structure advocacy staff (initially estimated 5-10)
- Ensure that advocacy staff members have clarity on their objectives and scope of work
- With the Heads of Regional Hubs, manage the workload of advocacy staff and support their motivation and well-being
- Make sure that advocacy staff are well-informed of the Structure’s priorities and activities on an ongoing basis
- Plan, monitor and report on the budget of the Advocacy Department