Regional Networking Advisor for East Africa (m/f/x) – Nairobi

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides assistance in more than 70 countries to populations in distress, to victims of natural or manmade disasters and to victims of armed conflicts, without discrimination and irrespective of origin, religion, creed or political affiliation.

Regional Networking Advisor for East Africa (m/f/x) – Nairobi – MSF Belgium

CONTEXT

Within MSF-OCB (Operational Center Brussels), the Analysis department is a multi-disciplinary team that contributes to the MSF social mission by: conducting in depth humanitarian and health policy related research/reflection; developing and implementing advocacy strategies; expanding our operational networks; supporting and challenging operations; and positioning the organisation on the politics of health and humanitarianism based on MSF’s operational experiences.

Within this new department there are 4 teams:

• The Health Politics team
• The Forced Migration team
• The Conflict and Humanitarianism team
• The Humanitarian Access and Networking team

As the Regional Networking Advisor for East Africa, you are part of the Humanitarian Access and Networking Team. This team consists of four regional advisors and a coordinator. It focuses on supporting operations in increasing its context analysis and networking capacity. The Regional advisors are responsible for developing an in-depth regional context analysis and will support operations to develop their operational networks and humanitarian negotiations where needed.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Context analysis

• Carry out on-going in-depth analysis of the region, monitoring the political, economic and military dynamics, in synergy and in coordination with Operations department (Epool, Cells and missions involved)
• Together with the operations, ensure a regular actor mapping is carried out of all political, military, and civil society actors that have relevance to our area of operations
• Monitor and analyze regional developments and links between countries in the region to help operations understand the impact of political developments across the region on our operations
• Provide regular updates on political developments according to priority contexts/groups set by operations and analysis department, especially when it comes to positions/threats/opportunities regarding aid actors

Networking

• Support the Head of Missions and Operations Coordinator on networking and humanitarian negotiations
• Support operations in developing a country-level networking strategy that is coherent across the region.
• Identify ways to support operations in its engagement with governments and civil society (based on identified gaps) at regional level
• Liaise with the MSF East Africa Office, the Humanitarian Representatives and other MSF missions in the region on access and networking issues
• Network with external specialists in coordination with operations and analysis department colleagues

Support and coaching

• Develop a strategy to support and coach senior field based national staff positions that are involved in context analysis and networking (including through the exchange of best-practices, training opportunities, regular meetings etc. at regional level)
• Facilitate and support Humanitarian Negotiations trainings in the region
• Organize periodic workshops for MSF networkers in the region to provide updated context analysis and networking strategies

Operational support

• Participate in exploratory missions to identify potential new operations (emergency or regular projects)
• Short-term gap-filling to support operations in the region (maximum 2 months)

REQUIREMENTS

Education & Experience

• A degree in a relevant field (medical qualification, political science, sociology or other relevant field)
• At least ten years of operational experience in humanitarian contexts
• Senior level field experience (Coordination roles) with MSF
• Experience of working in insecure environments, and emergency response operations
• Experience in humanitarian negotiations
• Proven track record in context analysis, negotiation and networking

Competencies

• Excellent knowledge of the East Africa Region
• Proven ability to take initiatives and to work independently
• Capacity to develop and implement a strategic vision
• Strong networking skills
• Strong analytical skills
• Ability to represent MSF toward multiple counterparts
• Very good written and oral communication skills
• Team player

Languages

• Fluent in written and spoken English
• Fluency in at least one of the main languages spoken in the region (Arabic, Kiswahili, Amharic, Somali, Tigrinya, or other)

CONDITIONS

• Expected starting date: As soon as possible
• Location: Nairobi (Kenya)
• Regular travel to visit field locations (3 x per year) and short periods based in the countries of intervention (up to two months)
• Contract type: Fixed term contract – Full time
• Contract duration: 2 years (extendable)
• Salary according to MSF field salary grid
• The contractual terms, conditions and salary will be established according to the official residence of the selected candidate and in compliance with the standard MSF function and salary grids
• Family position possible according to the hosting MSF entity policies and conditions
• 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: 10 March 2024