Coordinator Forced Migration Team (m/f/x) At Médecins Sans Frontières

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides assistance in more than 60 countries to populations in distress, to victims of natural or manmade disasters and to victims of armed conflicts, without discrimination and irrespective of religion, creed or political affiliation. To enhance our support from Brussels, the Analysis Department is looking for a:

COORDINATOR FORCED MIGRATION TEAM (m/f/x)

CONTEXT

The Analysis Department

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-OCB social mission through the following objectives:

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

The department is made up of a Forced Migration Team; a Health Politics Team; a Conflict and Humanitarianism Team; and a Humanitarian Access and Networking Team.

The Forced Migration Team (FMT)

This advertised position coordinates the work of the Forced Migration Team which is currently composed of the Coordinator and one Humanitarian Adviser. The FMT focuses on understanding, navigating and challenging the humanitarian and medical consequences of migration and asylum policies. This includes analysing the political drivers of migration policies and their humanitarian consequences. The objective of the team is to understand this environment for MSF to be better placed to adapt operations to match the evolving needs of migrants and refugees, to advocate for policies and practices that address and eliminate vulnerabilities created by current migration policies and to more effectively translate our operational experiences into innovative delivery models that improve access to medical care for the most vulnerable.

The Forced Migration Team currently provides support to MSF-OCB’s projects in Europe, Southern Africa, Latin America and the Middle East in terms of context analysis, networking, operational documentation and advocacy.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Define the team strategy and strengthen its expertise:

· Provide strategic guidance and lead in the definition of the annual priorities of the FMT and contributes, together with the other team coordinators and the Department Director, to the strategic plan of the Analysis Department (due for revision in 2022).

· Ensure the FMT maintain strong thematic expertise on Forced Migration issues and develop further expertise as needed.

· Ensures the operational added value of the FMT and that the FMT contributes positively to the MSF social mission.

Management and leadership:

· Support the Humanitarian Adviser in setting priorities with regards to Forced Migration analysis, research, advocacy and operational support.

· Creates a positive team dynamic and collaboration between the FMT and the other members of the Analysis Department and with analysis and advocacy positions in the field and in other MSF entities.

· Contribute to the development of the knowledge and learning strategy of the Department and together with the Knowledge Management and Learning Focal Point, ensure the FMT provides quality technical support and training to field teams.

Maintain a link with different departments in OCB

· Ensure strong synergy between the FMT and the Operations and Medical Departments (strategic triangle) in the definition of the OCB operational priorities and approach to migration.

· Ensure collaboration with the Operational Research Unit (Luxor) in the development of operational research on forced migration interventions.

· Ensure strong synergy between the FMT and the Communication Department on forced migration related public positioning.

Direct support in context analysis and positioning:

· Support operations in context analysis and advocacy related to migration policies.

· Provide analytical and advisory support to operations in terms of emerging migratory trends, humanitarian and operational consequences.

· Visit the projects to offer in-depth support in context analysis and definition of advocacy priorities.

· Support and/or participate to exploratory missions in migratory and refugee contexts.

· Potentially develop and manage high profile and complex HQ led advocacy initiatives (including involvement in task forces or specific types of crisis teams if requested)

Support in networking and representation

· Build networks and convey MSF concerns on issues related to migration and displacement to relevant interlocutors.

· Represent MSF in conferences, media and public events.

· Develop links with universities and think-thanks to facilitate knowledge exchange between forced migration experts and operations and strengthen MSF’s advocacy and research ambitions.

Reflection and writing

· Write opinion and academic pieces.

· Write internal reflection pieces to stimulate debate around the topic of forced migration.

· Participate in and/or organise debates and discussions on topics related to refugees and migration.

REQUIREMENTS

Background and experience required:

· Law or Social Science Master degree (for example: law, politics, journalism, humanitarian studies).

· More than 4 years’ MSF experience in analysis and advocacy support to operations in contexts of Forced Migration or in management of operations in such contexts (HoM, FC, MedCo, PMR).

· Experience in people and team management.

· Demonstrated experience and skills in advocacy.

· Demonstrated writing skills through publications and articles.

· Interest and experience in both medical and conflict related humanitarian challenges.

Assets:

· Good knowledge of the European Union.

· Research and knowledge management.

Skills and capacities:

· Extensive knowledge and understanding of medical-humanitarian work and of international humanitarian issues.

· Capacity to conduct in depth analysis and to navigate complex political environments.

· Capacity to develop and implement a strategic vision.

· Ability to inspire, lead and manage teams.

· Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.

· Very good communication skills.

· Good level of networking and representation skills.

· Good level of analysis and writing skills.

· Team player.

· Excellent written and spoken English, with French, Arabic or Spanish being an asset.

CONDITIONS

· Expected starting date: as soon as possible

· Contract type: Open-ended contract (CDI), full-time.

· Location: Based in Brussels or in another MSF entity (preferably in Europe, Africa or the Middle East) that allows for enough overlapping working hours with area of operations (Central European Time). The final outcome depends on local legal limitations (residency, work permit, etc.).

· Compensation package will also vary accordingly, defined by local status.

· 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: 10/01/2022