Médecins Sans Frontières, founded in 1971, is an international medical humanitarian organization that provides emergency medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters or exclusion from health care. Our teams are made up of tens of thousands of medical professionals, logistics, administrative and various other professions, all guided by our medical ethics and our principles of impartiality, independence and neutrality.
MSF WaCA, created in 2019, is the first MSF headquarters in Africa, and responds to the desire to reinvent the MSF movement after 50 years of humanitarian actions in the world, for more access to care, more reactivity and proactivity for greater medical coverage of affected populations in the world.
Why join us?
You are preparing to become a member of the MSF family, with over 50 years of emergency medical action that earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999.
We are an inclusive organization that considers social and professional well-being a right for all and provides an environment that takes into account the diversity of each member.
MSF WaCA claims an African anchorage that considers the local expertise with which it contributes in the implementation of its activities and makes each member, a key actor of the new dynamics of the humanitarian action in the world.
We Are Looking for: PARTNERSHIP OFFICER AND SCIENTIFIC COUNCIL FOCAL POINT
Department: Medical/ Operations
Direct Manager: Medical Advisor
Functional Manager: Medical Advisor
Working %: 100%
Position Based in: Abidjan, HQ
Mobility: All WaCA’s Interventions Zones
Type of Contract: Fixed-Term Renewable
Position to be filled: As Soon As Possible
Objectives
Médecins Sans Frontières WaCA in its strategic plan has placed special emphasis on partnership and collaboration with learned societies, African universities, and regional universities. To implement this important pillar of its vision, MSF WaCA is recruiting a person in charge of the partnership and coordination of its scientific council.
The Humanitarian Partnership Officer is responsible for developing, managing and strengthening partnerships between MSF WaCA and other actors involved in health and/or humanitarian activities. She/he is also responsible for communication between the Scientific Council and MSF WaCA.
The Humanitarian Partnership Officer and Scientific Advisory Focal Point plays a crucial role in strengthening collaborations between MSF WaCA and other humanitarian organizations, government agencies, national NGOs, and other actors to improve the response to humanitarian crises and assist vulnerable populations in need. He/she therefore plays a critical role in ensuring that the council functions effectively, that decisions are made in an informed manner, and that MSF WaCA’s objectives are achieved through the contribution of the scientific council.
Main responsibilities
Identification and evaluation of potential partners:
The Humanitarian Partnership Officer and Scientific council Focal Point seeks out organizations, government agencies, businesses, or other entities that can collaborate effectively to address humanitarian needs.
Relationship building:
He/she establishes and maintains relationships with potential partners. This can include meetings, negotiations, and discussions to discuss how organizations can work together.
He/she works closely with the members of the Scientific Council, the Chair of the Council (if there is one), as well as other staff members of the organization to ensure that the Council functions effectively and productively.
Negotiation of partnerships :
The Humanitarian Partnership Officer negotiates the terms and conditions of partnerships, including financial agreements, shared responsibilities, and common objectives.
Coordination of activities:
He/she will work with partners to coordinate activities and projects resulting from the partnership, ensuring that resources are used effectively so that the needs of affected populations are met. He/she will ensure the coordination of meetings, communications and activities related to the Scientific Council; In particular, plan and organise meetings of the Scientific Council. This includes setting dates, booking meeting rooms, sending invitations to board members, and preparing the agenda, etc.
He/she ensures that the decisions taken during the meetings of the Scientific Council are implemented and follows up on the actions assigned to the various members. It can also assist in the coordination of specific working groups or committees.
Monitoring and evaluation :
The Humanitarian Partnership Officer and Focal Point of the Scientific Council monitors the implementation of the partnerships and evaluates their effectiveness, making adjustments if necessary. He/she will monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the Scientific Council and report on progress, challenges and any other points of attention. Depending on MSF WaCA’s needs, the Humanitarian Partnership Officer and Scientific Advisory Focal Point may be required to conduct research, collect data and analyze relevant information to help the council make informed decisions.
Internal and external communication :
She/he will communicate the progress and achievements of the partnerships both internally within MSF WaCA and externally to inform stakeholders and the public. She/He also ensures communication between the members of the Scientific Council, the medical and operational management of MSF WaCA and other stakeholders. This may include distributing relevant documents in advance of meetings, taking meeting minutes, and conveying important information to board members.
Resource management:
He/she will oversee managing the resources allocated to the partnerships, including budgets and staff, to ensure that the activities/projects within the framework of the partnership run smoothly. Within the framework of the Scientific Council, he/she will oversee the management of documentation associated with meetings, reports, scientific data, …
Administrative and logistical support :
He/she will provide logistical support to the members of the Scientific Council, especially regarding the organization of meetings, such as the management of travel and accommodation of Council members, the booking of rooms, etc. He/she may be responsible for managing documents and records related to the Scientific Council, maintaining records, and managing requests for information or documents from Operations Directorate members or other stakeholders.
Job requirements
Education
- A relevant bachelor’s or master’s degree in a field such as public health, international development, humanitarian studies, or a medical field (e.g., nursing or medicine).
Competencies
- Interpersonal Skills: Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential for building and maintaining partnerships with various organizations and individuals.
- Cultural Sensitivity: Cultural awareness and sensitivity to work effectively in diverse and cross-cultural environments.
- Logistical and Organizational Skills: The ability to manage complex programs/projects and resources effectively, often in challenging and resource-constrained environments.
- Adaptability: Flexibility and the ability to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances and priorities are crucial in the dynamic field of humanitarian work.
- Security Awareness: Knowledge of security and safety protocols in conflict and disaster-affected areas.
- Goods communications skills
- Leadership
- Teamwork and collaboration
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Professional experience required
- A minimum of five (5) years of experience in humanitarian work, particularly in medical or healthcare-related roles, demonstrating a strong understanding of the challenges and complexities of humanitarian crises.
- At least 3 years of project management experience in the field with MSF (or other similar organizations).
- Experience in monitoring and evaluation is an asset.
Languages Skills
- Working proficiency in English and French
Computer Skills
- MS Office suite (mainly MS Word, Excel and Powerpoint)
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MSF offers equal recruitment and development opportunities without any form of discrimination based on gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, geographical origin, physical disability or any other discriminatory ground.
Female candidates who meet the requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.
N.B.: This job description provides a framework for the main responsibilities and primary activities of the position. It is not exhaustive. Therefore, the responsibilities and activities of the position may differ from those described in this job description due to organizational and operational needs.
Deadline: 17th November 2023 18:00 GMT
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
