Regional Networking Advisor for East Africa at Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)

• 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)