HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS COORDINATOR- Sexual Violence Specialist

Location: Democratic Republic of Congo

Working language: French.

Starting date January 2025. 12 months contract.

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical

humanitarian organization that delivers emergency assistance to people in more than 70 countries affected

by armed conflict, epidemics, healthcare exclusion and disasters. MSF offers assistance to people based

only on need and irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation.

 MSF Section/Context Specific Accountabilities

The overall objective of this position is to strengthen MSF’s capacity to advocate and communicate effectively about the sexual violence context in DRC.

To achieve this, over the course of the deployment, the Humanitarian Affairs Coordinator will be responsible for conducting a three-phase review of: i) the sexual violence context in DRC, including at the national level, with additional analysis for each province where MSF operates; ii) MSF’s related activities across sections, including applicable data collection mechanisms; and iii) MSF’s intersectional advocacy strategy and communications activities related to sexual violence.

Based on this review, the HAC will be responsible for updating MSF’s intersectional advocacy strategy for sexual violence, including public positioning.

Context: Sexual violence is widespread in DRC, across conflict, post-conflict and non-conflict settings. Since the 2022 scale-up of conflict between allied government forces and M23, and surge of intercommunal conflict in Ituri since 2017, Eastern DRC has experienced an increase in violent conflict and large-scale population movements. In response, MSF has launched emergency responses to support the internally displaced population (IDP), including scaling up its services to support survivors of sexual violence in the growing number of IDP sites. Against this backdrop, MSF has observed an increasing number of survivors seeking treatment. In 2023, MSF treated more than 25,000 survivors across all the DRC projects. According to country’s national strategy against gender-based violence, key risk factors in DRC include harmful gender norms, decades of armed conflict and insecurity, impunity for perpetrators, and limited access to adequate health, protection and other support services.

Responsibilities:

•       Contribute and provide strategic and analytical input to the country-wide strategy, including the Country Policy and Annual Plan.

•       Leading, defining and coordinating all MSF humanitarian affairs and advocacy activities for the country team, including driving positioning and identification of humanitarian issues of concern to MSF, and- ensuring that advocacy components are included in project and country operational strategies as member of the Country Management Team (CMT).

•       Develop, lead and coordinate country-level data collection (under MSF ethical guidelines) for humanitarian affairs and advocacy purposes.

•       Representing MSF, where delegated by the Head of Mission towards other actors at national level and supporting the Project Coordinator (PC) with representation at local level.

•       Drive and contribute to the monitoring and analysis of the political, humanitarian and medical situation in the country and in the region.

•       Lead on strengthening the integration of humanitarian affairs (analysis, critical reflection, contextual understanding) in country talking points and internal/external reports.

•       Lead in bearing witness, documenting and raising awareness for the target populations needs/distress.

•       Lead in defining and implementing MSF’s humanitarian advocacy approach towards key players (state and non-state). Define and implement the best strategy to push MSF’s messages, concerns, analysis and operational issues.

•       Coordinate the compilation of regular updates of the ongoing activities, plans and policies of NGOs, UN, ICRC, donors, authorities and other relevant actors, in order to inform MSF’s operations and advocacy.

 Data collection – Analysis:

•       Lead the design and support the implementation of data collection systems with regards to the country context (focus on national level with potential regional/global repercussions, and local developments in project locations), and medical-humanitarian issues, in order to provide reliable information for operational and strategic decision-making.

•       Coordinate data and discourse analysis in support of the Head of Mission to inform MSF positioning in-country (project-level and at national level), particularly in terms of political / operational environment (regulation frameworks, donor/aid agreements, trade and economic developments).

•       Coordinate actor mapping and stakeholders’ analysis on behalf of projects and country team, while providing guidance / support to PCs for the management of relations with local authorities, and strategic advice to Head of Mission / Medical Coordinator for national-level organizational positioning.

 Representation – Communication:

•       Develop a network of key contacts among a wide range of state and non-state actors, useful for MSF operations.

•       Support networking needs by driving and participating in representation duties in non-project locations (on delegation from the Head of Mission), including with domestic civil society, professional groups (doctors’/nurses’ associations), and local academics/universities.

•       Coordinate linking with other MSF sections in-country to share analysis, define common positions and develop inter-Operational Center’s advocacy initiatives.

•       Coordinate and interact where relevant with the international MSF advocacy network (reflection centres, the HRT network, the MSF Access Campaign, etc.) to provide updated contextualized medical-humanitarian content and support on defining tailored advocacy strategies and messages.

•       Lead and drive discussions, trainings, briefings, etc. on the country’s medical-humanitarian context, MSF principles, international humanitarian law, medical ethics, and advocacy activities/strategies to raise awareness of all MSF staff on these topics.

•       Coordinate the development and review of messages, tools, lobbying activities and other advocacy action plans and strategies, in order to raise all humanitarian issues and seek assistance and protection to affected population.

•       Participate in the elaboration and updating of the Country Risk Analysis.

 Requirements:

Education: Essential degree in Law, Humanitarian affairs, Political Sciences or related university degree.

    Experience:  

·         Essential working experience of at least five years in humanitarian affairs, research, analysis or advocacy.

·         Essential two years of experience working in the area of sexual violence, with on-the-ground experience in conflict settings, or emergency responses.

·         Essential experience with MSF or other NGOs.

·         Essential working experience in developing countries

Languages: Fluent written and spoken English and French essential. Fluent local language is a plus.

Competencies:

·       Commitment to MSF’s Principles L3

·       Planning and Organising L2

·       Analytical Thinking L4

·       Strategic Vision L3

·       Teamwork and Cooperation L3

·       Networking L3

·       Leadership L3

·       People Management and Development L2

MSF Offers

As an international staff leaving to the field, you will receive:

·       Contract for the duration of the assignment

·       One week of holiday for every three months of assignment

·       Initial preparation before your first assignment

·       Detailed briefings

·       Psychosocial assistance

·       Salary based on previous work experience and country of residency

·       Coverage, such as medical care and vaccination package, accident insurance, including repatriation

·       Accommodation and round-trip transportation to and from the field as well as travel costs

·       Per diem (calculated according to local cost of living) to cover daily expenses

·       Travel costs and visa administration

·       Debriefing and personal career advice as well as training opportunities

·       Departure on assignment is non-accompanied (no family or couple departures)

Location: Democratic Republic of Congo

Working language: French.

Starting date January 2025. 12 months contract.

Deadline for applications is November 29, 2024

The applications will be treated confidentially.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.