Humanitarian Landscape Analyst

Do your skills and experience not precisely match the requirements? MSF is an organization committed to promoting diversity and equity by providing equal access to professional opportunities. We understand that women, people of colour, indigenous individuals, members of the LGTB+ community, and other underrepresented groups often hesitate to apply for employment if they don’t meet all the requirements. At MSF-EA, we strive to create a diverse, inclusive, and genuine workplace. Therefore, if you’re interested in this position but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with the selection criteria, we encourage you to apply anyway. You might be the ideal candidate for this or other positions.

Introduction​

Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is an international independent medical humanitarian organization that provides assistance to people affected by conflicts, epidemics, and natural or human-made disasters and excluded from healthcare. We provide this assistance without discrimination, irrespective of race, religion, creed or political affiliation.

About MSF Eastern Africa

MSF Eastern Africa is the regional institutional office of MSF. It focuses on representation and networking, recruiting and supporting staff from the region, communications and fundraising, as well as working on other dossiers of importance to MSF such as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Data Protection, mutualization, training, medical operational support and environmental health.

Background

Since the inauguration of the new President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, we have seen some radical shifts in how humanitarian action and development activities are funded and how the U.S. is positioning itself in relation to major conflicts and global health policy. This is not just an issue of funding cuts, but marks a significant ideological, political and world-view change on the part of the US government.

While the latest news from the US is dramatic and impactful, it is also part of a wider trend of traditional donor countries and entities (ECHO, Netherlands, UK etc.) drastically reducing their commitments to development and humanitarian aid.

The actions by the US amount to major attacks on the coordination and delivery mechanisms of international aid, as well as important scientific bodies such as the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They are already having fundamental impacts on the work of many organizations doing lifesaving work – and therefore on people in places where MSF is present.

The radical shift in positioning and support will not directly impact MSF finances in the immediate term, however the secondary impacts are likely to be very significant, both in terms of a reduction of activities of other actors in areas where we work, and significantly increased pressure on fundraising in traditional markets where competition for independent funds will likely massively increase.

Rationale/Objective for the position

MSF efforts at different levels are ongoing. This position will not duplicate ongoing monitoring by OCs, and but will add value from a regional perspective, working with other regional analysts in a coordinated manner. The analysis and recommendations provided will be forward looking and very much focused on engaging with regional institutions and organizations as well as non-traditional actors.

Main objective is to support MSF operations and decision making by:

1. Providing an in-depth analysis on the short and mid-term evolution of the humanitarian landscape, as seen from a local and regional perspective in EA.
2. Providing a future-looking perspective, looking ahead at the next one to three years of the humanitarian landscape in the region, highlighting the new key areas and stakeholders where MSF should engage.
3. Providing analysis on how countries and regional and sub regional platforms and entities in the region are planning to adapt/mitigate the impact of the changes ahead. Identify opportunities for MSF to advocate and engage.
4. Providing an analysis of Kenyan foreign policy, highlighting the role of the country in regional (with Sudan, Haiti and DRC as key contexts for MSF engagements) and global geopolitics.
5. Provide analysis on other countries in the region which have international and regional impact in terms of their foreign policy objectives, and how they interact with each other.

This position will be hierarchically and functionally accountable to the Executive Manager for MSF Eastern Africa.

The position will work directly with the Steering Committee: HRT, Ops, Advocacy in the region. Coordination with other ongoing regional analysis and initiatives, as well as OC monitoring and APH.

Key Consultations:

• Internal: Advocacy teams, Ops managers and health advisors, Eastern Africa missions, APH, EA MT.
• External: Regional think tanks, organizations and academics. Donors, USAID, ECHO, FCDO, Regional and Country level INGO offices, UN agencies. Other non-traditional actors, including development and private sector.

Qualifications

Experience

• Social Sciences profile, with an international component and/or expertise, including: (International) Political
• Science, International Law, Development Studies, Anthropology or similar
• Previous experience in humanitarian advocacy and/or humanitarian affairs, whether in MSF or externally
• More than 5 years experience in the humanitarian sector
• Knowledge of the practical workings of the humanitarian and wider aid system in protracted conflict and recurrent crises (including UN coordination structures, international NGOs, integrated peacekeeping missions, donors and the role of host governments)
• Ability to analyze complex operational environments and synthesize the core elements into conclusions and recommendations for MSF operations and advocacy
• Outstanding analytical and advisory skills
• Excellent verbal communication skills, with the ability to represent MSF in high-level external meetings

Competencies

• Commitment to MSF’s principles
• Cross-cultural awareness
• Behavioral flexibility
• Strategic vision
• Results and quality orientation
• Service orientation
• Planning and organizing
• Initiative and innovation
• Teamwork and cooperation

What we offer

• A 6 month full-time employment contract through MSF East Africa Section Office in Nairobi, Kenya.
• An annual salary of EUR 31,216 at HQ Level 9 based on a full-time appointment.
• Global benefit package; includes school fee benefit/support for dependents and other allowances ranging between EUR 620 to 1,159/month based on individual & administrative status.
• Other benefits include; 25 days of annual leave, Employer Pension contribution, Medical Insurance cover (staff and family), Relocation support for non-Kenyan residents etc based on MSF EA terms/conditions.