MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES (MSF) – SOMALIA MISSION

MSF is an independent humanitarian medical organization providing emergency medical aid to populations in need. MSF Somalia mission is seeking a qualified person for the position below:
Job Title: HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS MANAGER.
Work Location: The position is based in Mogadishu, with regular travel to MSF project locations in Somalia (at least once per quarter) and occasional travel to the MSF Somalia office in Nairobi. 

Reports to: Humanitarian Affairs Coordinator (HAC) in the absence of HAC, reports to Country Representative
Start date : As soon as Possible
Length of contract : Fixed term (1year) 100% with 6 months probation period.

Main Purpose: The Humanitarian Affairs Manager is responsible for all humanitarian affairs and advocacy activities in the Mission in line with MSF policies and values, following the Operational line and linked with the HQ Reflection Unit. The Humanitarian Affairs Manager is a member of the mission CMT and acts as a sparring-
partner for all operational and medical teams.

Specific tasksinclude, but not limited to:
 Defining, implementing and coordinating all MSF advocacy activities, including responsibility for drafting advocacy strategies including Somalia Advocacy Strategy and project level advocacy plan addressing medical-humanitarian priorities in relation to mission needs - ensure that advocacy components are included in project and mission operational strategies as member of the Country Management Team (CMT)
 Develop humanitarian affairs data collection tools and supervise the quality of field-level humanitarian data collection (under MSF ethical guidelines) for operational and advocacy purpose.
 In close collaboration with Country Representative Advisers and project teams, monitor and compile regular updates on humanitarian aid system dynamics (including but not limited to NGO/Donor planning and funding, Somalia Humanitarian Funding priorities, Red Cross movement activities and positioning) to increase the leverage capacity and the national impact of MSF lobbying in line with operational plans, regular activities and medical-humanitarian advocacy objectives.
 Draft lobbying/talking points (ad hoc), and internal/external reports e.g., regular situation reports, briefing notes for mission/HQ in relation to main medical-humanitarian concerns while strengthening the integration of humanitarian affairs (analysis, critical reflection, contextual understanding) and operational communications in line with mission advocacy strategy.
 Advises CMT and Head of Mission/Medical Coordinators on perception related to positioning and operational strategy with a particular view on increasing local/national visibility to support good acceptance for MSF projects/presence as relevant.

 Organize and implement trainings of MSF staff (including qualitative humanitarian affairs data collection, monitoring, research and analysis) in support of mission-wide humanitarian affairs and advocacy objectives.
 Lead and support 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 MSF national and international mobile staff on these topicsIf relevant manages, supervises and develops staff under his/ her direct responsibility. Plans and supervise, in close coordination with the Coordinator/HR department, the associated processes (recruitment, training, performance management,
development and internal communication), of the staff to ensure both the sizing and amount of necessary knowledge.
DATA COLLECTION – ANALYSIS
 Design and support the implementation of humanitarian data collection systems with regards to the mission 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.
 In collaboration with HAC/Country Rep Advisers/Head of Programs, establish and maintain Weekly Event Register (WER) system of record-keeping and logging of humanitarian affairs and advocacy issues (e.g. red flags) and activities (e.g. meeting log) for the purposes of institutional memory, reflection and coordination.
 Provide data and discourse analysis in support of the Country Representative, Head of Programs, HAC, 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).
 Propose improvements in the methodologies and tools used and provide trainings to field teams as required such as on red flags monitoring and analysis.
 Undertake actor mapping and stakeholders’ analysis on behalf of projects and mission, while providing guidance / support to PCs for the management of relations with local authorities, and strategic advice to Country Representative, HAC, Head of Programmes, Medical Coordinators/HAA for national-level organizational positioning.
REPRESENTATION - COMMUNICATION
 Support networking needs by leading or participating in representation activities in non-project locations—on delegation from the Country Representative and HAC—and in coordination with the Country Representative Adviser for Mogadishu. This includes engagement with domestic civil society, professional groups (e.g., doctors' and nurses' associations), and local academic institutions/universities.
 Define, draft and review advocacy messages and targeting (including communications and dissemination strategies) to raise awareness of medical-humanitarian issues (e.g., need for humanitarian assistance and protection of affected populations) across MSF projects and at national level (transversal thematic).
 Work with all MSF sections in-country (and as relevant close linkage with other MSF missions e.g., Ethiopia, Kenya – Dadaab?) to develop inter-OC advocacy and/or communications initiatives.
 On request/project basis, interact with the international MSF advocacy network (reflection centres, HART, ACCESS) to provide updated contextualized medical-humanitarian content (country-level information)

 Lead 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 MSF national and expatriate staff on these topics.
 Provide recommendations and be a propositional voice for opportunistic communications (unplanned) from operations/medical activities’ analysis.
 Collaborate with comms team including project-based Communication Officer with specific inputs in talking points, key messages and reactive lines
ON REQUEST
 Support field assessments (in relation to undertaking data gathering/context analysis or exploratory missions) and other work-related traveling as required.
 Provide ad-hoc support for emergency response humanitarian affairs/advocacy-related work, as requested.

Candidate Profile: We are looking for a highly adaptable and flexible individual who can thrive in a fast-paced and high-pressure environment. The role demands strong critical and analytical thinking, the ability to respond to rapidly changing contexts, and comfort with navigating ambiguity and shifting priorities.
Education Essential:

 Academic background to Masters’ level (anthropology/social/political sciences, law, gender studies, protection) with first-rate writing skills and excellent research / analytical skills
 Campaigning organizational experience an asset

Experience

 Field Humanitarian experience in similar (conflict, disaster. Resource- poor environments) – MSF or other humanitarian NGOs Advocacy experience required.
 Good understanding of current humanitarian debates and of the dilemma/compromise nature of modern humanitarian interventions.
 Essential, working experience of at least two years in relevant jobs and previous humanitarian experience in MSF or other NGOs in developing countries, as well as experience on knowledge on Somalia & Somaliland Contexts.
 Analytical, reporting and communication skills.

Language

 Essential: Fluency in English
 Desirable: Fluency in Swahili

Knowledge

 Essential computer literacy (word, excel and internet)

 Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with ability to train others.
 Knowledge of Advocacy approaches used by different OCs (desirable)

Competencies  Networking & Building Relationships
 Commitment to MSF Principles
 Teamwork and Cooperation
 Results & Quality Orientation
 Behavioral Flexibility
 Analytical Thinking
 People Management & Development
 Cross Cultural Awareness

If youmeetthe above requirements, please email your CV&motivation letter as a single file in PDF format by 25 July 2025 under the subject “Humanitarian Affairs Manager” to: [email protected].

No physical application will be accepted.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

(MSF is an equal Employer and does not charge any application/recruitment or training fee)