Application process
Closing date for applications: 5pm Wednesday 30th April 2008
Interviews to be held: Week commencing Monday 5th May 2008
Start date: ASAP
To apply for this role, please click the apply now link on the right hand side. You will be asked to provide information why you believe you are most suited to the role and what unique experience and expertise you could contribute. In addition, in this section please explain, in no more than 750 words, why you feel the work on exit strategies will be of value to MSF and how your previous experience will help you in performing this element of the job.
For full job details, please refer to the Job description, Person specification and Terms and conditions below.
Job description
MSF UK
Location: London
1 year fixed term contract (with review after 1 year)
Médecins Sans Frontières
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is a leading international independent medical humanitarian organisation, dedicated to providing expert medical relief to vulnerable populations at times of conflict or disaster. In over 70 countries worldwide, MSF provides both life-saving emergency relief and longer-term assistance to make basic healthcare services available to the most vulnerable or excluded communities.
MSF UK is one of 19 offices and operational centres in Europe, America, Asia and Australasia, pooling funding, expertise and staff for field programmes. At any one time, there are some 1,200 expatriate aid workers in the field, most of them volunteers.
MSF's aim is to provide impartial assistance, on the basis of need alone, regardless of ethnic origin, gender, religion or political affiliation. To maintain its independence from political interference, MSF relies on donations from individuals around the world for at least 50% of its income. This private funding gives MSF the freedom to respond to the greatest needs as fast as possible.
As medical professionals, MSF volunteers have a duty to try and protect their patients from violence and abuse. MSF often chooses to speak out about gross violations of humanitarian law against civilians in conflict, refugees, unaccompanied children and other vulnerable groups, in an attempt to bring abuse to world attention.
The mandate of the UK section has traditionally been to provide technical, human resources, financial and communications support to field programmes. That support is now evolving towards taking direct, medical responsibility for specific project development. MSF UK’s income for the year ending 31 December 2006 was approx £23m, 84% of which was spent directly on MSF’s overseas field programmes. The UK office currently has around 45 members of staff working in the London and Dublin offices and placed around 200 medical and non-medical staff to work in projects in the field during 2007. The staff in the UK office is dynamic and enthusiastic, all very committed to the aims of MSF and not afraid of “mucking-in” when necessary. We invest in potential, rather than always recruiting the most qualified people.
Departmental Information
The Programme Unit’s (PU) main purpose is to act as a support to MSF’s field-work, capitalising on its location in London, a dynamic centre for discussion on health and humanitarian issues. The PU acts as an interface between MSF and the humanitarian sector and its related actors within the UK, including the Department for International Development (DfID), the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO), academic institutions, think-tanks and other NGOs. The PU also supports the various departments of MSF-UK on those occasions when a field perspective is required. The unit contributes to MSF-UK’s overall aim of:
- Contributing to quality field programmes
- Expanding the voice (medical and humanitarian) of MSF within the UK for the benefit of the MSF movement as a whole.
The past four years have seen changes within MSF resulting in the previously non-operational sections like MSF UK becoming more involved in, and responsible for, MSF’s field-work. Within the UK office this has been expressed primarily through the development of the Manson Unit, a medical team with delegated responsibilities for the implementation of some specific medical priorities.
The PU’s engagement with the field has also deepened, with team capacity increasingly focused on both direct field support and thematic work - the latter with the objective of furthering discussion and experience within MSF on certain issues and ultimately improving our ability to provide assistance. The ambition for the PU is to deepen this engagement and relevance towards our field teams yet further. These efforts are primarily but not solely directed towards the Operational Centre Amsterdam (OCA) , although the section also plays a formal support role towards MSF-Belgium and MSF-Switzerland.
MSF-UK raises substantial funds from both private and institutional donors. The PU is the link between the Operational Centres (OCs) and three institutional donors –DfID, Irish Aid and the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission – and is responsible for all liaison and administrative procedures. Also, working in support of the MSF UK Fundraising Department, the Unit works with a small number of UK Trusts and Foundations.
Members of the PU also spend time in the field. This generally happens with OCA, but could be with any OC, and includes assessments, evaluations, interim field positions and visits to support field teams on specific issues.
Currently the PU has four positions (Head of Programmes, Programmes Officer, Senior Programmes Researcher and Programmes Researcher). There is also capacity for temporary research staff.
Job Purpose
Building on work already undertaken, the Senior Researcher will be expected to play a formative role in consolidating and extending MSF-UK’s reputation and relevance, both internally and externally, for non-medical research and technical support to MSF’s field-work.
The objectives and associated workload of the Senior Researcher can be divided into three main areas:
Field support: the Senior Researcher is responsible for identifying issues at stake for MSF’s field-work and the added value of an MSF-UK research contribution. If selected as an issue to pursue, the Researcher is responsible for developing and negotiating a research plan, including defining objectives and the overall impact envisaged for our field-work. Research undertaken must always be in collaboration with at least one of MSF’s OCs, usually the OCA, as well as capitalising on Manson Unit expertise as far as possible. It is preferable that more than one OC is involved. The aim is that follow-up will involve technical support to our field programmes, and associated HQ staff, on the selected issue.
The ‘Humanitarian Debate’: the Senior Researcher plays a lead role in the promotion of MSF-UK’s voice on humanitarian issues. Internally, this involves linking in with the reflection/humanitarian units within the OCs, as well as MSF’s International Office. Externally, this means participating in the development of MSF-UK events and participating in meetings and debates organised by other NGOs, the British Government etc. This can also involve following the evolution of trends/issues or policies/doctrines emerging from London that impact on our field-work.
Support/facilitation to MSF-UK and Association: support to other departments within MSF-UK to support/strengthen certain activities, e.g. content discussions for Communications or Fundraising campaigns, participation in MSF-UK field staff trainings, specific dossiers for the Executive Director, stimulation of debate within MSF-UK’s Association.
All work will be undertaken in close collaboration with the Programmes Researcher and in effect the two Research positions will form a ‘research team’ within the PU. However, there is no hierarchical relationship, with both positions reporting directly to the Head of Programmes.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
1. Field Support
- To undertake analysis of themes identified as of interest and important to MSF and where it is identified that MSF-UK can bring added value, always in collaboration with at least one OC as well as the Manson Unit. This should involve concrete output, with clear objectives in terms of benefiting MSF’s field-work. Any project will involve time spent in the field. The aim for the department is to participate or lead in 3-4 thematic projects per year. The primary project identified for 2008 for the Senior Researcher to lead on is ‘exit strategies’ in conjunction with OCA. This will involve:
- Internal analysis, learning and debate, in particular from previous OCA project and programme closures and those of other MSF sections
- External analysis, learning and debate, from other NGOs and external events
- Direct support to field teams looking into a potential exit, including issues such as the overall health conditions, potential handover options and the extent of MSF’s medical and humanitarian responsibilities
- Direct support to field teams on designing the exit phase, including communication and advocacy strategy
Other projects that the PU is currently engaged in include:
- Trans-national Political Islam
- Perception and Participation of National Staff in MSF’s field-work
- Financial barriers to healthcare
- For chosen themes, the development of a research protocol including action plan, timeframe, resource plan and dissemination/support strategy. This should also include details on working relationships with other OCs and the Manson Unit.
- To negotiate support and access to the field with the respective OC(s) as well as to ensure field and HQ management ownership over findings.
- To ensure effective dissemination of thematic work through intra-MSF communications mechanisms: intranet, trainings etc.
- To suggest, when relevant, technical support necessary for the implementation at field level of any outcomes from the research. This may involve an ongoing and direct field support role.
- To identify new issues of potential interest for analysis.
- In conjunction with the Head of Programmes, to continue with the development of the strategic vision of a research function within MSF-UK.
- To monitor policy issues and trends for the UK government, specifically on key health and humanitarian issues, in collaboration with other members of the PU and the Manson Unit.
- To contribute to MSF’s field-work, through gap-filling, exploratory missions, assessments, evaluations or support on specific thematic issues.
- To supervise the work of any office volunteers/interns supporting the Senior Researcher position.
2. The ‘Humanitarian Debate’
- To contribute to the PU aim of assuming a lead role in dialogue and debate with the rest of the humanitarian community in London, through representation of MSF at selected and relevant external discussion forums both in and outside London.
- To act as a spokesperson for MSF-UK on specific thematic issues, involving both public speaking and media work.
- To further galvanise MSF-UK’s involvement in internal MSF discussion forums, particularly those involving the reflection/humanitarian units of MSF
- To identify external publishing opportunities and work with OCs to produce suitable articles and to work with the Programmes Researcher on the production of Dialogues (MSF-UK publication).
- To identify potential opportunities for the dissemination of thematic messages through public events (MSF UK Discussion Evenings, LSE/MSF Event…)
- To build networks and relationships with UK-based academic institutions, think-tanks, NGOs and others of general interest to the work of MSF.
3. Support/facilitation to MSF UK and UK Association
- To help in the promotion of debate and discussion around medical and humanitarian issues within the MSF-UK Association.
- To support the Communications Department e.g. through the production of articles for MSF-UK publications.
- Engagement with MSF-UK field-worker base in support of Human Resources, particularly through participation in the PPD course (Preparation Primary Departure).
- To support the Fundraising Department on request e.g. through the participation in briefings for call-centre suppliers.
Person Specification
Essential Requirements:
- Over 5 years' experience within the humanitarian sector, preferably in field-based positions and capital coordination roles (Head of Mission, Medical Coordinator).
- Previous experience in exiting from projects or missions
- Relevant headquarters experience in an international NGO in either the management of field programmes, or in an advocacy/research capacity
- Relevant academic background – i.e. post-graduate studies and qualification (or equivalent) in International Relations, Humanitarian or Development Studies or equivalent
- Proven research experience and analytical ability
- Solid negotiation skills
- Fluent spoken and written English; spoken French or other languages an advantage
- Ability to travel both to Europe and MSF field projects, sometimes for extensive periods (up to two months at a time)
- Commitment to the aims and values of MSF
Desirable Requirements
Candidates must hold a valid permit to work in the UK
Terms and Conditions
This is a one-year, fixed-term contract (with review after one year). The position is full-time with the requirement to work 40 hours a week.
Starting salary for this post is £34,142 per annum (including London Weighting)
Current Benefits at MSF UK
Salaries
MSF UK pays the salaries into the bank account on the 21st of each month.
Flexi-time Scheme
MSF UK operates flexi-time. The daily requirement for full-time employees is to work 8 hours plus half hour for lunch with core hours between 9.30am-5.00pm and flexi time periods between 8.30am-9.30am and 5.00pm-6.00pm.
Annual Leave
The MSF UK holiday (annual leave) year runs from 1st January to 31st December. Annual entitlement for full-time staff is 28 days per year in addition to bank holidays.
Sick Leave
On completion of the probationary period, employees of MSF UK receive additional benefits though our Group Income Protection Scheme and Group Life Scheme which is equal to 4 x the individual’s salary on death while employed.
Pension Plan
On completion of probationary period employees of MSF UK can join the Group personal Pension Plan. Members of the scheme contribute between 3% and 5% of their salary. Contributions are deducted from salaries. MSF contributes 3% (for those paying 3 or 4 % of their salary) and 10% for those paying 5%.
Development Opportunities
MSF UK has an annual performance review process in place during which individual development needs are discussed and learning and development needs identified.
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