Advocacy Manager

About MSF Médecins Sans Frontières International

We run projects in partnership with the Zimbabwean Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), providing treatment for HIV, tuberculosis (TB), non-communicable diseases and mental health issues.

While HIV prevalence has decreased from 30 per cent in the early 2000s to 15 per cent today, there are still major gaps in services, such as the availability of routine viral load monitoring and second-line antiretroviral (ARV) treatment.

Location: Harare
Type of contract : Fixed Term Contract with three months’ probation period
Start Date​ : January 2024
Immediate Supervisor : Country Representative

Objective of the Post

The Advocacy Manager is responsible for all advocacy activities in the Mission in line with MSF policies and values, following the Operational line and closely linked with the Regional Advocacy Coordinator, with relevant support from specific positions within the Analysis Department. The Advocacy Manager is a member of the mission Country Support Team and acts as a sparring-partner for all operational and medical teams.

Responsibilities

• Defining, implementing and coordinating all MSF advocacy activities at national level.
• Work closely with and support projects in the implementation of their own advocacy strategies where needed at national level, and undertake relevant national/regional/global representation where needed
• Supervise and support the quality of field-level data collection (under MSF ethical guidelines) for operational and advocacy purpose.
• Monitor and compile regular updates on humanitarian and medical aid system dynamics (NGO/Donor planning, partners etc.)
• Draft ad hoc lobbying points and internal/external reports in relation to main medical-humanitarian concerns while strengthening the integration of humanitarian affairs.
• Advises Country Representative, Country Medical Referent and Project Operational Responsible on perception related to positioning and operational strategy with a particular view on increasing local/ national visibility and ensuring good acceptance for MSF projects/presence.
• Drafts regular situation reports for Country Support Team and Project as well as reports for external use in line with country advocacy strategy.
• Work closely with projects to support capitalization and documentation of activities as needed.

Educational and professional background

• Academic background to Masters’ level (anthropology/social/political sciences, law, gender studies, protection)
• Should have first-rate writing skills and excellent research / analytical skills
• SRHR knowledge and experience is an added value.
​Requirements
• Field humanitarian experience in similar contexts (conflict, disasters, resource-poor environments)
• MSF or other humanitarian NGOs advocacy experience required
• Mature, collaborative professional with excellent organizational skills – establish priorities and follow-up plans;
• Excellent communication skills, cultural sensitivity, open mindedness, patience, and diplomacy
• Good command of written and oral English and a local language