Regional Advisor – West and Central Africa

Location : Dakar Office

Contract : Full time - Permanent

Deadline to apply: 20.06.2025

Starting date: ASAP

Reporting to : Regional Coordinator - West & Central Africa

Compensation and benefits: MSF practice is to offer the C&B package current in the MSF entity establishing the contract.

This job description may evolve according to the finalized MSF ACCESS Strategic Plan, although its main parameters (scope, area of expertise) should not be essentially altered. Until that key stage, the incumbent is expected to demonstrate a degree of flexibility in the performance of their work.

I. MSF INTERNATIONAL

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, healthcare exclusion and natural disasters. MSF offers assistance to people based only on need and irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation.

MSF International is the legal entity that binds together MSF’s 27 Institutional Members of which 24 sections, and other offices such as Branch Offices and Satellites. MSF International provides coordination, information and support to the MSF movement, and implements international projects and initiatives as requested.

Within MSF International, the International Office (IO) is the Secretariat of MSF International Board and is under the direct management of the International Secretary General. MSF International also provides administrative support to the MSF Access.

II. POSITION BACKGROUND

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF, also known as Doctors Without Borders) works tirelessly to improve the accessibility, availability, affordability, appropriateness and quality of products for health care for the populations it assists and their communities. While this is a collective effort across the organisation, the MSF Access team plays a central role as it identifies and implements a priority selection of Access Projects, offers expert support for access activities elsewhere in MSF, and brings together information and analysis relevant to MSF’s access work. The MSF Access team, overseen by an Executive Board, is based around five regional hubs: Kuala Lumpur, Nairobi, Brussels, Dakar and Rio de Janeiro.

Most of the structure’s staff will be based in five regional hubs:

Dakar, Senegal: covers West and Central Africa

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: covers the Americas

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: covers Asia and Oceania

Nairobi, Kenya: covers Eastern and Southern Africa

Brussels, Belgium: covers Europe, the Middle East and Northern Africa

MSF Access has the following responsibilities:

• Gather input for common priorities for MSF Access and propose them to the MSF movement
• Design and implement MSF Access initiatives to respond to the agreed common priorities
• Provide, or help to find, support on MSF Access matters to MSF entities that request it
• Maintain an overview of MSF Access initiatives across MSF, and report on them annually
• Research, and stay informed of, the MSF ACCESS landscape globally

As far as West and Central Africa region is concerned, this represent approximately 25% of MSF operations across more than 13 countries. This region faces numerous challenges related to access to healthcare products, especially in the context of shrinking funds. However, it also presents several opportunities in terms of regional dynamics within MSF operations, where some access initiatives are ongoing but are less developed in terms of addressing access issues comprehensively.

Outside of MSF, there are key actors in the region, such as academics, civil society, NGOs, and donors. Additionally, there is a current movement towards local manufacturing, which is slowly taking place. MSF operations in the region are facing the issue related to access to vaccines in context of recurrent outbreaks and shrinking humanitarian access.

III. PURPOSE

Reporting to the Regional Coordinator and in close cooperation with the MSF access Head of Analysis and head of advocacy, the Regional Advisor – Africa contributes to furthering the regional context understanding, maintaining and expanding key networks and engagement with relevant stakeholders; in order to support the design and implementation of effective advocacy strategies towards governments, non-governmental stakeholders, pharmaceutical companies, and the research community in Africa in support of the MSF access strategic objectives in the region and globally.

IV. MAIN ACTIVITIES

The Regional Advisor for West and central Africa is responsible to:

• With the support of regional coordinator: develop systems to continuously monitor and analysis policies and stakeholders influential on issues relevant to MSF access strategic objectives and regional access priorities.
• Develop and maintain a high level of understanding of MSF access priorities with a focus on the ones relevant to the region.
• Identify trends and opportunities at regional level (both regional institutions, key processes and initiatives relevant to the MSF Access priorities) and advise on new opportunities and threats.
• Develop actors mapping and contribute to stakeholder analysis for each priority.
• With the support of regional coordinator and in line with the common/ non common priorities objectives, develop regional / country level advocacy objectives.
  1. Contribute to the development of specific regional advocacy strategies by contextualizing relevant global MSF Access strategic objectives and vice versa (using regional perspectives to feed into global MSF ACCESS strategic objectives and advocacy plans).
  2. Contribute to develop and strengthen the engagement with key stakeholders in the region relevant to MSF ACCESS regional and Global strategic objectives.
  3. Ensure alignment with global strategy and approach
  4. Report on relevant meetings and interactions to the regional coordinator, relevant MSF access teams at continental level , head of departments and team members
• Share relevant trends that may impact West and central Africa-based MSF Operations
• Provide support to define and implement when relevant tailored advocacy plans and strategies
• When requested and relevant, support MSF ACCESS initiatives of MSF sections in the region.

V. REQUIREMENTS

• Genuine interest in and commitment to the humanitarian principles of MSF
• Commitment to the successful transition and future development of MSF access activities to the MSF Access
• Minimum 3 years directly related professional experience,
• Relevant master’s degree; or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Demonstrated advocacy experience in the area of Global Health in the Region
• Demonstrated analytical skills
• Ability to work independently, move projects from conceptual stages to launch, and handle multiple and often competing deadlines
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills including ability to adapt style to suit a wide range of audiences
• Proficiency in spoken and written English and French
• Ability to speak and read a language of the region is an asset
• Frequent international travel

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

All applications will be processed confidentially.

At MSF, we are committed to an inclusive culture that encourages and supports the diverse voices of our employees. We welcome applications from individuals of all genders, ages, sexual orientations, nationalities, religions, beliefs, ability status, and all other diversity characteristics.

MSF does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo reference checks.

How to apply

Apply here