Digital Disinformation/Operational Communications Advisor

MSF is an international, independent medical humanitarian organization. We are a non-profit, self-governed worldwide movement of more than 63,000 people.

We provide emergency medical assistance during armed conflict, natural disasters, outbreaks of deadly diseases, and assist those who are excluded from healthcare. MSF delivers care based on need and when we see injustice, we speak out. We are an organization that remains impartial, knowledgeable, and effective, and this is what makes the difference between life and death.

People are our priority. At Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)/Artsen zonder Grenzen, we are committed to an inclusive culture that encourages and supports the diverse voices of our employees. We encourage diverse applicants including individuals of all gender identities, ages, sexual orientations, nationalities, races, religions, beliefs, social and marital status, people with different abilities and all other diversity characteristics and how they work together.

OSCAR is OCA’s humanitarian affairs, operational communications and advocacy department. It is comprised of a humanitarian affairs unit and of an operational communications unit, with audio visual and digital team who work in tandem in distinct and complementary roles.

The Digital Disinformation Comms Advisor (CA) works in proximity with desks, field-based communications and humanitarian affairs staff to support country teams in bearing witness and speaking out in support of the communities that we provide assistance to.

Effective immediately, MSF-OCA is looking for a:

Digital Disinformation/Operational Communications Advisor

(Based in Amsterdam or OCA partnering offices - 1 year)

The Digital Age has transformed the way we live and work. The use of and access to advanced technology has also altered humanitarian work with an impact on data collection, communication, finance, and humanitarian operations on the ground. Social media has transformed the way people connect, communicate, and share information instantaneously in the humanitarian space, including communications between affected communities and those helping.

Along with the improved ability to share information and communicate comes the spread of disinformation, misinformation, and malinformation. As humanitarian relief organisations work primarily in crisis contexts where disinformation and misinformation is on the rise, they face the challenge of ensuring that people trust the information they share and can access the help they need. Harmful information is becoming a widespread global issue, affecting organizations like MSF. The swift spread of misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation, along with shifts in the humanitarian landscape, is impacting MSF and other humanitarian organizations.

However, this improved ability to share information also brings the challenge of disinformation, misinformation, and malinformation. Humanitarian organizations, which often operate in crisis settings where harmful information spreads rapidly, must work to maintain trust and ensure that people can access accurate information and essential services. This growing threat affects organizations like Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), as the rapid spread of false or misleading content and evolving humanitarian contexts increasingly shape how they work.

Main responsibilities

In this role, you will gather information both offline and online to aid in preparedness and response to misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation. This involves developing a comprehensive understanding of potential threats and mitigating their effects on MSF's operations, reputation, staff, and the communities it serves.

This position is part of MSF OCA and the intersectional digital working group, aiming to support OCA and the broader movement by enhancing MSF's preparedness, strategic response, and capacity to effectively manage threats.

Responsibilities and activities

In close communication with the Disinfo advisor in Colombo, advocacy, operations, digital working group, and other stakeholders you are responsible for the development of through communications responses and strategies specific to each context (preparedness). Ensuring that these strategies align with the needs to mitigate impact and risks. Other responsibilities and activities are:

• Workflow Clarity: Establish a clear process for handling disinformation, including building a knowledge base on anti-humanitarian narratives and updating reporting procedures.
• Capacity Building: Enhance MSF's ability to manage disinformation by learning from internal and external experiences and fostering discussions with relevant organizations.
• Proactive Strategies: Conduct assessments and initiate actions to counter disinformation, collaborating with partners to develop effective counter-narratives.
• keep abreast of trends affecting the sector, emerging tools and practices, engage with relevant actors
• Long-term Resilience: Formulate strategic plans to bolster MSF's resilience against disinformation threats and engage experts to refine approaches.
• Guidelines and Training: Collaborate with the Digital working group and ops comms to design guidelines and develop training programs to improve response capabilities.
• Strategic Recommendations: Provide expertise and propose actionable strategies for decision-makers to address disinformation trends impacting MSF patients and communities.

Candidate Profile

For this new and exciting position, we look out to find a flexible, upbeat and innovative person with the capability to adapt and adjust to different crisis situations and who is culturally sensitive and aware.

• Professional background in Communications and an expert with a digital IT or investigative journalism background.
• A thorough understanding of the (digital) humanitarian landscape.
• Experience working in digital environments (in NGOs, media, or similar sectors)
• Understanding of disinformation, misinformation, and digital risk in humanitarian settings
• Experience with monitoring and analysing narrative or online harmful information
• Ability to translate complex trends into actionable strategies and recommendations
• Experience with designing policies, procedures and guidelines for structure and clarity to the preparedness and responses.
• Excellent interpersonal and coordination skills, able to build trust and alignment across teams
• Structured and analytical approach, with the ability to synthesise information and spot trends
• Ability to work in a high-pressured environment is crucial to this position, as are successful negotiation and diplomatic skills.
• Flexibility to respond to emergency communications needs. International travel to a project country may be requested in case of an incident or crisis.
• Excellent strategic (communication), analytical and advisory skills are essential, proven in a journalistic or public communication environment.
• You are a creative teammate, who shows initiative and innovation.
• An excellent command of the English language is crucial, French and Arabic are highly desirable, other languages spoken in MSF project countries is a strong asset.
• Experience in digital content/multimedia production is an asset.

Competencies

Strategic vision

Coaching/advising/training

(Problem) Analysis and solving

Stress Management

Integrity

Occasionally, you may need to travel to a project country to provide support during incidents or crises.

We offer

A one-year employment contract in the country of residence (MSF-OCA partnering offices), based on 40 hours per week. Your exact salary will depend on relevant work experience and the local office salary grid. Other employment benefits will depend on the contracting office.

In case of a Dutch contract, the gross monthly salary will be between €4,269 and €5,877 a month depending on relevant work experience, based on a full-time appointment.

Other benefits include:

• 30 days off (based on a full-time employment)
• A premium free pension where MSF covers 100% of the monthly pension contribution
• 8% holiday allowance, paid out with the salary in May
• Commuting allowance (terms and conditions apply) & work from home allowance
• L&D will support you with a variety of learning and development opportunities with internal and external trainings and courses
• An environment that fosters diversity, with colleagues from around the world representing various cultures and background

Application

Do you recognise yourself in this profile, we welcome you to apply directly via our website and upload a letter of motivation + Curriculum Vitae (in English) as one combined document, including a summary or research you did or a paper you have written with recommendations/advice to prepare/respond to disinformation, mal-information, and misinformation.

The closing date for applications is 8 August 2025 at 23:59 CET. Selection will be by means of one or two interview rounds and a test will be part of the process.

Please note the application deadline specified above may be subject to change at MSF-Netherland’s discretion.

Information

For more information about the recruitment procedure, please contactMaša Petrović

(Recruitment Team) at Masa.Petrovic@amsterdam.msf.org.

For more information about the position, please contact Diala Ghassan (OSCAR Coordinator) at Diala.ghassan@amsterdam.msf.org.

***No agencies please***

How to apply

Application

Do you recognise yourself in this profile, we welcome you to apply directly via our website and upload a letter of motivation + Curriculum Vitae (in English) as one combined document, including a summary or research you did or a paper you have written with recommendations/advice to prepare/respond to disinformation, mal-information, and misinformation.

The closing date for applications is 8 August 2025 at 23:59 CET. Selection will be by means of one or two interview rounds and a test will be part of the process.

Please note the application deadline specified above may be subject to change at MSF-Netherland’s discretion.