MSF Access Advocacy Advisor

Title of the function: MSF Access Advocacy Advisor

Department: Advocacy

Reports to: Head of Advocacy

Number of Openings: 01

Working time: 100%

Location: Dakar or Rio-de-Janeiro or Nairobi

Last date to apply: January 13, 2026

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 MSF’s 24 sections, 27 associations and 18 branch offices together. Registered in Switzerland, MSF International provides coordination, information and support to the MSF Movement, as well as implements international projects and initiatives as requested. 

MSF Access 

Médecins Sans Frontières 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. 

II. CONTEXT 

MSF Access works on creating accessibility, availability, affordability, appropriateness, and quality of products for healthcare for the populations MSF assists and their communities. MSF has been engaged in a wide variety of ways to improve this access in past decades. The relatively new MSF Access team now supports the movements of access to products for healthcare agenda and is overseen by an Executive Board.  

The new structure has the following responsibilities:

• Gather input for common priorities for MSF access and propose them to the MSF movement

• Design and implement Access initiatives to respond to the agreed common priorities

• Provide, or help to find, support on Access matters to MSF entities that request it

• Maintain an overview of Access initiatives across MSF, and report on them annually

• Research, and stay informed of, the Access landscape globally 

II. PURPOSE 

Under the supervision of the Head of Advocacy & communication, the strategic Advocacy Advisor contributes to design and implementation of effective advocacy strategies towards governments, non-governmental stakeholders, pharmaceutical companies, and the research community in order to overcome access hurdles for agreed strategic objectives and priorities

The advocacy advisor will also collaborate and provide support for the specific design and implementation of advocacy strategies in the Regions and at national level on specific topics.

The advisor is working in close collaboration with the communication advisor to define the communication strategy for each priority. 

MAIN ACTIVITIES 

• Analyze global trends and opportunities and advise on new opportunities and threats related to MSF access strategic objectives. Working with MSF access analysis Department, to understand technical, medical challenges and opportunities, to support develop efficient advocacy strategies and plans for agreed strategic objectives,

• Collaborate and coordinate with Access colleagues in Regional Hubs, MSF section’s Advocacy counterparts to co-develop and implement advocacy strategies.

• Identify key political events and policies to be influenced.

• Develop strategies and tactics, coordinate inputs to influence these political processes

• Develop and strengthen the engagement with key global stakeholders, coordinate with Regional Hubs.

• Represent MSF in relevant forums and meetings.

• Report back on achievements and key meetings.

• Genuine interest in and commitment to the humanitarian principles of MSF

• Commitment to the development of MSF access activities.

• Minimum 4 years directly related professional experience,

• Relevant master’s degree; or equivalent combination of education and experience;

• Demonstrated advocacy experience in Global Health.

• Project management skills, teamwork, team management, strategic planning and priority setting an advantage.

• Excellent verbal and written communications skills including ability to adapt style to suit a wide range of audiences

• Proficiency in spoken and written English, other languages an advantage

 Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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, races, religions, beliefs, ability status, and all other diversity characteristics.

MSF is committed to preventing abuse, inappropriate behaviour, lack of integrity and financial misconduct in its work and care spaces. MSF expects all staff to share this commitment and promote an environment where abuse and misconduct is not tolerated.

We are committed to removing barriers for people with specific accessibility needs. If you need an adjustment to the recruitment process to be considered for the role, please let us know from the beginning of the selection process.

Note: All offers of employment will be subject to reference checks, including Human Resources, and to appropriate screening checks. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her/their understanding of these selection procedures.