Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Technical Advisor

Location: Rio de Janeiro, Dakar, Nairobi, Brussels, or Kuala Lumpur

Contract: Full time (100%)

Duration: Open ended

Starting date: ASAP

Deadline to apply: 05.01.2025

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

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, 26 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.

II. POSITION BACKGROUND

Access to Products for Healthcare (APH) is critical to MSF's Social Mission. It refers to the 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 APH in past decades.

In 2023, the MSF International Board approved the set-up of a new organisational model for access to products for healthcare work in MSF. A central part of this model is the creation of a new access team that supports the APH agenda and is overseen by an Executive Board.

While we are hoping to find a new colleagues with broad knowledge across non-communicable diseases, the emphasis will in first instance on diabetes and hypertension.

Diabetes affects an estimated 800 million people worldwide, with numbers expected to rise. Hypertension is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease and premature death worldwide. There is an increasing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in contexts where MSF is working. In 2024, addressing access challenges around diabetes treatments, testing and monitoring, as well as hypertension treatment have been identified as common priorities for MSF, providing the foundation for the APH structure to continue working on and to develop new strategic plans for 2026-2031. Access challenges around diabetes and hypertension include essential diabetes medicines (particularly insulin, SGLT-2, GLP-1, and GLP-1/GIP), glucose monitoring tools (including test strips and continuous glucose monitoring), injectable delivery devices (such as insulin pens) and single pill combination for hypertension. Insulin pens and newer diabetes medicines simplify treatment and reduce complications for people with diabetes. Access in most LMICs and humanitarian settings is extremely limited. In March 2024, MSF AC and previously co-published a report on hypertension medicines https://msfaccess.org/under-pressure-strategies-improve-access-antihypertensive-medicines-low-and-middle-income-0. https://msfaccess.org/defeating-double-standard-diabetes-care and previously co-published a report on hypertension medicines https://msfaccess.org/under-pressure-strategies-improve-access-antihypertensive-medicines-low-and-middle-income-0.

III. PLACE IN THE ORGANIZATION

The NCDs Technical Advisor is part of the Analysis Department of MSF’s new access team, reporting to the Head of Analysis. S/he works in a multidisciplinary team of the Analysis Department consisting of experts on medical, pharmaceutical, legal and policy issues related to access to health products and technologies.

The NCDs Technical Advisor maintains a close working relationship with MSF technical working groups, medical referents and other technical experts at MSF projects and headquarters.

IV. OBJECTIVES OF THE POSITION

• Lead and coordinate the development of strategy, plans and activities for NCDs dossier of MSF’s new access team, addressing access barriers on NCDs, with an initial focus on the priority of diabetes medicines, testing, monitoring and hypertension treatment.

• Lead research, analysis, and horizon scanning on the overall NCDs dossier, priority objectives and domains.

• Provide technical and strategic advice on new product-related areas and issues that require research, analysis and strategic development within the domain of NCDs, including other emerging priorities identified by operations or technical working groups.

• Support and provide input into the development and implementation of advocacy strategies in relation to priority NCD products.

V. MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACTIVITIES

1. Lead research, analysis, and horizon scanning on the overall NCD dossier, priority objectives and domains

• Support the Head of Analysis in developing and managing the overall strategy and plan for NCDs related research and analysis of the APH’s annual plans and strategic plan 2026-2031.

• Reviewing, collating and synthesising medical literature, research and development and global policy guidance in the priority NCD domains, with the initial focus on diabetes and hypertension.

• In collaboration with the pharmacist advisor, co-lead data collection and analysis on the pipeline and novel products, formulations, technologies, sources and prices.

• Provide technical input and review for the APH Structure’s global and regional NCDs work, including communication pieces, publications, analysis, strategics, plans and others.

• Coordinate the overall NCDs dossier work in APH Structure, including regular team calls and discussions on dossier strategies and plans.

• Maintain an overview, documentation and regular update of NCDs related activities, including research, analysis, strategies and technical support, in line with the Knowledge and Information Management Guidelines.

2. Support and provide input into the development and implementation of advocacy strategies in relation to priority NCD domains and products

• Work closely with pharmacist advisor, support the engagement with pharmaceutical companies, product developers and key funders to be abreast of the landscape and advocate for medicines, products, tools that are suited to low-resource contexts.

• Anticipate the availability of new products, formulations, technologies, as a basis for informing a relevant access and advocacy strategy.

• Work closely with advocacy colleagues to provide support to position development, bringing the medical and operational perspective to this work.

• Provide a link between MSF operational needs/constraints and advocacy opportunities to inform response and MSF positioning in NCD policy fora.

• Maintain an external and internal network of relevant stakeholders, representing the APH Structure at MSF’s Community Working Group on NCDs.

Qualification and knowledge

• Medical expertise, with qualification as medical doctor, paramedical, public health or other relevant fields of NCDs. Specialized in diabetes and hypertension care a strong asset.

• Knowledge of access to products for healthcare priorities in developing/humanitarian settings and the political or policy constraints in MSF contexts.

• Understanding of global health policies and the key actors/stakeholders in the global health arena.

Work experiences

• Minimum 5 years of experience directly relevant to the responsibilities of the position.

• Experience working in resource-limited settings, preferably with MSF at field and/or HQ levels.

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

• Strong skills in writing technical documents and/or scientific publications, knowledge synthesis skills (including literature reviews).

• Excellent communication and team working skills; and willingness to speak at public events when required on behalf of MSF.

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

• Appreciation of cultural and gender diversity, and strong commitment to equity and inclusion.

• Proficiency in oral and written English language, other languages are an advantage.

• Frequent international travel.

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.