Humanitarian Affairs Officer (HAO)

Responsibilities

As a humanitarian affairs officer with Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), you will help MSF expose and advocate about the impact conflict and neglect have on the communities we work with and people we assist. You will likely be based in the capital city with frequent travel to MSF projects and be responsible for gathering information from various stakeholders, including communities, patients and staff. You will provide strategic advice on how MSF can best communicate our voice and our principles to deliver critical humanitarian medical care. You will also advise on how MSF operates and communicates in situations where access to provide medical assistance to communities in need is threatened.

Your primary role will be to use the ‘witnessing’ component of MSF’s mandate to advocate with and for people MSF works with and assists. You will do this by gathering testimonies and stories, using them to document the human impact of disasters and conflicts. The information you gather will be collated, analyzed and used to draw up unbiased reports on a wide variety of issues. These may include: the efficacy of the response of humanitarian actors to a crisis, speaking out about war crimes committed against civilians by armed actors or collecting testimonies from women who have experienced sexual violence due to poor security in displacement camps.

From carefully building a sensitive advocacy strategy to writing reports on the exclusion of certain communities from medical care, the role of a humanitarian affairs officer is incredibly varied.

Requirements

Academic background to master’s level in one of the following fields: anthropology, social or political science, law, gender studies
Relevant work experience with data collection, qualitative research, human rights monitoring
Minimum one year experience in humanitarian advocacy based in a context similar to where MSF works (armed conflicts, disasters, public health emergencies or situations of healthcare exclusion)
Good understanding of current humanitarian debates and of the dilemma-compromise nature of modern humanitarian interventions
First-rate writing skills and excellent research and analytical skills
Experience in managing staff in a multicultural team (supervision and training)
Excellent command of English, as well as French (level B2) or another language (Arabic, Spanish). Refer to this evaluation grid
Available to work nine to 12 months

Assets

Previous experience with international nongovernmental organizations, UN agencies, human rights organizations or protection

MSF Core Competencies

Behaviour flexibility: Level 2
- Adapts behaviour to the needs of the situation
Teamwork and cooperation: Level 2
- Shares information and coordinates with team and others
Result and quality orientation: Level 2
- Works towards objectives, preserving established standards
Commitment to MSF principles: Level 1
- Demonstrates knowledge of and accepts MSF’s principles
People management: Level 2
- Gives feedback and sets limits
Cross-cultural awareness: Level 3
- Demonstrates an integrating attitude
Stress management: Level 2
- Manages own stress
Understanding of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI): Level 1
- Familiarity with EDI concepts and their application in a humanitarian context

Familiarity with EDI concepts and their application in a humanitarian context

To find out more about MSF core competencies, please look here.

You can find a comprehensive view of MSF career paths here.

STEP 1 - REQUIREMENTS CHECK

Answer all our requirement questions below:

* Required

I am a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada. Please note that MSF-Canada requires all applicants to have at least their permanent resident status.

Don’t have this? You will need to apply through your nearest MSF office

YES*

I have watched the Recruitment Video Series to learn more about MSF requirements, recruitment process, remuneration, benefits and career development.

YES*

I have read and understood MSF’s Data Privacy, EDI (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion), Accessibility and Climate statements

Click here to read Data privacy and EDI statements

YES*

STEP 2 - APPLICATION FORM

Please upload your CV in PDF format and reply to the questions below instead of submitting a cover letter.

* Required field First Name Last Name Email Phone Location Resume/CV Attach | Dropbox | Enter Manually (File types: pdf / doc / docx / txt / rtf) Where did you hear about working internationally with MSF?

Are you currently, or have you ever been employed by MSF? If yes, please provide details: specify the office, whether as headquarters, locally hired staff or as internationally mobile staff, location, job title and description of duties, dates of employment, etc. (max. 150 words). Have you applied to MSF before? If yes, please specify which month/year.

MSF Canada is only able to hire professionals who have legal authorization to work in Canada. Applicants must be Canadian citizens or have Canadian permanent residency. MSF Canada is not able to provide support with the work permit process for this position. Can you confirm that you are legally authorized to work in Canada? yes no

International candidates are encouraged to apply through other MSF offices https://www.msf.org/work-msf , who each handle contracting for their respective countries.

Please use the link to read about compensation, pay and benefits: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.ca/working-overseas-faq/ ... ... Can you confirm that you have read, understood and that you agree with the salary and benefits that MSF Canada offers? yes no

What attracts you to MSF and why do you wish to join our pool of international mobile staff? How does this specific position fit with your career and personal goals? MSF places emphasis on the completion of multiple assignments. Are you open to making such a commitment? If so, please describe how you would integrate MSF into your professional and personal circumstances. What is your level of fluency in English?

What is your level of fluency in French?

What is your level of fluency in Arabic?

What is your level of fluency in Spanish?

What is your level of fluency in Portuguese?

Do you speak any other languages?

Have you ever been in a management role? yes no

If yes, please describe responsibilities, number of staff under your supervision, length of time in this role, and working environment (e.g. NGO, govt, business).

Have you ever taught/trained others? yes no

If yes, please describe the context and number of people you were training/teaching. Please provide details of your previous travel and/or international experiences, including the locations visited, year and durations, and please specify the nature of your stay. Relevant experiences for MSF included having traveled, lived, worked, volunteered or studied in regions such as Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, and Northern/ remote regions in Canada. How do you evaluate your computer skills? Please describe your proficiency to work with applications such as Excel, Word and Outlook (max. 100 words). MSF's mission is to provide medical assistance to populations in need. Therefore, our work often takes place in settings characterized by active conflicts or post-conflict environments. These contexts inherently involve risks, potential dangers, and ongoing threats to safety and security. The most common destinations for Canadian International Mobile Staff, include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Chad, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, South Sudan, and Haiti. Is there a region in the world where you would prefer to work? Why? Are there any regions or countries you do not wish to be placed on a first assignment? If so, please explain why not.

Due to the nature of MSF work, we expect International Mobile Staff to be flexible to project needs and therefore be available for a minimum of 6 months. MSF assignments for this role require 6-, 9- or 12-months commitment, does this align with your availability? yes no

Do you have any comments to add regarding your availability? When would you be available to work overseas? Please specify which month / year. Supplementary information: Feel free to highlight any skills, experiences or trainings that relate to the position that were not mentioned elsewhere in your application (max. 150 words).

I confirm that I have read, understood and agree to the MSF Canada recruitment policies and procedures stated on this website, and I understand that all personal details will be stored confidentially for a maximum of two years by MSF Canada in compliance with the Personal Data Protection Act. I understand that MSF Canada will use my personal details for recruitment purposes only and will not share this data with anyone else outside MSF. I confirm that all of the above information is truthful and complete as of this date. yes no

Demographic Questions (Optional)

MSF Canada is a people-focused humanitarian organization that is proud to offer a diverse, collaborative, and inclusive work environment. We strongly believe this approach enhances our work and we’re committed to equity in employment. The organization seeks to attract and engage the best professionals to join and maintain meaningful, productive and lasting work relationships. We embrace diverse motivations and backgrounds of people working together to exhibit their passion in action for the social mission of MSF.

MSF Canada acknowledges the existence of systemic racism and oppression and is committed to sustaining and strengthening its anti-racism and anti-oppression (AOAR) efforts.

As MSF Canada continues to grow and strive to remove barriers in its offices in Canada and in MSF work environments abroad, we welcome applications from individuals with unique experiences of intersectional oppression on the basis of their social markers such as their ethno-racial identity, age, gender identity, education, socio-economic status or place of origin.

We encourage Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, LGBTQIA2S+ people, individuals living with disabilities and any individual experiencing vulnerable circumstances to apply.

Responses to the below questions are completely voluntary and are not associated with your individual application and has no impact, in any way, in the hiring decision. The data collected will be used in aggregate only to help us identify areas of improvement in our recruitment process.

Which of the following best describe your ethno-racial heritage? (select all that apply) Arab, Middle Eastern or West Asian (e.g. Afghan, Armenian, Iranian, Syrian, Lebanese, Palestinian, Moroccan, Persian, Egyptian) Black (e.g. African, African-Canadian, Afro-Caribbean) East Asian (e.g. Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc.) South Asian or Indo-Caribbean (e.g. Indian, Pakistani, Indo-Guyanese, Sri Lankan) Southeast Asian (e.g. Filipino, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, Thai) Indigenous (e.g. Métis, Inuit, Aboriginal, First Nations, Taino, Maori, Multiple Indigenous Identities) Latin American (e.g. Salvadoran, Brazilian, Cuban, Mexican) White (e.g. English, Greek, Italian, Russian, Serbian) Not listed above / Self-identify Prefer not to disclose

What is your country of birth?

What gender do you identify as? (select all that apply) Female Male Non-binary/non-conforming Transgender female (assigned male at birth, identify as female) Transgender male (assigned female at birth, identify as male) Not listed above / self identify Prefer not to disclose

What sexual orientation best describes you? (select all that apply) Gay Lesbian Heterosexual Not listed above / self identify Prefer not to disclose

Do you live with a disability that affects your physical and/or mental health?

Are you a parent, guardian, or primary caregiver of a child/children, or anyone other than your child (i.e. parent, grandparent, defacto family member)

What is your highest level of education?

What is your annual total household income range, before taxes?

What is your age group?

MSF Canada has my consent to collect, store, and process my data for the purpose of considering me for employment.

Responsibilities

Requirements

Assets

MSF Core Competencies

Before you apply

Security and Safety

Terms of Employment

Final Thoughts

STEP 1 - REQUIREMENTS CHECK

STEP 2 - APPLICATION FORM

Demographic Questions (Optional)