Research Assistant

MSF UK London United Kingdom Programmes
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Company Description

MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES UK



Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) provides life-saving emergency relief and longer-term medical care to some of the most vulnerable and excluded communities around the world. As an independent medical humanitarian organisation, we deliver care based only on need, regardless of ethnic origin, gender, religion or political affiliation.

MSF relies on donations from private individuals and organisations for the majority of its income. This private funding gives MSF the freedom to respond where needs are greatest and to speak out publicly, free from any political interference.

MSF has around 40,000 local and international staff working in over 70 countries, in some of the most challenging places in the world. Our medical humanitarian projects are supported by teams in 32 countries, including the UK, spread across Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa and Australasia.

At MSF UK, we support MSF’s operations by building relationships with our supporters, increasing awareness of our work, raising funds, providing specialist medical expertise, catalysing change on medical humanitarian issues, and recruiting field staff. MSF UK personnel are dynamic, hard-working, enthusiastic and committed to MSF’s values and aims.



Position

Hours: 40 hours per week

Location: London

Duration: 6 weeks fixed term contract

Salary: £31,490.55 (Non-London weighting £27,990.55) per annum


THE PROGRAMMES UNIT

The Programmes Unit (PU) forms a field-experienced team working in support of MSF operations, policy and practice in the humanitarian arena. This work is accomplished through analysis, research, representation, and advocacy relevant to MSF’s work in the field and/or out of the greater medical-humanitarian context. Our work is derived from and informed by concerns that emanate from our field projects. The unit capitalises on MSF-UK’s positioning in London/UK and proximity to institutions and individuals that help to shape the environments in which we work.

The UK is a key player in humanitarian and global health issues. Both governmental and non-governmental actors (including both the private and the NGO sector) play important roles in international politics; the funding and delivery of humanitarian assistance; and the development of international health policy and delivery of healthcare. MSF, as a leading provider of independent, medical humanitarian assistance, can make a critical, distinct, and influential contribution to these debates, as well as bringing key points back to inform our own practice. The work of the Programmes Unit is central to establishing MSF as a credible and critical voice within the UK environment.

MSF UK sits within a confluence of multiple internal operational, advocacy, analysis, and external engagement workstreams, either directly through or on behalf of MSF operational centres (OCs), the Humanitarian Representation Team (HRT), and/or the Access Campaign (AC). The subject matter at hand is vast and varied involving the maintenance of several different working relationships with a broad network of interlocutors.


UK Global Health Expertise

As a partner section based in London, MSF UK benefits from the colocation of a number of key Global Health actors, including world class universities and research institutions, centres of health policy and international development expertise, life sciences and bio-medical/bio-tech industries, and vibrant not-for-profit sector.


JOB PURPOSE

This role assists in the analysis and development of MSF UK’s Global Health engagement strategy to improve pro-active identification of opportunities for constructive engagement around a selection of key issues that align for both MSF operations and the UK environment’s actors. The role will support the Programmes Unit in—highlighting logical relationship overlaps between the two as a basis for a strategic framework for MSF global health engagement the UK.


SEE BELOW JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSONAL SPECIFICATION ATTACHMENT FOR FULL DETAILS OF THE ROLE.


Requirements

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

  • Knowledge/experience of current issues relating to global health, access to medicines and healthcare.
  • Understanding of how global health policies and guidelines are developed
  • Have a good understanding of the key health actors based in the UK that impact upon international medical humanitarian programming and actors such as MSF.
  • To understand the UK environment and government (foreign policy and/or funding) that impact global health.
  • Previous experience of conducting research/analyses to guide strategy.
  • Strong organisational skills with experience of managing multiple tasks.
  • Ability to work independently; capacity to take initiatives and seize opportunities.
  • Computer literate (Word, Excel, Internet)
  • Demonstrable understanding of and commitment to humanitarian issues and to the aims and values of MSF.
  • Fluency in English

Other information

Candidates must hold an appropriate passport or permit to work in the UK.

MSF UK is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We encourage applications from all sections of our diverse community. 


HOW TO APPLY

Please apply on our website by submitting a copy of your CV together with a letter of motivation by the closing date.


Recruitment timetable:

  • Closing date for applications: 1 December 2020, 11.59pm (GMT)
  • Interviews: to be confirmed
  • Preferred start date: as soon as possible