Médecins Sans Frontières Access Campaign Advocacy Officer
Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is an independent international medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural or man-made disasters, or exclusion from health care in more than 70 countries. Most of the medical operations internationally are in Africa.
The Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines is an international MSF project launched in 1999 to improve access and stimulate development of adapted medical tools (medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and other health technologies) for resource-limited settings.
To support this work, MSF South Africa is seeking to recruit an MSF Access Campaign, South Africa Advocacy Officer. The Access Campaign South Africa Advocacy Officer will customize international objectives for the international Access Campaign for South and Southern Africa. The Advocacy Officer will develop and execute an advocacy plan in conjunction with the Access Campaign internationally, key departments in South Africa, and other entities around the MSF network and externally. The Advocacy Officer has a strong engagement with civil society, government and other medical and research institutions.
Key tasks and responsibilities
● Work with internal and external partners to lead campaigns. Currently MSF is working with the Treatment Action Campaign on “Fix the Patent Laws” (http://www.fixthepatentlaws.org), which aims to ensure that TRIPS flexibilities are instituted within South African law. Initially this campaign will be a priority, especially with regards to ensuring that key medical examples are well documented, and that engagement with media, civil society, and government (particularly through a public comment process) continues.
● Work with civil society, medical organisations, and governments from across Southern Africa on issues of intellectual property and access to medicines. A large part of this will include building a network of activists that are working on issues such as pre- and post grant patent oppositions, anti-counterfeiting legislation, and the Research & Development convention. ● Give advocacy support to key operational priorities, in conjunction with other MSF advocacy, medical and operational professionals. These priorities include: MDR-TB (considering barriers to access to existing drugs, including regulatory and price issues and access to new drugs; expanding access to paediatric ARVs; and expanding access to 2nd and 3rd line ARVs (emphasis on cost). There will also be regional support for work on ensuring continued scale-up of the HIV response, with a particular focus on international funding. Finally, there will be involvement with the international campaign team to address challenges in immunisation in sub-Saharan African countries. ● Work with MSF colleagues in region who are addressing drug supply problems, including but not limited to stock outs. ● Responsibility will include representation of MSF publically both at meetings and in public forums. ● Coalition building is an important part of this work.
● Work with civil society, medical organisations, and governments from across Southern Africa on issues of intellectual property and access to medicines. A large part of this will include building a network of activists that are working on issues such as pre- and post grant patent oppositions, anti-counterfeiting legislation, and the Research & Development convention. ● Give advocacy support to key operational priorities, in conjunction with other MSF advocacy, medical and operational professionals. These priorities include: MDR-TB (considering barriers to access to existing drugs, including regulatory and price issues and access to new drugs; expanding access to paediatric ARVs; and expanding access to 2nd and 3rd line ARVs (emphasis on cost). There will also be regional support for work on ensuring continued scale-up of the HIV response, with a particular focus on international funding. Finally, there will be involvement with the international campaign team to address challenges in immunisation in sub-Saharan African countries. ● Work with MSF colleagues in region who are addressing drug supply problems, including but not limited to stock outs. ● Responsibility will include representation of MSF publically both at meetings and in public forums. ● Coalition building is an important part of this work.
General
● The position of the Access Campaign South Africa Advocacy Officer will be based in Johannesburg and be housed by the Programmes Unit. The position will be fully integrated into MSF South Africa, with participation in strategy sessions. Close collaboration with MSF South Africa communications team is a must. There will also be in-person presence and tight collaboration with the Cape Town units (operational and medical teams). ● The person will also be integrated with the international Access Campaign, including regular telephone meetings and agreement of action plans and yearly meetings in Europe, with other international travel as required. Critical direction will come from the Geneva-based Policy Advocacy director in Geneva.
Job Specification:
Education
● Undergraduate degree in sciences, public health, medical, social sciences or communication.
Experience Knowledge and Skills
● The ideal candidate should have extensive experience and knowledge of HIV/AIDS, TB and MDR-TB, and access to medicines issues such as: intellectual property, regulatory issues, and pricing issues ● Experience working with civil society, government, and research institutions is key. ● At least two years experience working in a medical advocacy (or related) position ● Strong writing, analytical and communications skills. Experience in public speaking an asset ● Computer literacy ● Driver’s license is essential ● Experience working in a medical organisation or a health background is a plus ● MSF operational experience is a strong plus ● If the candidate comes with their own contacts and experience in key health networks in South African and the region, this will be a plus. ● Graduate degree a plus ● South African citizenship or valid work permit required
Languages
● Fluency in spoken and written English ● Other languages an advantage
Personal attributes
● Good communication, interpersonal and listening skills ● Ability to learn quickly ● Ability to work well under pressure ● Strong attention to detail ● Good organisational skills ● Willingness to work beyond official working times ● Willingness to travel in South Africa and internationally ● Ability to relate to people
How to apply:
To apply, please forward a detailed CV together with a cover letter for attention Zoya Naidoo tozoya.naidoo@joburg.msf.org no later than 21 November 2012 at 16:00. Only applications with the subject line: ACCESS 2012 will be considered. MSF will only respond to applicants who have been successfully shortlisted. The start date for this position is 3 December 2012 (negotiable).
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