Location: Belgium
Language skills: French & Dutch & English
MSF experience required: Previous MSF experience as an asset
Time allocation: Full time
Length of contract: 4 months
Contract type: Fixed term
Expertise: Advocacy
Work model: On site
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides assistance in more than 70 countries to populations in distress, to victims of natural or manmade disasters and to victims of armed conflicts, without discrimination and irrespective of origin, religion, creed or political affiliation.
Context
The MSF project in Belgium intends to address within a multi-disciplinary and collaborative approach, the health needs and main social determinants of populations in situation of exclusion in parallel to pro-actively engaging on the visibility of the problematics and promoting institutional change. The target population includes migrants in transit, in stagnation, undocumented migrants and those in administrative detention.
Today, the Belgian project is structured around 4 axes of intervention:
- Outreach with a mobile team which provides sensitization, prevention, infections control, health promotion, mental, nursing and primary health care, and referral to specialized medical care for the most vulnerable in need
- Detention where MSF coordinates a pool of doctor volunteers providing second medical opinion for people held in administrative detention center
- Emergencies preparedness: the project responds to specific identified emergencies when needed.
- Advocacy & communications focusing on the policy of non-reception organized by the Belgian government, as well as the impact on the mental and physical health of people who are excluded and forced to live in undignified conditions
Main responsibilities
Contribute to the development of humanitarian affairs activities in the country by supporting the project team in the analysis of context, humanitarian situation, security as well as in the definition and implementation of advocacy strategies, according to MSF policies and values, in order to improve the humanitarian and human rights situation among population.
Accountabilities
- Perform data collection and research concerning local and international context, with regards to security, medical, and humanitarian issues, in order to provide reliable information for further decision-making
- Support the project managers in the analysis of the data collected, in order to better orientate the activities and to provide an optimal response to population needs
- Compile regular updates of the ongoing (inter-)national activities and plans of NGO’s, UN, ICRC, donors, authorities and other actors on lobby, policy and operational plans and initiatives in order to adequate MSF ’s activities and objectives
- Collaborate with the PC, the advocacy & communication departments and other relevant parties to develop a coherent global strategy in order to address the humanitarian situation
- Ensure smooth working relationship with local authorities, NGO’s, local communities and other actors, in order to facilitate MSF teams a better access to the population and improve MSF activities’ coordination with third parties
- Organize discussions, trainings, briefings, etc. about human rights, humanitarian issues and advocacy activities, in order to raise awareness of MSF staff regarding these matters
- Define and review messages, tools, lobbying activities and other advocacy action plans and strategies, in order to raise all humanitarian issues in the mission and seek assistance and protection to affected population
- Participates in the elaboration and updating of the Country Risk Analysis, Country Policy Paper, Stakeholders Masterfile and other internal documents including evidence collection system. Drafts regular reports for internal and external use on context, planned activities and achieved results
MSF Section/Context Specific Accountabilities
- Manage media and liaise with team members for interview requests. Act as spokesperson upon agreement with PC. Collaborate with MSF digital teams for strategic dissemination and engagement on MSF social media channels
- Advises PC / PMC on perception related to positioning and operational strategy and insurance of good acceptance for MSF presence
- Contributes to advocacy objectives and content production by supplying material such as information, testimonies, pictures, videos, etc
- In collaboration with the Advocacy department, Detention manager and the PMC, design and support the implementation of quantitative and qualitative data and testimonies collection. Analyze and use this data to strengthen MSF’s message and reach the project’s objectives
- Stay updated on developments in EU and Belgian migration and asylum related narratives, legislation, policies and practices
- Participate in development and ensure follow up of the advocacy and communication strategies of the MSF belgian project
- Collaborates with other advocacy responsible personnel in the country, region, OCs and HQ working on migration topic
- Represent MSF and participate in external meetings. Participate in referrals to relevant actors
- Participate in exploratory missions within the country and ensure incorporating the advocacy and humanitarian affairs perspectives into the assessment
Requirements
Education
- Academic background to Masters’ level (anthropology/social/political sciences, law, gender studies, protection) with first-rate writing skills and excellent re-search / analytical skills
Experience
- Essential experience with MSF or other humanitarian NGOs in the field of migration
- Desirable working experience in developing countries
- Good understanding of current humanitarian debates and Belgian associative and political environment
Competencies
- Results and Quality Orientation
- Cross-cultural awareness
- Ability to adapt and synthesize various constraints
- Propose concrete solutions in a complex and changing environment
- Teamwork and Cooperation
- Behavioral Flexibility
- Commitment to MSF Principles
Languages
- Professional proficiency in Dutch, French and English
Knowledge
- Computer literacy (word, excel and internet)
Conditions
- Expected starting date: 24th of August 2026
- Location: Brussels, mainly carried out in the project (Belgium)
- Contract type: Fixed-term contract – full-time
Due to legal administrative constraints, given the duration of the contract, candidates must already have the permanent right as Belgian or EU national, and/or valid work permit with mention of “Unlimited access to the labor market” to work in Belgium*
- Contract duration: until 31/12/2026
- Salary according to MSF-OCB Head Office grid
- Meal Vouchers – Hospital Insurance (DKV) – Pension Plan – 100% reimbursement for public transportation costs
- *Adhere to the MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment*
- *Adhere to the MSF Behavioral Commitments*
*Interview will take place only on the first week of August 2026*
Deadline for applications: 27th of July 2026
How to apply?
- Submit your application via the 'Apply here’ button
- You will be directed to the online application form for this position
- It should take 5-10 minutes to complete. Thank you in advance for having your CV and motivation letter (in PDF format ready to upload)
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted