Access to Products for Healthcare (APH) and Networking at Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)

Tasks & Responsibilities

Strategic Responsibilities

• Define and articulate the common ambitions, scope and principles related to APH.
• Develop a long-term networking and representation strategy for Eastern Africa and oversee its implementation.

Technical and Operational Responsibilities

Access to Products for Healthcare (50%)

Planning

• Participate in the revision and validation of the APH Structure Strategic Plan and present them to the represented sections before their submissions to MSF Executive Committee (ExCom).
• Participate in the design and review of the APH Annual Planning process that will be presented to the APH executive board.
• Work with structure management team on defining plans, internal policies, and validation process.
• Keep track of APH initiative and plans across the represented sections and their respective positions on matters of APH.

APH Projects

• Initiate and propose APH related projects to APH structure management team.
• Design projects in consistent with APH six core activities that are relevant to EA region and movement-wide priorities.
• Research and provide relevant data and information on specific APH projects to the respective sections for advocacy and information sharing.
• Regularly update the respective sections on ongoing APH project progress, outcomes, challenges, and articulate needs for support.
• Flag, with analysis, to represented sections on APH project with potential reputational or operational risks to MSF globally, and/or regionally, with the objective of averting untoward effects on MSF.

Coordination

• Bridge information exchanges between represented sections and the APH structures.
• Gather, analyze and inform on APH Problem Statements/Priorities from Sections represented by the position.
• Reflect with represented Sections, in group or bilateral, on engagement with APH structure. management team on processes, policy updates, and consolidate feedback to APH structure.
• Keep regular contact and working relationship with APH Structure Staff (particularly with EA Regional Coordination) to identify synergies, avoid duplications and find common grounds to improve access to products for healthcare.
• Engage with MSF entities that feed into MSF access (APH) related ambitions in their set-up, including but not limited to, EA PHU.

Executive Board

• Represent the Sections’ agenda on the APH Executive Board Meetings.
• Participate in the appointment of Executive Director and a chair to the Executive Board.
• As an EBM, review and feedback on the APH strategic plan content and development process.
• Assume collective accountability, as an Executive Board Member (EBM), for the content of external communications from the APH structure.
• Support the Change plan of Access Campaign (AC) to the APH model and highlight challenges to the represented sections. As an EBM, oversee and review the Organizational Change Model progress on its deliverables.
• Participate in drafting and reviewing of SEB regulations before submission for validation by the Full ExCom.

Communication, Engagement and Networking

• Draft and/or review a validation process for sensitive external communication pieces from the APH structure.
• Travel and report to missions/projects in Eastern Africa Region in order to witness, understand, and reflect on healthcare access challenges to populations in distress.
• Discuss current and future APH projects with field for their relevance and impact for access to healthcare.
• Engage with MSF stakeholders and other academic and research institutions on potential operational research ideas that fit into the APH objectives, in collaboration with the public health unit
• Network with other research, humanitarian and charity organizations in EA region who are working on access to products of healthcare in humanitarian settings, for experience sharing/learning, and dissemination of MSF products.

Other key considerations

It is important to clarify what responsibilities do not fall under their purview to prevent role confusion and ensure efficient collaboration with other departments. Here are some key considerations for aspects that the role does not apply to:

• The role does not serve as the ultimate regulatory body for product approvals.
• It is not responsible for authorizing product licensing or compliance certification, which typically falls under regulatory affairs or legal teams.
• The lead is not involved in the day-to-day logistics of procurement, warehousing, or distribution of healthcare products.
• The role does not involve direct management of research and development activities like drug formulation, clinical trials, or product innovation. It may, however, collaborate with research and development projects to align new product development with access strategies.
• The lead does not oversee product sales, pricing strategies, or commercial marketing activities.
• The role does not involve providing direct healthcare or clinical services to patients. It focuses on systemic access issues rather than individual patient care or case management.
• While the lead may recommend partnerships with stakeholders (e.g., governments, NGOs, manufacturers), s/he is not the sole decision-maker.
• The lead is not the sole driver of healthcare policy reform or advocacy campaigns.
• Although the role contributes to improving equitable access, it is not solely responsible while the role may support access strategies during crises, it is not responsible for leading emergency response operations or managing crises directly

MSF Eastern Africa (50%).

Contribute to strengthening MSF EA’s strategic engagement network in the region, working on a range of topics.

Networking

• Engage with a range of predefined stakeholders, including government agencies, multilateral organizations, universities, academics, think tanks, also focusing on specific topics and related platforms.
• Engage with governments in countries where MSF does not operate but are regionally relevant to the crises we respond to.
• Identify topics, produce relevant materials, and represent MSF by hosting regular events, meetings and briefings.

Analysis

• In close collaboration with multiple internal stakeholders such as the Humanitarian Representation Team (HRT) members and other relevant colleagues, provide advice and support to the development of MSF’s analysis and understanding of the region, as well as advocacy messages and engagement strategies led by others working in Eastern Africa as needed.
• Remain updated on operational and thematic topics of relevance to the populations MSF assists in the Eastern Africa region.

Coordination

• Develop a user-friendly stakeholders/actors’ database.
• Lead the mapping of actors, wider community and opportunities (meetings, platforms) of relevance for MSF´s networking and representation activities in Eastern Africa across.
• Track, brief and report on engagement activities and outcomes, to a range of MSF stakeholders across the movement to support our operations and advocacy efforts.
• Collaborate with existing resources focused on operations, advocacy and representation to define gaps and minimize duplication.
• Provide back up for advocacy and representation colleagues in the region as needed.

Other Responsibilities

• Member of MSF EA Extended Management Team.
• Member of the Executive Board of APH.
• Works in close tandem with the APH Structure Management Team - representing - MSF Denmark, MSF Eastern Africa, MSF Germany, MSF Norway, MSF Sweden and MSF UK.
• Works in tandem with the APH Hub (Eastern and Southern Africa) Representative.
• Works in collaboration and tandem with MSF EA public health unit.

Qualifications

Education

• A Medical or Paramedical degree from a recognized institution.
• A Master's degree in Public Health, Health Policy, Pharmacy or Medicine, Health Economics or an equivalent qualification from a recognized institution.

Experience

• At least five (5) years of MSF Field experience in at least three (3) different contexts.
• At least three (3) years’ experience in managing access to medicines, medical devices, or diagnostics at the strategic level in low-resource settings.
• Familiarity with essential medicine policies, frameworks and global health initiatives (e.g., WHO, Global Fund, GAVI).
• Demonstrated experience in health/medical qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Proven track record of engaging with stakeholders to address barriers to healthcare access.
• Experience in advocating for price reductions, intellectual property flexibilities (e.g., TRIPS waiver), and equitable distribution is an added value.
• Demonstrated knowledge of medical humanitarian issues and solid knowledge of or experience in the East and Southern Africa region.
• Knowledge and understanding of how MSF home Offices Operate.
• Basic knowledge of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law is an asset.