Field Advocacy Officer

Founded in 1993, Médecins du Monde Switzerland is a medical association of international solidarity that is part of the Médecins du Monde network. We provide sustainable access to health care for people in vulnerable situations in Switzerland and around the world.

MdM Switzerland, has been working in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) since 1994 in the sector of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), implementing emergency and development interventions, focusing on victim of occupation-related violence, children and detention, suicide prevention and management, strengthen of access to mental health cares at national and community level, and advocacy initiative.

In Palestine, three MdM chapters – MdM France, Spain and Switzerland - have been working for over thirty years, implementing emergency and development interventions. The three MdM chapters ensure a full and complementary coverage of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip, focusing on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), Primary Health Care, Medical Emergency Preparedness and Response and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH). MdM is also engaged in international advocacy for policy change in the context of Palestine, using evidence-based advocacy to highlight violations observed on the ground and to call for respect of IHL, particularly the protection of civilians, access to health, and accountability.

MISSION

He/she participates in designing, updating and implementing the advocacy strategy of the 3 MdM chapters (France, Spain, Suisse) in Palestine.

POSITION WITHIN THE STRUCTURE

The post is shared equally among MdM France, Spain and Switzerland. The Advocacy Officer’s main office is MdM Switzerland Coordination office in Ramallah. The Advocacy Officer also does regular visits to MdM France, Spain and Switzerland Field offices in Nablus, Jericho and Bethlehem. Occasionally, the Advocacy Officer can visit MdM France and Spain Coordination offices in Birzeit.

Hierarchical link: The Advocacy Officer works under the responsibility and in close collaboration with the Advocacy Coordinator, who is in charge of ensuring that his/her work aligns with the objectives, deadlines, and priorities set out in the Advocacy workplan. The Advocacy Coordinator provides the necessary guidance, support, and oversight to ensure the Advocacy Officer effectively carries out their tasks, resolves any challenges, and ensures balanced and productive engagement with all relevant MdM teams to fulfill the workplan’s objectives.

Duration of contract: 12 months, to be confirmed upon financial availability

Main Responsibilities:

1- Participation in implementation of MdM advocacy strategy and positioning

• Monitor closely and analyze policy developments at national / regional / international level to gather relevant information for advocacy and inform evolutions in strategies and tactics.
• Monitor and analyze the humanitarian context, architecture and actors at play to identify the main positioning issues and ensure a principled humanitarian action.

2- Operational implementation

Work plan and strategic planning and development:

• Implement, in close coordination with the Advocacy Coordinator, advocacy work plans at national level.
• In coordination with the Advocacy Coordinator, contribute to identifying key issues emerging from MdM programs and operations that would require advocacy for policy changes.
• Contribute to reflections and drafting of key messages, construction of arguments, update and revision of working documents.

Data collection, analysis and development of advocacy materials:

• Regularly liaise with key operational staff to gather timely information and data to feed into MdM advocacy tools.
• Address ad-hoc data requests for specific advocacy initiatives, providing relevant and timely information to support targeted campaigns.
• Oversee the collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data emerging from MdM operations, including ad-hoc data collection and testimony recording, while collaborating to uphold the quality, accuracy and advocacy relevance of all gathered information.
• Participate in accompanying, supporting and strengthening the advocacy capacities of MdM teams, participate or conduct advocacy trainings and sensitization sessions.
• Synthesize quantitative and qualitative data from humanitarian operations into compelling narratives that support advocacy objectives and highlight key issues.
• Contribute to the preparation of advocacy tools and products (reports, briefing papers, talking points, medias/social media tools, collection of testimonies), in collaboration with the Advocacy Coordinator, HQ Advocacy Advisors and Health and Mental Health experts.
• Present advocacy tools and products to internal and external audiences, ensuring clear and effective communication of key messages.
• When appropriate, liaise with the media on advocacy related issues with the support of the Advocacy and Communication teams.

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PROFILE:

1- Experience

• Proven experience in developing and implementing advocacy strategies at local and international levels
• Experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis for advocacy purposes
• Experience in context analysis, policy development in relation to principled humanitarian action
• Experience in the areas of health, including mental health, is a strong asset.

2- Skills

• Proficiency in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to support advocacy initiatives, including the capacity to work with quantitative data tables, extract meaningful insights, and understand the implications of the data for advocacy goals. This also includes experience in qualitative data gathering, testimony recording, and a strong understanding of ethical considerations in data collection, ensuring confidentiality, consent, and the responsible use of sensitive information.
• Knowledge of how to use policy, research, lobbying, public campaigns, media and digital work to influence the policy agenda.
• Excellent analytical skills, particularly in complex policy contexts.
• Excellent verbal and written skills in English and Arabic, with proven ability in translating between Arabic and English. French and/or Spanish are an asset.
• Skills in graphic design, video, photo editing, Adobe suite and web development applications would be a plus.
• Strong organizational and coordination skills.
• Driving license.

3- Qualification

• Degree in International Law (IHL, IHRL, Human Rights, Refugee Law etc.), International relations, political science or equivalent degree or with significant experience.

4- Personal Attributes:

• Commitment: Strong commitment to MdM’s mission and values, particularly the right to health and humanitarian principles.
• Team Player: Ability to work collaboratively and ability to engage with multiple teams and professional disciplines.
• Initiative: Proactive and able to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Stress resistance: capacity to work under tight deadlines and in a stressful environment.

CONDITIONS:

• The position is based in Ramallah.
• Contract Duration: 12 months can be renewable.
• Working Hours: Standard office working hours from Sunday to Thursday.

Interested applicants should send a detailed CV and motivational letter in English to: [email protected]

titled “Field Advocacy Officer ” before 16/02/2025.