MSF Access Policy Advisor
Job Title: MSF Access Policy Advisor
Contract: Full time (100%)
Duration: Permanent
Location: Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) or Dakar (Senegal) or Nairobi (Kenya) or Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
Starting Date: September – October 2026
Deadline to apply: July 27, 2026
Reports to: Head of Analysis
Compensation and benefits: MSF practice is to offer the C&B package current in the MSF entity establishing the contract.
I. MSF INTERNATIONAL
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, healthcare exclusion and natural disasters. MSF assists people based only on need and irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation.
MSF International is the legal entity that binds MSF’s 24 sections, 27 associations and 18 branch offices together. Registered in Switzerland, MSF International provides coordination, information and support to the MSF Movement, as well as implements international projects and initiatives as requested.
II. BACKGROUND
MSF Access
Médecins Sans Frontières works tirelessly to improve the accessibility, availability, affordability, appropriateness and quality of products for health care for the populations it assists and their communities. While this is a collective effort across the organisation, the MSF Access team plays a central role as it identifies and implements a priority selection of access projects, offers expert support for access activities elsewhere in MSF, and brings together information and analysis relevant to MSF’s access work. The MSF Access team, overseen by an Executive Board, is based in the following five regional hubs:
Dakar, Senegal: covering West and Central Africa
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: covering the Americas
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: covering Asia and Oceania
Nairobi, Kenya: covering Eastern and Southern Africa
Brussels, Belgium: covering Europe, the Middle East, and Northern Africa
The work of MSF Access is rooted in MSF’s medical humanitarian work and aims to improve access to medicines and healthcare products for people in the greatest need by bringing down barriers that keep people from getting the treatment they need to stay alive and healthy.
To do this, we advocate for the most effective medicines and health products to be available, affordable, and equitably accessible for the people we care for, and beyond.
The MSF Access team has the following responsibilities:
Gather input for MSF’s Common Priorities on access to products of healthcare (Access).
Design and implement Access Analysis & Advocacy activities to respond to the agreed Common Priorities.
Provide, facilitate, support on Access files outside the Common Priorities to MSF entities that request it.
Maintain an overview of Access initiatives across MSF and report on them annually.
Research, and stay informed of, the Access landscape globally and regionally to inform the MSF Movement of opportunities and threats.
The seven Common Priorities currently agreed upon by the MSF Movement include:
i. Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
ii. Vaccinations
iii. Tuberculosis
iv. Diabetes
v. Diagnostic Tools
vi. Sexual Reproductive Health and
vii. Cancer.
They are based on the Medical-Operational priorities witnessed by the Movement and are subject to possible changes on medium-term.
III. PLACE IN THE ORGANIZATION
The Policy Advisor works in the Analysis Department of MSF’s Access Team, reporting to the Head of Analysis. S/he works in a multidisciplinary team of the Analysis Department consisting of experts on medical, pharmaceutical, legal and policy issues related to access to health products and technologies. The Policy Advisor maintains a close working relationship with the regional hubs and the Advocacy/Communication department of the Access team.
IV. OBJECTIVES OF THE POSITION
Research, analysis, and scanning on cross cutting global policy developments and subjects concerning biomedical innovation and access, including the issues of transparency.
Provide advice on incorporating relevant policy issues in thematic and strategic analysis, including in regional context, including strategic opportunities and recommendations.
Support and provide input into the development and implementation of relevant advocacy strategies.
Establish and maintain an external network related to the responsibilities and represent MSF at relevant policy forums when required.
V. MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACTIVITIES
Research, analysis, and scanning on cross cutting global policies and developments
Reviewing, collating and synthesizing global policy literature in relation to transparency, innovation and access issues that affect the Access team’s works.
Provide technical and strategic advice on the concerned policy issues and analysis needs in thematic portfolios, including in the regional context
Maintain an overview, documentation and regular update of analysis and technical support on global policy issues affecting innovation and access, in line with the Knowledge and Information Management Guidelines.
2. Support and provide input into the development and implementation of advocacy strategies
Support and provide advice to other analysis team advisors, regional hubs and advocacy and communication advisors in position development, talking points and advocacy strategy on relevant global policy issues affecting innovation and equitable access
Maintain an external and internal network of relevant stakeholders, sharing MSF analysis and representing the Access team at external forum.
Qualification and knowledge
Graduate degree in the fields of global health policies, political science, public policy, law, international relations, or other relevant domains.
Strong knowledge of global health, access to medicines, research and development, and transparency issues.
Work experiences
Minimum 5 years of experience directly relevant to the responsibilities of the position.
Strong skills in research and analysis, critical thinking, writing technical and policy analysis documents and/or peer-reviewed publications.
Core competencies: project management, teamwork, problem solving, team management, strategic planning and priority setting.
Demonstrable technical leadership in a diverse and highly changing environment of actors.
Excellent communication and team working skills; and willingness to speak at public events.
Capacity to develop and maintain good working relationships in a complex international, cross-cultural environment.
Genuine interest in and commitment to the humanitarian principles of MSF;
Experience working in resource-limited settings, ideally with MSF at field and/or HQ levels is an asset.
Appreciation of cultural and gender diversity, and strong commitment to equity and inclusion.
Proficiency in oral and written English, other languages an asset.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
At MSF, we are committed to an inclusive culture that encourages and supports the diverse voices of our employees. We welcome applications from individuals of all genders, ages, sexual orientations, nationalities, races, religions, beliefs, ability status, and all other diversity characteristics.
MSF is committed to preventing abuse, inappropriate behaviour, lack of integrity and financial misconduct in its work and care spaces. MSF expects all staff to share this commitment and promote an environment where abuse and misconduct is not tolerated.
We are committed to removing barriers for people with specific accessibility needs. If you need an adjustment to the recruitment process to be considered for the role, please let us know from the beginning of the selection process.
Note: All offers of employment will be subject to reference checks, including Human Resources, and to appropriate screening checks. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her/their understanding of these selection procedures.