Title of the function: Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Advisor
Contract: Full time (100%)
Duration: 1 year
Location: any MSF office
Reporting to: MSF Access Head of Analysis
Start date: September 2026
Deadline to apply: August 03, 2026 (Monday)
Compensation and benefits: MSF practice is to offer the C&B package current in the MSF entity establishing the contract.
This job description may evolve according to the finalized MSF Access Strategic Plan, although its main parameters (scope, area of expertise) should not be essentially altered. Until that key stage, the incumbent is expected to demonstrate a degree of flexibility in the performance of their work.
I. BACKGROUND
MSF INTERNATIONAL
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare. MSF offers assistance to 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.
MSF ACCESS
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) works tirelessly to enhance the accessibility, availability, affordability, appropriateness, and quality of healthcare products for the populations it serves. While this is a collective mission, the MSF Access team plays a pivotal role by identifying and implementing priority strategies and projects, providing expert support across the movement, and centralizing strategic analysis. 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:
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Gather input for MSF’s Common Priorities on access to products of healthcare (Access).
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Design and implement Access Analysis & Advocacy activities to respond to the agreed Common Priorities.
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Provide, facilitate, support on Access files outside the Common Priorities to MSF entities that request it.
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Maintain an overview of Access initiatives across MSF and report on them annually.
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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.
Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) is a central component of MSF’s medical response, given its profound impact on morbidity, mortality, and overall, well-being, particularly among women, adolescents, and crisis-affected populations. Globally, preventable SRH conditions remain among the leading causes of death and disability for women of reproductive age, with complications from pregnancy and childbirth causing nearly 300,000 deaths per year, and an estimated 45% of all abortions occurring in unsafe conditions in low-and middle-income countries. Persistent access barriers, including restrictive policies, supply shortages, market fragmentation, slow regulatory pathways, and limited availability of essential medical tools such as contraceptives, maternal health medicines, safe abortion care tools, and point-of-care sexually transmitted infections diagnostic tools, directly undermine MSF’s ability to deliver effective care in the field. Strengthening SRH within the MSF Access agenda is therefore essential to ensuring that MSF can proactively address barriers hindering availability and accessibility of priority SRH products and technologies and support the introduction of innovative tools adapted to humanitarian and low-resource settings. Access challenges around SRH products and technologies were identified as a key common priority for MSF Access team to work into its strategic plan 2026–2031.
II. PLACE IN THE ORGANIZATION
The SRH Advisor is part of the Analysis Department of MSF’s Access team, reporting to the Head of Analysis. S/he works in a multidisciplinary team consisting of experts on medical, pharmaceutical, legal and policy issues related to access to health products and technologies. S/he works closely with the regional hubs of the Access team on SRH access issues. The SRH Advisor maintains a close working relationship with MSF technical working groups, medical referents, and other technical experts at MSF projects and headquarters.
III. OBJECTIVES OF THE POSITION
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Lead research, analysis, and horizon scanning on SRH product pipelines and priorities.
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Lead and coordinate analysis concerning access situations and challenges related to priority SRH products and technologies identified by MSF.
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Support and provide input into the development and implementation of advocacy strategies in relation to accessing priority SRH technologies and innovations.
MAIN ACTIVITIES
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Lead research, analysis, and horizon scanning on access issues concerning priority SRH products and technologies
- Conduct and coordinate analyses on technical, policy and other structural barriers affecting the availability, affordability, appropriateness, and quality of priority SRH products and technologies.
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In collaboration with pharmacist advisor, legal and policy advisor and other relevant experts, to monitor and analyse market dynamics, including pricing trends, supply chain vulnerabilities, patent landscapes, regulatory pathways, R&D pipelines, and manufacturer behaviour across priority SRH products and technologies.
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Based on analysis, to provide strategic recommendations and advice on priority areas for MSF Access to focus on in its strategic plan circle of 2026-2031
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Produce high-quality internal reports, policy briefs, landscape analyses and strategic notes to support MSF Access works.
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Contribute to horizon scanning to identify emerging SRH technology innovations, evaluating their operational relevance, feasibility, and potential for integration into MSF programs.
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Work closely with pharmacist advisor, support MSF procurement analysis and needs, including price reduction negotiations for MSF field operations, and engage with manufacturers, product developers, and key funders to be abreast of the landscape and advocate for medicines, products, tools that are suited to low-resource contexts.
2. Support and provide input into the development and implementation of advocacy strategies in relation to priority SRH products and technologies
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Support and provide advice to regional hubs and advocacy and communication advisors in the development of positions, talking points and questions on relevant access issues affecting innovation and equitable access to priority SRH products.
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Prepare and give presentations for internal and external meetings, including international conferences related to access to SRH issues.
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Regular engagement with internal and external relevant stakeholders, especially MSF’s technical working groups on SRH access works.
IV. EXPECTED DELIVERABLES
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SRH Access Landscape Analysis
A comprehensive analysis of access barriers affecting priority SRH products and technologies, including market dynamics, regulatory pathways, affordability, availability, supply chain considerations, and access-related operational challenges in humanitarian and resource-limited settings.
2. Priority SRH Product and Technology Portfolio
A structured and regularly updated prioritization of SRH products and technologies relevant to MSF Access.
3. Horizon Scanning and Innovation Monitoring Report
A systematic review of emerging SRH technologies and product development pipelines, including assessments of their potential relevance, feasibility, and added value for MSF operations and the populations it serves.
4. SRH Access Dossier Priorities
Based on landscape and priority product analysis, provide strategic recommendations and advice to enable the development of action plans on priority access issues concerning priority SRH products and technologies.
Qualification and knowledge
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SRH expertise with qualification as a midwife, medical doctor, nurse, pharmacist or other relevant fields. Advanced degree with a PhD or MSc is a strong asset.
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Additional qualification related to global health or public health are an asset.
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Strong technical background and experience in working on accessing existing and innovative SRH products and technologies, ideally in resource-limited settings.
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Strong knowledge of SRH products development and innovation pipelines, market and relevant policy framework at the global level, and good understanding of these landscapes and frameworks in low and middle income countries.
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Solid understanding of global health policies, key actors and stakeholders related to SRH technologies in the global health arena.
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Deep knowledge of access to SRH products and technologies in resource-limited/humanitarian settings and the political or policy constraints in MSF contexts.
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Experience in sub-Saharan Africa, ideally West or Central Africa.
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Ability to travel
Work experiences
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Minimum 5 years of experience directly relevant to the responsibilities of the position.
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Strong skills in research and analysis, writing technical documents and/or scientific publications.
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Demonstrable technical leadership in a diverse and highly changing environment of actors.
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Excellent communication and team working skills; and public speaking experiences.
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Capacity to develop and maintain good working relationships in a complex international, cross-cultural environment.
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Genuine interest in and commitment to the humanitarian principles of MSF.
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Experience working in resource-limited settings.
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Appreciation of cultural and gender diversity, and strong commitment to equity and inclusion.
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Proficiency in oral and written English, working knowledge of French and/or other languages are 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.
