Advocacy coordinator (F/M) – Lebanon

For more than 40 years, Médecins du Monde (MdM), a campaigning medical organisation committed to international solidarity, has been caring for the most vulnerable populations here and abroad. It has continued to bear witness to obstacles that exist in accessing healthcare and has secured sustainable improvements in health-for-all policies.

Those working for this independent organisation do not solely dispense care and treatment but condemn violations of human dignity and rights and fight to improve matters for populations living in precarious situations.

MdM France currently works in 30 countries across all continents to facilitate access to healthcare through 6 political battles:

• Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights
• Migration, Exile, Human Rights and Health
• Harm Reduction
• Environment and Health
• Humanitarian Space
• Healthcare systems and rights

MdM has been working in Lebanon for nearly 30 years and specifically on the response to the Syrian crisis since 2012. The goal of MdM in Lebanon is to offer care to Syrian refugees and vulnerable Lebanese affected by this crisis. Currently, medical assistance is provided through one partner in one Primary Health Care Center in north Bekaa. MdM’s MHPSS intervention in Lebanon aims to strengthen the national mental health system and increase access to quality mental healthcare. MdM is working in the integration of mental health in the primary healthcare system and contributing to the development of a community-based mental healthcare services, opening and running community mental health centers (CMHC), in coordination with partners for the substance use, gender and inclusion components.

Since September 23, 2024, and the intensification of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, Lebanon has entered a humanitarian crisis, with almost a million internally displaced persons (IDPs). MdM is stepping up its emergency response in areas where it is already active and is planning assessments in other parts of the country.

MdM’s activities are based in Beirut, Bekaa Valley and Tripoli.

Job description

Under the supervision of the general coordinator, you will be in charge of designing and updating the advocacy strategy of MdM in Lebanon and implementing its action plan. You will also act as the communication focal point for the missions.

Your main responsabilities are the following:

Development and implementation of the advocacy strategy

• Develop and consolidate the MdM’s advocacy strategy for Lebanon
• Propose an adequate advocacy action plan for the mission and for the field bases, including activities aime at achieving objectives at the international and national level, using traditional and innovative advocacy actions
• Organize and participate in high-level briefings and field visits
• Monitor closely and analyze the political environment and context, including the international community
• Update the strategy and initiate reactive advocacy actions based on regular follow up of the main political and diplomatic stakeholders’ agenda, statements and movements

Capacity building

• Sensitize the field teams about advocacy work, involve them in advocacy actions and train the field teams to collect testimonies
• Encourage the team to participate in and produce advocacy and communication for advocacy material
• Ensure advocacy, humanitarian principles and IHL trainings for the field teams

Elaboration of advocacy supporting material

• Elaborate factsheets highlighting advocacy messages from our field data on the different areas of the strategy
• Propose, draft and review relevant investigations/reports/case studies or policy briefs
• Contribute to collect key operational data to be used for advocacy and reporting purposes
• Contribute to prepare press releases and social media content designed for advocacy purposes
• Propose and elaborate advocacy and communication-advocacy related material to feed the Lebanon and French social media
• Contribute to media interventions when related to advocacy purposes
• Organize press briefings and press trips to the field
• Coordinate international awareness days and campaigns related to the operations in the field

Coordination, Networking

• Represent MdM and participate actively in advocacy coordination groups to develop shared messages and take part in joint initiatives
• Maintain regular and direct communication with major stakeholders including political authorities, diplomatic representations, international organizations, local and international NGOs
• Develop a strong local network and maintain the advocacy contact database
• Support and capacity building MdM local partnerships, especially in advocacy

Profile

• Diploma in international relations, IHL, human rights law or similar degree
• Proven experience in developing and implementing advocacy strategies at local and international levels
• Experience in the areas of gender-based violence and health is an asset
• Knowledge of Lebanon or the Middle East is an asset
• Negotiation, diplomacy, networking skills and ability to defend an advocacy position to external actors
• Skills in graphic design, video, photo editing, Adobe suite and web development applications
• Excellent Windows skills (Word, Excel…), good knowledge of key social media for advocacy purposes
• Fluency in English is mandatory (both oral and written). Knowledge of French and/or Arabic is an asset

Conditions of employment

• Starting date: as soon as possible
• 6-month contract
• Gross monthly salary: €3,306
• Position based in Beirut, Lebanon
• Premium equal to one month salary paid in two instalments – minimum of 6 months seniority required
• Expatriation bonus (10% gross salary per month)
• Transportation cost, vaccines and visas covered
• Guesthouse housing
• 22.5 recovery days per year
• 5 weeks of paid leaves per year
• Health insurance (contribution 50% covered by MdM and 50% by the employee)
• Insurance (repatriation…)

Médecins du Monde promotes trainings and internal mobility

As part of our measures to combat money laundering and financing of terrorism, any selected candidate may be subject to a background check on international sanctions lists (UN, the EU, France, the United States…). This information is handled confidentially and stored on a secure server. For more information on the processing of personal data throughout this process: http://bit.ly/3CSTDYO

TELEPHONE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

Médecins du Monde reserves the right to fill the vacancy before the closing date for applications.

MdM stands up for the integration of people living with disabilities and fights against discrimination.