Médecins Sans Frontières is a private, non-profit international humanitarian organization dedicated to providing medical assistance to populations in crisis, without discrimination and regardless of race, religion, gender, creed, or political affiliation.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Head of Mission Advisor

Location: Abuja (FCT)

Description

• Together with the Head of Mission and the Coordination Team participates in the analysis and follow up of humanitarian context and security situation. Advising, participating, and when requested, representing the HoM with regards to relevant national partners/stakeholders. Support the Mission in understanding the pre-sent and the evolving environment, power structures and changing dynamics.
• Support in the development, implementation and maintenance of a networking and communication strategy, ensuring contacts with authorities, local communities and external actors. Participating and advising the HoM in the preparation of the overall planning of operations, including the review and update of the country policy, action plan.

Accountabilities / Responsibilities (Non-exhaustive list)

• Undertake country level actor mapping looking at national, provincial and regional (as relevant) authorities and conflict dynamics and support HoM(s) with context analysis.
• Develop and maintain a network of contacts in order to share information on the context, follow trends, identify new risks and threats.
• Gain an understanding of how MSF is perceived by health professionals, population and relevant actors (political, armed groups, religious authorities…).
• Produce context analysis briefings highlighting the latest social, economic, political and security trends with (potential) impact on the security and humanitarian contexts
• Map armed actors, community key-individuals and (ethnic) groups customary and political structures.
• Analyse impact of local dynamics on project staff’s safety and security as well as impact on population at large.
• In his/her advisory capacity, review, propose updates and advise the HoM in implementing the Country Security Plan, risk analysis/risk reduction measures, in accordance with MSF Security Policy.
• Assist the HoM in dissemination of relevant context information to the coordination team, regularly inform them on key issues, update general information on the context for MSF internal documents, and advise on cultural appropriateness of organizational activities and individual behaviors
• Support the HoM in official representation. Upon delegation, represent MSF in meetings.
• Participate actively to the negotiation of access, identify gaps that prevent MSF to operate.
• Liaise with local potential stakeholders and help the HoM to create, reinforce and maintain links with local leaders, tribes, authorities, armed forces.
• Advise on and be involved in the negotiations, finalization and maintenance of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between MSF and the Government / any other institution involved.
• On request of the HoM, fill gaps and participate to the elaboration of different mission strategic documents, contributing to the mission´s strategic planning and objectives.
• Raise security awareness among the staff through regular meetings on security context
• Write up reports on each security incident affecting MSF personnel and monitor its aftermath.
• Introduce actor-mapping methodology that can be independently maintained (regularly updated and improved) for each project.
• Support and coach Coordination team members and Project Coordinators, on culturally sensitive manner of representation to local contacts, provide advice and support as needed evolution/challenges faced.

Context Specific Accountabilities (Non-exhaustive list)

• Strengthen geographically focused context analysis: Establish and maintain a systematic, regularly updated analysis of the humanitarian, political, socio-economic and security context in Niger State, Kano State and the Nige-ria–Benin border areas relevant to MSF operations
• Map government stakeholders and negotiation channels: Identify, map and assess relevant federal, state, local-government and border-level authorities, including their mandates, influence, decision-making processes and relationships.
• Map non-state actors and local power structures: Develop and maintain an evidence-based overview of non-state actors and influential networks that may affect humanitarian needs, access, acceptance or security.
• Analyse conflict, insecurity and cross-border dynamics: Monitor and analyses drivers and patterns of violence, displacement, criminality, intercommunal tensions, resource-related disputes and other relevant risks in the target are-as.
• Identify negotiation priorities and support humanitarian access: For each priority location, identify stakeholders with authority or influence to enable, constrain or disrupt MSF activities.
• Track perceptions, acceptance and community engagement: Assess how MSF is perceived by affected populations, health professionals, authorities, community leaders and other relevant actors. Identify sources of mistrust, mis-information, tensions or exclusion, and recommend context-appropriate communication and engagement approaches that strengthen acceptance, accountability and the safe delivery of assistance.
• Translate analysis into operational and security advice: Provide timely, actionable analysis and scenario-based recommendations to the HoM and Coordination Team.
• Build and maintain reliable information networks: Develop trusted, diverse and appropriately managed information networks across the three priority areas, including contacts within public institutions, communities, civil society and other relevant actors.
• Strengthen organisational learning and capacity: Introduce and maintain practical stakeholder-mapping and context-monitoring tools for Niger, Kano, Kwara and any other State deemed necessary as well as the Nigeria–Benin border areas. Ensure that analysis is regularly reviewed with field teams, updated as dynamics change, and translated into clear briefings.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Education: University Degree
• Experience: Experience working in Nigerian mission and demonstrate capacity for analysis, networking and negotiation is Required.
• Languages: English
• Computer Literacy: Essential computer skills; Word, excel, internet, etc.
• Competencies: Strategic Vision L2
• Leadership L2
• People Management and development L3
• Service Orientation L3
• Teamwork and Cooperation L4.

Remuneration

• According to the MSF WACA salary scale (Level 12) in Nigeria.

Application Closing Date
25th November, 2026.