Senior Researcher

on Responding to Humanitarian Consequences and Health Impact of Climate Change

Field-based position with visits to the headquarters in Geneva

Context

As a medical and humanitarian organization, MSF is particularly concerned and exposed to the current consequences of climate and environmental crisis. Indeed, a significant proportion of health problems managed in MSF projects are climate-sensitive diseases, most of which are projected to increase over time. These include infectious diseases such as malaria, dengue, zika, diarrheal disease, and malnutrition, respiratory and cardiovascular illness. In addition, new challenges, such as the mortality and morbidity related to extreme heat events or extreme weather events have already increased and is very likely to continue to do so. Furthermore, most of MSF interventions are taking place in the most climate vulnerable countries. As such, climate change and environmental degradations add additional threats on already vulnerable regions and act as an amplifier. The communities with whom MSF works are among the first and hardest hit by the climate & environmental emergencies.

MSF Switzerland has put those concerns as one of the key focus of its Institutional Strategy. MSF aims to carry out an operational research on the nexus between climate change and health in humanitarian emergencies to develop MSF’s knowledge on the topic, enhance its ability to advocate from an evidence-based perspective, and strengthen OCG’s operational responses to this unfolding crisis. The research will focus on the lived experience of patients and communities affected by climate change and/or environmental degradation in a humanitarian crisis setting, in order to inform and thus improve MSF future medical operations.

Mission

The senior researcher will lead the research by supervising the development of the adequate research methodology, conducting the literature review and develop case studies (carried out in the field and incl. interviews with affected populations and key informants) and interviews with experts.

Main Responsibilities

• Identify of case studies with departments and field missions, including discussions on the development of the methodology with MSF colleagues and other relevant experts
• Review of the relevant academic and grey literature (including MSF reports, evaluations, data, etc.) on the research questions and for each case study
• Data collection at field level (possibly integrated within current MSF activities) and analysis of findings. Unless quantitative assessments are planned, it will rely on qualitative approaches and tools (including guiding questions) and will include focus group discussions and semi structured interviews with affected people and key informants (i.e. local authorities, health workers, government officials, international/national institutions, and other actors responding to climate-accentuated humanitarian needs).
• Report writing and presentation of findings to relevant stakehoders

Your Profile

Education

• Master’s degree or equivalent in political science, public health, anthropology, social science, environmen-tal policies, or any other related field

Experience and Skills

• Experience in field research and qualitative research
• Academic experience an asset (peer review publications, academic articles…)
• Strong ability to write reports and peer-review publications
• Experience in the field with MSF or other humanitarian organization is a strong asset

Languages

• Excellent communication and writing skills in French and English

Personal Abilities

• Team-spirit while able to work autonomously
• Organized and structured way of working

Terms of Employment

• Fixed-term contract, 6 months
• Full time, 100%
• Working place : Field-based position (3-4 field locations)
• Practical working conditions in the field are in accordance with the MSF OCG volunteer manual.
• Ideal start date: As Soon As Possible
• Gross monthly salary: CHF 5’500.- based on 100%
• Benefits: Health insurance and living expenses in the countries of intervention and at headquarters, paid according to internal regulations.