Access Internship

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is an independent international medical humanitarian organisation that delivers aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural or man made disasters, or to people that are excluded from access to health care. The organisation has health projects in more than 70 countries. MSF South Africa is located in Johannesburg with an office in Cape Town. MSF SA is governed by the MSF Southern Africa Association, which is made up of more than 300 members from seven countries in the region.

• Recruit medical and support staff to work internationally in MSF projects
• Provide strategic medical and technical support and training to MSF projects (especially those focusing on HIV/AIDS and TB)
• Communicate to the public, collaborate with humanitarian, health, activist and academic organisations and institutions
• Advocate on specific health issues, particularly access to treatment, medicines and diagnostics
• Raise funds to maintain MSFs medical humanitarian work

MSF South Africa is looking for an MSF Access Intern with an interest in health policy, willingness to learn, good organisational skills, high flexibility and ability to work under pressure with competing priorities and deliver results. The candidate must have a passion for humanitarian work. The intern will be assisting the MSF Access Regional Advisors with research in access related issues as well as administrative duties, collecting and compiling strategic information and supporting with organising events, campaigns and advocacy related work.

• Support the Regional Advisor/s with research and mapping of medicine access related to MSF Access common disease priorities in the Southern and Eastern Africa region.
• Support the Regional Advisor/s in developing regional context analysis and mapping of key policy trends in the region, related to key access topics.
• Support the Regional Advisor/s in the day to day access to treatment related work, including but not limited to price research, medicine registration, Research & Development and health innovation and other research and advocacy tasks as needed.

• Support with organising meetings, workshops and other key advocacy related events.
• Provide support in writing Meeting and Workshop notes.
• Support in coordinating the Fix the Patent Laws coalition, by providing administrative support, organising coalition meetings and managing the coalition's communication platforms.

• Assist with the development of advocacy related materials, liaison with designers and printers.
• Coordinate the printing and shipping of advocacy related materials, reports etc to Field Teams, HQ and other key contacts.
• Create and maintain a good up to date electronic filing system of key documents that can be accessed and shared with others (e.g. SharePoint, google docs etc).
• Conduct regular media monitoring of online and broadcast outlets through online content monitoring service (News clip), newspaper subscriptions and online media alerts (e.g. Google Alerts).
• Create and periodically maintain a stakeholder database (comprising of key stakeholders such as civil society, government officials, MSF staff etc.).

• Minimum University undergraduate degree or post graduate degree.
• Preferably studying/studied Public Health, Development Studies, International Relations or Political Science, Law, Economics or with demonstrable interest in working in the Health Policy Analysis and Advocacy field.
• Interest in national, regional and global health policy.
• Knowledge of Word, Excel, Power Point essential.
• Creative and highly flexible approach to work, and ability to work within a team, multi task and good stress management skills and ability to deal with high workload at specific times.
• Creative social media skills.
• Knowledge of local and regional access to medicine barriers like Intellectual Property barriers , pricing, stockouts , and other systemic issues would be an advantage.

• Experience of working within a dynamic MSF Access team and with the Engagement Representation Analysis and Advocacy team as well as within an international humanitarian organisation.
• Will be supported to develop networking, policy analysis, research, advocacy and lobbying skills in a niche area.
• Will gain excellent exposure, and understanding of Global, regional and national Health Actors as well as Civil Society organisations.
• Will gain good understanding of Access to Treatment issues globally and in the region - understanding the barriers, lobbying, policy and campaigning both locally and internationally.
• Will be able to develop organisational and planning skills as well as abilities to prioritise and work under pressure.

• Monthly Stipend: R 5000
• 100% Medical aid contribution
• Transport allowance
• Cell Phone Allowance

• Length of commitment: 12 months.

MSF values diversity and is committed to create an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation and all other diversity characteristics.