Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international independent medical humanitarian organization that delivers aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters, and exclusion from health care. MSF offers assistance to people based on need irrespective of race, religion, gender, or political affiliation.
Medicines dispensed to patients in operational contexts like OPD and mass drug administration campaigns are packed in plastic bags. Each bag containing one type of drug only; every patient gets as many bags as the number of prescribed medicines.
These bags are brought back home by patients and then degrade step by step into micro plastics, polluting homes and environments.
The purpose of this innovative support is to search and propose a more planet-friendly OPD packaging material bio-sourced and biodegradable.
The overall objective of this position is to search and identify Biotechnology enterprises or alternative sources in local and regional contexts for adaptive solutions with a lower environmental impact.

MSF is looking to recruit a suitable candidate for the position below;
Job: OPERATIONAL RESEARCH COORDINATOR
Duty station: KAMPALA, UGANDA
Start of work: September 1st,2021

Main responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
• Collaborate with the Project Management Team (Health Services Unit / Medical Department Geneva, Logistique Department Geneva, and SUKA Kampala)
• Participate in all meetings and actively contributing to discussions on the running of the project and the definition of its objectives.
• Provide technical support to the Project Management Team on alternative solutions to dispensing plastic bags used in MSF projects.
• In collaboration with the Project Management Team, design technical specificities of the product.
• Search for suitable raw materials (bio-sourced and biodegradable) that can be used instead of plastic. Propose and justify alternative materials to be tested.
• With a designed regional focal point in Uganda (SUKA), launch a company screening process (through a web search e.g., Start-up Networks Accelerators, National Industrial Directories…) and identify potential companies of interest. The scope of the search will be regional and continental.
• Search and identify potential partners (Local Universities, Industries/Start-up) for designing a testing protocol of the item.
• Contact identified companies (with focal point) for feasibility concerns and further actions (audits of industrial and environmental practices of potential partners, sourcing, and nature of the raw materials considered, commercial approach, minimal sustainable production, etc…)
• Prepare a business plan and an agreement to be proposed for signature between MSF-OCG and partners (industrial company selected and testing partner if different from producing company)
• Follow-up of the project implementation through a pilot MSF-OCG project and the analysis of performance indicators.

Education
Qualified medical/paramedical or technology/Engineering field
Experience
Experience in developing countries and MSF set-ups Experience in technology research
Languages
English, local language and French is strong asset
Knowledge
Computer literacy

Competencies
• Strategic Vision and planning
• Technical assessment capacities
• Teamwork and Cooperation
• Mobility

Personal
Open-minded, diplomatic, and good communication skills
Qualities
Ability to work with a multi-disciplinary team in a multi-cultural environment
Duration
6 months’ renewable according to the outcome and project evolution