Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare. MSF offers assistance to people based on need, irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation.
Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of neutrality and impartiality.
A worldwide movement
MSF was founded in Paris, France in 1971. Its principles are described in the organisation’s founding charter. It is a non-profit, self-governed organisation.
Today, MSF is a worldwide movement of 24 associations, bound together as MSF International, based in Switzerland.
Thousands of health professionals, logistical and administrative staff – most of whom are hired locally – work on programmes in some 70 countries worldwide.
Humanitarian action
MSF’s work is based on humanitarian principles. We are committed to bringing quality medical care to people caught in crisis, regardless of race, religion or political affiliation.
MSF operates independently. We conduct our own evaluations on the ground to determine people’s needs. More than 90 per cent of our overall funding comes from millions of private sources, not governments.
MSF is neutral. We do not take sides in armed conflicts, we provide care on the basis of need, and we push for independent access to victims of conflict as required under international humanitarian law.
Bearing witness and speaking out
MSF medical teams often witness violence and neglect in the course of their work, largely in regions that receive scant international attention.
At times, MSF may speak out publicly in an effort to bring a forgotten crisis to public attention, to alert the public to abuses occurring beyond the headlines, to criticise the inadequacies of the aid system, or to challenge the diversion of humanitarian aid for political interests.
Quality medical care
MSF rejects the idea that poor people deserve third-rate medical care and strives to provide high-quality care to patients. In 1999, when MSF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the organisation announced the money would go towards raising awareness of and fighting against neglected diseases.
Through the Access Campaign, and in partnership with the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, this work has helped lower the price of HIV/AIDS treatment and stimulated research and development for medicines to treat malaria and neglected diseases like sleeping sickness and kala azar.Responsibilities
Case management: address social critical needs of service users including protection and assistance
According to eligibility criteria, receives individuals and assess their situation performing thourough assessments of cases in order to identify vulnerabilities and social critical needs
Performs risk assessment for individuals
Develop an intervention plan together with the person of concern
According to the projects intervention criteria and with the person’s consent, provide individuals with direct assistance or referrals according to pre-established safe referral pathways
In collaboration with the PC and line-manager, create and maintain safe supportive networks with institutional and community-based partners for referrals
In collaboration with the line manager, contributes to the definition and the internal dissemination of criteria for detection of individuals with social critical needs
Ensure follow up of the case and conclude with case closure
Initiate and or take active part to multidisciplary discussions with the relevant medical and mental health care providers
Enhance two-way communication and patient agency: ensure the active participation of patients in the decision regarding their health and social situation
Manage complex or sensitive cases in close collaboration with the manager and other relevant staff members involved and contribute to the definition of the best approach in order to address the individuals’ needs while considering risk and protective factors
Social support (as part of a multidisciplinary efforts):
Contribute to the creation of a safe, dignified and confidential environment of care within the MSF facility, fostering the promotion of patient’s information, rights and participation, accessibility to feedback and complaints mechanism, in line with Safeguarding efforts of each OC
Actively promote and contribute to overall patient wellbeing while receiving care
Assess and address patient’s care-taking needs
Collect comments and feedback from service users, patients and caregivers and address them or escalate them to the relevant manager
Community based support:
Contribute to the multidisciplinary community-based activities and monitoring of specific vulnerabilities, social and critical needs in the community, with an emphasis on protection concerns
Contribute to the project’s understanding of risk and protective factors in the community
Case management: address social critical needs of service users including protection and assistance
According to eligibility criteria, receives individuals and assess their situation performing thourough assessments of cases in order to identify vulnerabilities and social critical needs
Performs risk assessment for individuals
Develop an intervention plan together with the person of concern
According to the projects intervention criteria and with the person’s consent, provide individuals with direct assistance or referrals according to pre-established safe referral pathways
In collaboration with the PC and line-manager, create and maintain safe supportive networks with institutional and community-based partners for referrals
In collaboration with the line manager, contributes to the definition and the internal dissemination of criteria for detection of individuals with social critical needs
Ensure follow up of the case and conclude with case closure
Initiate and or take active part to multidisciplary discussions with the relevant medical and mental health care providers
Enhance two-way communication and patient agency: ensure the active participation of patients in the decision regarding their health and social situation
Manage complex or sensitive cases in close collaboration with the manager and other relevant staff members involved and contribute to the definition of the best approach in order to address the individuals’ needs while considering risk and protective factors
Social support (as part of a multidisciplinary efforts):
Contribute to the creation of a safe, dignified and confidential environment of care within the MSF facility, fostering the promotion of patient’s information, rights and participation, accessibility to feedback and complaints mechanism, in line with Safeguarding efforts of each OC
Actively promote and contribute to overall patient wellbeing while receiving care
Assess and address patient’s care-taking needs
Collect comments and feedback from service users, patients and caregivers and address them or escalate them to the relevant manager
Community based support:
Contribute to the multidisciplinary community-based activities and monitoring of specific vulnerabilities, social and critical needs in the community, with an emphasis on protection concerns
Contribute to the project’s understanding of risk and protective factors in the community
Qualification
Candidates should possess a Bachelor’s Degree with 2 years experience.
