Logo:

Name of Organisation:
Medécins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders)

Address:
67 – 74 Saffron Hill
London
EC1N 8QX
(United Kingdom)

Telephone:
+44 (0)20 7404 6600

Website:
http://www.uk.msf.org (UK) & http://www.msf.org (International

Fax:
+44 (0)20 7404 4466

Type:
International

Mission / Vision Statement:
Medecins Sans Frontieres is a leading non-governmental organisation for emergency medical aid. We provide independent medical relief to victims of war, disasters and epidemics in over 80 countries around the world. We strive to provide assistance to those who need it most, regardless of ethnic origin, religion or political affiliation

Main areas of interest:
To get access to, and care for, the most vulnerable, MSF must remain scrupulously independent of governments, as well as religious and economic powers. We rely on private individuals for the majority of our funding. In the field, we conduct our own assessments, manage projects directly and monitor the impact of our aid. MSF insists on exercising its responsibility to speak out when it sees that those we are trying to help are being abused. We campaign locally and internationally for greater respect for humanitarian law and the right of civilians to impartial humanitarian assistance. We also campaign for fairer access to medicines and health care for the world’s poorest people.

Structure of Organisation:
MSF is a voluntary organisation. Each year, about 2,500 doctors, nurses, logistics specialists and engineers from around the world leave on field assignments. They work closely with thousands of national staff

Opportunities:
We ask all our volunteers to have the following. Role specific requirements can be found on our website www.msf.org.uk
What you need

• Commitment to the aims and values of Médecins Sans Frontières:
  
Please make sure you have read about Working for MSF, including MSF’s charter.

• Two years of professional experience
  
MSF recruits only professionals. To be effective in your work in the field, you need to be able to rely on your professional skills, either medical or technical.

• Ability to live and work as part of a team
  
MSF volunteers live and work together. The hours are long and the living conditions may be primitive and offer little privacy. Volunteers need to be tolerant and flexible and possess solid interpersonal skills. The ability and willingness to interact with people of all nationalities and cultures is essential.

• Experience and an interest in training others
  
Quite a few of our positions require training national staff.

• Ability to manage stress
  
Many MSF projects are located in or near conflict areas. The environment is often chaotic and volatile and the target populations are large and in distress. Even in more stable areas, sizeable workloads and team living may cause stress. Volunteers must be able to cope in a difficult and unpredictable environment.

• Flexibility
  
Situations can change quickly in the field, and job descriptions must change accordingly. Departure dates can change, or even be cancelled at a moment's notice. Team composition and working environments may shift during assignments. Flexibility is critical to one's success on an MSF project.

• Experience in the developing world
  
The vast majority of MSF's projects are in the developing world. A prerequisite to working with MSF is at least 3 months travelling and/or work experience in a developing country. Extensive work experience with communities facing insufficient access to health care in urban areas or remote rural areas is also valued.

• Age
  
There is no upper age limit to working with MSF as long as volunteers are physically fit and healthy. However, the necessity to have previous professional experience means that volunteers are usually over 25 years old. Whatever their age, volunteers need to be able to cope with often precarious working conditions/environment.

• Language skills
  
Although English is the official MSF language, fluency in French, Spanish or Portuguese is an advantage.

• Availability of 9-12 months 
Except for surgeons and anaesthetists (please refer to the specific information for this group).
• Resident in the UK or Ireland & holding a valid passport
  
Although you do not need to be a British or Irish passport holder. If you are not resident in the UK, please refer to our International website for the address of your nearest MSF office.

Related Organisations & Links:
Further links for those interested in working overseas (from MSF site)
International Health Exchange
134 Lower March
London SC5 7AE
Tel: 0207 620 3333
http://www.ihe.org.uk
British Red Cross
44 Moorfields
London EC2Y 9AL
Tel: 0870 170 7000
Fax: 020 7562 2000
http://www.redcross.org.uk
Trekforce Expeditions
34 Buckingham Palace Road
London SW1W 0RE
Tel: 020 7828 2275
Fax: 020 7828 2276
http://www.trekforce.org.uk
Health workers + other skilled personnel (teachers etc.)
VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas)
317 Putney Bridge Road
London SW15 2PN
Tel: 0208 780 7200
Fax: 0208 780 7300
http://www.vso.org.uk
Family Planning/Reproductive Healthcare
Marie Stopes International
153-157 Cleveland Street
London W1T 6QW
Tel: 020 7574 7400
Fax:020 75747417
http://www.mariestopes.org.uk
Pharmacists
Pharmaciens Sans Frontieres (PSF)
4 Voie Militaire Des Gravanches
Des Gravanches
63100 Clermont Ferrand
France
Tel: 00 33 4 73 982498
http://www.psfci.org
Dentists
DENTAID
The Old Bakery
Mount Road
Llanfair Caereinian
Welshpool
Powys
SY21 OAT
http://www.dentaid.org