The UK office was established in London in 1993. It supports MSF's field work through recruiting volunteers, collecting donations and raising awareness of humanitarian crises through the media. A specialist medical team works directly with the field projects to help solve urgent clinical problems.
Médecins Sans Frontières (UK) was set-up as a registered charity (Charity Number 1026588) and a company limited by guarantee (Company Number 2853011) in September 1993.
MSF UK staff and deparments
British surgeon Paul McMaster, Haiti, 2010 © Julie Remy
An overview of 'Who's Who at MSF UK' and contact information for the office can be found by following the link.
The following departments operate in our UK office:
Manson Unit (UK Medical Unit)
The MSF UK Medical Unit (also known as the Manson Unit) was set up in 2003 to provide direct medical support to MSF field programmes.
Current areas of engagement include tuberculosis, nutrition, malaria, and operational research.
The unit is also responsible for organizing the annual MSF-UK Scientific Day, and seeks to engage with the larger medical-humanitarian community here in the UK.
Programmes Unit
The Programmes Unit provides non-medical support to MSF's field operations. The Unit acts as a link between MSF and the British, Irish and Jersey Governments as well as UK-based NGOs, academic institutions and research centres.
Responding to issues MSF encounters in its projects, the unit undertakes thematic work. Current topics include: exit strategies; health policy and financing; national staff; political Islam; UN reforms.
Each member of the Programmes Unit is an experienced aid-worker and spends some time each year working in MSF projects.
Human Resources
Water-and-sanitation specialist Henry Grey tests water in Haiti, 2010.
© Isabelle Jeanson/MSF
Our Human Resources Department deals with the recruitment and selection of all field staff, including field project placements, learning and development and reward. This department also deals with human resource management for our UK and Ireland offices.
Communications Department
Our Communications Department provides up to date public information about MSF's field work through the news media, the internet and specialist publications.
The Communications Department also produces a quarterly newsletter, Dispatches, to keep our supporters informed of our work around the world.
Fundraising Department
Our Fundraising Department raises money from private individuals to support our medical aid work around the world. These donations enable us to respond fast to emergencies and keep MSF's work independent of political interests.
Finance and IT
As a team the Finance and Services department facilitate the smooth running of the MSF-UK London Office.
Annual Reports
Both our Annual Financial Reports and the Annual Activity Reports are available for viewing or download here.