We work in over 60 countries around the world, each with its own unique circumstances. But MSF missions generally follow a common structure to make sure our resources and expertise are used in the best way possible.
Assessment
MSF emergency team in Haiti
© Aurelie Lachant/MSF
Information that prompts an assessment mission can come from various places:
- requests from local government or the international community
- proposals from humanitarian organisations such as the United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs Department (UNDHA)
- requests from financial bodies such as the Humanitarian Aid Department of the European Commission (ECHO)
- local and national NGOs
- MSF teams already present in the region
Once the information has been checked and validated, MSF sends a team of medical and logistics experts to the crisis area to carry out a quick and efficient evaluation.
Proposal
The team assesses the situation, the number of people affected and the current and future needs and sends a proposal back to the MSF office.
When the proposal is approved, staff at MSF headquarters start the process of selecting personnel, organising materials and resources and securing project funds.
Initiating a project
Once the project plan has been drawn up and confirmed, technical equipment and resources are sent to the area.
In large crises, planes fly in all the necessary materials so that the work can begin immediately.
Thanks to set protocols, the specialised kits and the emergency stores, MSF can distribute material and equipment within 48 hours, ready for the response team to start work as soon as they arrive.
Running a project
MSF projects generally have a life span somewhere between 18 months and three and a half years.
There are clear differences between an emergency response and a long-term healthcare project, but they all follow roughly the same process.
Closing a project
Once the critical medical needs have been addressed (which could be after weeks, months or years depending on the situation), MSF begins a gradual withdrawal of staff and equipment.
At this point the project closes or is passed on to an appropriate organisation, usually another NGO or government department.
MSF will also close a project if risks in the area become too great to ensure the safety of staff.