Discover all our latest news, stories and publications. Use the filter to get to the content you're looking for.
الأردن
حصول السوريين على الرعاية الصحيّة في خطر
بيان صحفي
28 May 2018
أزمة اللاجئين الروهينغا
"ليس لدينا أي مكان آخر نذهب إليه"
أصوات من الميدان
28 May 2018
The International Office
Within MSF International, the International Office (IO) was established to act as a facilitator within the global MSF network.
The IO helps develop common policies, priorities and accountability mechanisms across MSF. It also acts as a secretariat to the International Board and International General Assembly members to help them carry out their mandate. It can also provide representation support for the whole MSF movement – such as through the International President or even through the website you’re visiting today.
The International Office (IO) is headed by the Secretary General, who manages the team of International Coordinators.
Together they facilitate:
- coordination and information sharing within the MSF movement to identify medical humanitarian issues we need to tackle together; or to jointly review our response in a major emergency;
- to help develop our public positioning around a humanitarian crisis; or develop common policies on the best use of our resources for our medical and humanitarian action.
Shared policies and tools are developed for medical activities, logistics and supply, fundraising, finance, communications, human resources and representation. For example, this includes working on shared medical guidelines for our field teams; common policies on drug procurement; improving joint logistics supply systems to send medical and relief items to the projects; or publishing the annual International Financial and Activity reports.
The International Office is registered in Switzerland but our staff are based in different MSF offices around the world, including in countries where we run our field programmes.
Current vacancies at MSF International
Below you will find a list of current vacancies within our International Office.
Privacy Notice for Candidates
msf.orgWe have a strong ethical and legal responsibility regarding the collection and processing of personal data; we are duty-bound to protect the privacy of all people who entrust their personal information to us. This includes candidates’ personal data.
This Notice describes how MSF International collects, holds and processes personal data about Candidates when applying to MSF International.
How we're run
Committed to independent medical humanitarian action
We are run by MSF associations, whose members are mostly current and former field staff.
The MSF associations are linked to six Operational Directorates (OD) who directly manage our humanitarian action in the field and decide when, where, and what medical care is needed.
All 27 MSF associations, as well as individuals and the International President, are members of MSF International, the association that safeguards the identity of the MSF movement.
Learn moreAnchor Links
Label
About the International Office
Anchor
about
Label
Current MSF International vacancies
Anchor
vacancies
Label
Privacy Notice for Candidates
Anchor
privacy
Hero Image
Headline
The International Office
Background
Image
Eyebrow
Work with MSF
Hero Alignment
top
Schedule content for publication
Off
Description
The International Office (IO) was established to act as a facilitator within the global MSF network. Here you will find a list of current vacancies within our International Office.
Select caption
Short caption
Use a custom breadcrumb
No
اليمن
اخر المستجدات حول الأزمة الإنسانيّة – يناير/كانون الثاني 2018
آخر تطورات أزمة إنسانيّة
28 May 2018
جمهورية افريقيا الوسطى
تشريد عشرات الألاف من السكان بسبب الاقتتال في باوا
أصوات من الميدان
28 May 2018
Mediterranean migration
A healthy baby boy called Miracle born on the Aquarius
Voices from the Field
27 May 2018
How we are run
We are run by MSF associations, whose members are mostly current and former field staff
Our members share a commitment to independent medical humanitarian action, and collectively own and manage MSF through national and regional associations.
Members engage to defend the values expressed in our Charter. They voice their views on our action and approach, informing and steering MSF's direction.
Members elect the governing board and president of each association and hold them accountable for their actions.
video
Associative engagement and participation among MSF staff and members.
The MSF Associations
We are a field-based movement engaging MSF volunteers and staff from all over the world in a shared commitment to medical humanitarian action.
Through MSF associations, members have the right and responsibility to voice their opinions and contribute to the definition and guidance of our social mission. The associations bring together individuals in formal and informal debates and activities - in the field, in general assemblies at national and regional levels, and in an annual international assembly.
Because the people making the decisions are current or former field or office staff, MSF remains relevant to the needs seen in the field, and focused on medical care and on our core principles: independence, impartiality, and neutrality.
27 MSF Associations
Today, the international MSF movement is composed of 27 associations around the world.
Each of them is an independent legal entity registered in the country where they operate. The associations elect their own board of directors and president during their General Assembly.
The associations are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Central America & Mexico (CAMEX), Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, East Africa, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, Japan, Italy, Latin America, Luxembourg, Norway, South Asia, Southern Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, USA, and West and Central Africa regional association.
Our offices around the world
The MSF associations are linked to six Operational Centres (OC) who directly manage our humanitarian action in the field and decide when, where, and what medical care is needed.
MSF sections are offices that support our field work. They mainly recruit staff, organise fundraising, and raise awareness on the humanitarian crises our teams are witnessing. Each MSF section is linked to an association which defines the strategic direction of the section, and holds the section accountable for its work.
Some MSF sections have opened branch offices to extend this support work further. Currently there are 24 sections and 18 branch offices around the world.
Additional satellite offices exist to support our work, mainly for logistics, supply and epidemiology.
Operational Centre
The MSF associations are linked to five Operational Centres (OC) who directly manage our humanitarian action in the field and decide when, where, and what medical care is needed.
Partner Section
MSF sections are offices that support our field work. They mainly recruit staff, organise fundraising, and raise awareness on the humanitarian crises our teams are witnessing. Each MSF section is linked to an association which defines the strategic direction of the section, and holds the section accountable for its work.
Branch Office
Some MSF sections have opened branch offices to extend this support work further.
The place names and boundaries used in this map do not reflect any position by MSF on their legal status.
MSF International
All 27 MSF associations, as well as individuals and the International President, are members of MSF International, the association that safeguards the identity of the MSF movement.
The highest authority of MSF International, the annual International General Assembly (IGA) is made up of representatives of each association as well as of individual membership, and the International President. The International President, who is currently Dr Christos Christou, is elected by the IGA. Each representative, and the International President, has one independent vote on issues brought to the assembly for resolution.
The IGA is responsible for safeguarding MSF’s medical humanitarian mission, and provides strategic orientation to all MSF entities. It delegates duties to the International Board, and holds the board accountable for those tasks.
The International Board is made up of representatives of the Operational Centres as well as a group elected by the IGA, and is chaired by the International President.
MSF International's executive provides coordination, information and support to the MSF movement, and implements international projects and initiatives as requested. Its costs are paid by MSF’s national executive offices. Christopher Lockyear is the current Secretary General of MSF International.
MSF International is registered in Switzerland and has a secretariat called the International Office.
The International President
The International President of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) chairs the International Board and the International General Assembly, and represents MSF International externally.
The International President is elected by the International General Assembly. They must have a medical background and can serve a maximum of two three-year terms. He or she cannot hold an executive position or sit on the board of another MSF association. The International President can serve a maximum of two three-year terms. Dr Christos Christou was elected as the International President of Médecins Sans Frontières, taking up his post in 2019.
Dr Christos Christou
International President
Dr Christos Christou commenced his role as International President of Médecins Sans Frontières in the first week of September 2019. Before this, he held a number of roles in the field with MSF and with the Association in MSF Greece. Dr Christou joined MSF in 2002, where his first assignment was in Greece as a field doctor, working with migrants and refugees, before working as a doctor in an HIV/AIDS project in Zambia in 2004 and 2005. After a break from field missions for a number of years while he trained as a surgeon, from 2013 he joined MSF missions in a number of conflict zones and insecure contexts, including South Sudan, Iraq and, most recently, Cameroon, as an emergency and trauma surgeon.
Born in Trikala, a small town in central Greece, Dr Christou graduated from Aristotle University’s medical school in Thessaloniki, Greece, and has a PhD in Surgery from the Kapodestrian University of Athens. He holds a Masters in International Health - Health Crisis Management from the University of Athens and is member of its faculty.
Dr Christou later specialised in general and emergency surgery in the Surgical and Transplant Unit of Evangelismos Hospital in Athens. In 2013 he moved to London, working as a Senior Clinical Fellow in Colorectal surgery at King’s College Hospital, and in 2018 became Consultant of Colorectal and Emergency Surgery at North Middlesex University Hospital. In 2018 he was awarded Fellow of the European Board of Surgery in Coloproctology.
Dr Christou was first General Secretary, then Vice-President and finally President of MSF Greece Board of Directors from 2005 until his election as International President in June 2019. In 2022, Dr Christou was re-elected as International President for another three-year mandate, which will end in mid-2025.
The International Board
The International Board (IB) is the board of MSF International. It acts on behalf of and is accountable to the International General Assembly (IGA). As the highest associative governance body of MSF, the IGA delegates duties to the Board, as defined in the Statutes of the association.
The International Board (IB) is intended to have mainly a guiding role, ensuring accountability and facilitating agreement within the MSF movement in a timely manner.
The IB is composed of: the International President; one representative for each operational centres (five people); six additional people elected by the IGA. Two-thirds of IB members must have a medical background. Additional non-voting members, such as a treasurer, can be co-opted by the IB depending on its needs.
The members of the International Board, in addition to the International President, are:
Dr Leslie Shanks
Dr Oscar Bernal
Dr Oscar Bernal grew up and studied medicine in Colombia and has doctorate in public health from Spain. He has worked with MSF for more than 28 years in more than 20 countries, including Angola as a field doctor/surgeon, in Liberia (1995) as medical coordinator, Sudan (1996) as head of mission, Russia (1997) as project coordinator, and Guatemala (1999), Bolivia (2001), Indonesia (2007), and Colombia (2009) as a medical coordinator. Oscar also worked as a technical adviser on infectious diseases from 2003 to 2009. He has participated in several MSF associations, including MSF France and MSF Spain, and was involved in the creation and development of MSF Latin America. He works as a professor and MPH coordinator in the University of Andes, Colombia. Oscar was elected to the International Board in 2023.
Sam Bumicho
Sam Bumicho has a diploma in Clinical Medicine & Surgery. After completing his medical internship at Kenyatta National Referral hospital in Nairobi in 2004, Sam started working with MSF in Kenya, first as a Project Coordinator Assistant in Mbagathi district hospital, Nairobi and later on as a clinical officer and HIV/TB contact clinician in Kibera. After he left MSF in 2016, Sam started working with Amref Health Africa. He is currently County Coordinator of Amref Health Africa’s project in the county of Tana River, Kenya.
Erastus Cheti
Dr Ali Ouattara
Dr Isabelle Defourny
Paula Gil
Dr Saleem Kassam
Katrin Kisswani
Yvan Legris
Yvan Legris joined the International Board as Treasurer in January 2017. Prior to joining MSF, he spent over 30 years at HR Consulting firm Aon Hewitt where he became the global Chief Executive of the consulting division in 2012. Yvan is an actuary by profession and has been pursuing a Masters in Humanitarian Action at the CERAH since September 2016. He has been a volunteer advisor on HR projects to the MSF International Office since April 2016. He was born in Mauritius and lives in London.
Yves McGale
Dr Micaela Serafini
Parthesarathy (Sarathi) Rajendran
Anchor Links
Label
The Associations
Anchor
associations
Label
Our offices
Anchor
offices
Label
MSF International
Anchor
international
Label
International President
Anchor
president
Label
International Board
Anchor
board
Hero Image
Headline
Run by MSF staff, for our patients
Background
Image
Eyebrow
How we're run
Hero Alignment
center
Schedule content for publication
Off
Description
We are run by MSF associations, whose members are mostly current and former field staff. The associations are linked to Operational Centres (OC) who directly manage our humanitarian action. All MSF associations, as well as individuals and the International President, are members of MSF International.
Select caption
Short caption
Use a custom breadcrumb
No
Libya
Dozens of refugees and migrants wounded after trying to escape horrific captivity conditions
Press Release
25 May 2018
العراق
استعداد دائم للمستشفيات، إذ لا يمكنك تنبؤ بما قد يحصل بعد يوم أو بعد ساعة أو حتى بعد دقيقة
أصوات من الميدان
25 May 2018
Iraq
“Hospitals must always be prepared; you never know what will happen”
Voices from the Field
25 May 2018
نيجيريا
مكافحة أسوأ تفشٍ لالتهاب السحايا منذ عام 2008
تحديث حول مشروع
25 May 2018
العراق
آخر مستجدات الأزمة الإنسانيّة في شمال البلاد - يونيو/حزيران 2017
آخر تطورات أزمة إنسانيّة
25 May 2018
DRC Ebola outbreaks
MSF response to second Ebola outbreak in DRC since 2016
Project Update
23 May 2018
Bangladesh
“This feels more like an emergency room than a normal delivery room”
Project Update
23 May 2018
Syria
Seeking to assist Syrians, wherever they are in need of help
Press Release
23 May 2018
Rohingya refugee crisis
Crisis update – May 2018
Crisis Update
23 May 2018
Snakebite
Governments slated to vote on first-ever resolution at World Health Assembly
Statement
23 May 2018
남수단
23 May 2018
콩고민주공화국
23 May 2018
중앙아프리카공화국
23 May 2018
나이지리아
23 May 2018
카메룬
23 May 2018
미얀마
23 May 2018
이라크
23 May 2018
How we work
How we deliver medical humanitarian assistance
Everywhere we work, the circumstances are unique. Nonetheless, our programmes generally follow a common set of practices designed to make sure our resources and expertise are used to maximum effect.