This page is in English. Do you want to change the language?

  • RCA. Clinivca Movil

    Working in the field

Joining the international pool is a personal choice and a decision that should not be influenced by MSF
because the costs and benefits are different for each individual.

In MSF OCBA, the locally hired staff willing to join the international pool must meet one of the following two criteria:

  • Currently working as locally hired MSF OCBA Staff for more than 12 months.
  • Locally hired staff that left MSF OCBA less than 12 months ago (at the time of application).

It is important to remark that, if you do not match one of these requirements, we encourage you to apply to MSF following the Recruitment Process as an external candidate. In this case, the selection process will be managed by the MSF office in charge of recruitment in your country of residence.

The first step in the recruitment process will be contacting the HRCo in the country where you work to get your latest performance evaluation and feedback from your supervisors.

For further information, please ask for the Internal Document/Expatriation Memo in your mission and review the detailed information included in your profile before applying. In order to apply, you will be asked about your country of residence. Please select “MSF OCBA locally hired staff”.

I already work with MSF OCBA in the field >>

Essential requirements:

To work in the field, you need to meet the following criteria:

  • Sufficient level of English and/or French:

    the language skills required will depend on the profile for which you are applying.

  • Two years professional experience:

    we are looking for qualified people with professional experience in the field in which they will be working.

  • One-year commitment:

    this time will be spread over two six-month assignments with a break between the two assignments. Only in the case of specific profiles (surgeons, gynaecologists and anaesthetists) are short-term assignments accepted, from three to six months.

What you should know before applying

It is important that you review the following points before submitting your application to us:

What is the selection process like?

  1. Website registration
  2. CV and cover letter screening
  3. The first interview
  4. Technical validation
  5. Reference check
  6. The second and final interview
  7. Feedback

The selection process does not have a definite time period. It usually takes between three and six months to complete all the steps from the initial web registration, depending on the availability of positions in the field and the candidate's profile.

Safety and security in the field

Because MSF’s purpose is to bring medical assistance to people in distress, the work may occur in settings of active conflict, or in post-conflict environments, in which there are inherent risks, potential danger and ongoing threats to safety and security. MSF acknowledges that it is impossible to exclude all risks, but it does its utmost as an organisation to mitigate and manage these risks through strict and comprehensive security protocols.

Field workers will be fully informed of the risk associated with a potential assignment before accepting a particular posting. Working for MSF is a deeply personal choice and Individuals must determine for themselves the level of risk and the circumstances in which they feel comfortable, based on a full and transparent understanding of the possible situations they may face. Once on an assignment, all MSF staff must strictly observe all security rules and regulations. Failure to do so may result in dismissal.

Salaries and benefits

  • Legal contract for the duration of the mission.
  • MSF provides all staff members in the field with private insurance covering medication and hospitalisation, disability, as well as any type of medical evacuation.
  • Remuneration in MSF is modest by choice. The gross basic salary is approximately €1,300 per month for first assignments and for positions of lesser responsibility. The salary is regularly reviewed according to the length of time in the organisation and the experience acquired.
  • International mobile staff will receive an additional amount of money as per diems during the field assignment to cover daily basic expenses.

Length of assignment

Most of the positions in our projects are from six to nine months long. That’s why we require a minimum availability of 12 months to begin the selection process. Only in the case of specific profiles (surgeons, gynaecologists and anaesthetists) are short-term missions accepted, from three to six months.

Please note that the living and working conditions for MSF staff are often Inappropriate for people not involved in the projects. On their first mission with MSF, staff can never be accompanied by their family.

Assignments, people development and trainings

MSF determines the destination of first assignments taking into account field needs and the professional expertise of the staff in the pool. Operational needs are always the priority.

MSF promotes the professional development of its staff through a wide range of training courses and other tools such as coaching and mentoring. All staff will have to follow the preparatory course before leaving to the field for their first assignment.

Fraud alert:
MSF NEVER asks applicants for financial participation. If you are the subject of such a request, do not respond to it and please notify us by email at the following address: [email protected]