Working in the field: FAQ

For questions about the medical pool not answered in our FAQs, including medical doctors, surgeons, anaesthetists, project coordinators, epidemiologists, HR coordinators, financial coordinators and Heads of Mission, email [email protected]

MSF strongly encourages people to continue working for the organisation beyond their first mission as their experience is of huge value to the effectiveness of our work. As such we offer various career opportunities to our field staff. You can broaden your professional experience by working on a variety of different aid programmes, and have access to learning and development.

There are many long-term career opportunities with MSF. Gaining more and varied MSF field experience makes you eligible for positions such as Logistical, Medical, or Project Coordinator, or Head of Mission.

There are also courses in areas such as project management, medical management, and logistics. If you are interested in a career with MSF you are encouraged to discuss your options with your Human Resource Officer at interview.

A volunteer is a person who makes an individual commitment within a humanitarian movement, accepts the risks of the missions he/she (hereafter referred to as he) undertakes, accepts a certain degree of professional insecurity and respects the organisation's charter. Volunteers receive an indemnity.

A volunteer signs a volunteer convention (corresponding to the length of his mission).

He/she cannot be a trainee: he must have at least two years' professional experience excluding internships: this is a mandatory requirement for leaving on mission.

After one year's mission (prior field experience with another NGO is counted at 50%), he/she becomes a salaried employee with an employment contract (corresponding to the mission's length). The employment contract or volunteer convention is signed between the volunteer/employee and the MSF section based in his/her country of residence.

Remuneration is defined according to country of residence.

Volunteers leaving in Europe or in a country where MSF has an office receive a non-taxable indemnity of 1113 €. This indemnity is of 1047 € for volunteers leaving in a country where no MSF section exists. Salaried employees receive a remuneration of between 1494 € and 3795 € depending on the position they hold and their experience.

Within this framework, each volunteer contributes towards a pension fund and benefits from health care coverage and insurance coverage in the event of invalidity/death or medical evacuation

It is not an option to leave for this field as a couple or with a family during a first mission. It only becomes an option if the intervention context permits, and solely on coordination positions. It is a reality that the security conditions, the lack of professional opportunities outside MSF, the limited accommodation options and the lack of adapted educational and medical institutions all limit the possibilities for being with a family.

MSF covers the following expenses:

• Return economy air travel for the most direct and cost-effective route between the home country and the project. This may include a stopover for briefing and debriefing in the UAE.
• Reimbursement for the cost of obtaining necessary visas (typically these are paid directly by MSF when organising your visa).
• Vaccinations not available on the NHS
• Accommodation and transportation during your contract (including briefings and debriefings).
• Per Diem based on the cost of living in your project country.
• All training costs if you are placed on one of our preparation courses.
• Health insurance, including medical evacuations and repatriation, whilst on mission and for up to three months after return to home country.

While you are working with MSF you are entitled to 28 days paid holiday per year pro rata.

You will be required to complete a Health Declaration Form and if necessary undertake pre-departure health checks with a travel clinic that will clear you to go on mission. 

MSF will arrange and cover you for all health insurance while on mission. This will continue for up to three months once you return to the UAE. In the event of medical evacuations, repatriation is also covered.

MSF arranges insurance cover which care and, if necessary, repatriation for field staff.

As MSF receives a high number of applications, the greater your depth of experience and skill level the more likely it is that you will be accepted to the register.

Check the detailed information about the selection criteria and role descriptions on our Who We Need page.

It is not possible to honour specific country requests. MSF recruit applicants into a pool before matching them to a specific position. MSF expect candidates to be flexible about where they work so that we can meet the needs of the field. However, special skills, languages and restrictions are taken into consideration in each placement.

It is not an option to leave for the field as a couple or with a family during a first mission. It only becomes an option if the intervention context permits, and solely on coordination positions. It is a reality that the security conditions, the lack of professional opportunities outside MSF, the limited accommodation options and the lack of adapted educational and medical institutions all limit the possibilities for being with a family.

English is the official MSF language. However, fluency in another language will enhance your application and the possibility of placement.

The length of a first mission is between six and 12 months for all professions, except anaesthetists and surgeons who, due to the intensity of their work, are placed in projects from six weeks to three months.

The application process on average takes around four to six months.

You can apply as soon as you have definite dates of availability and normally around six months before you want to go.

Our organisation takes staff security highly seriously. For every mission, the risks are evaluated and rules are subsequently drawn up for all staff to follow (the contrary can lead to removal from the mission).

Working hours vary considerably depending on the project with, on average, one day off per week. Work can frequently be hectic and you may be required to put in longer hours. However, time is normally set aside for rest and relaxation.

There is no minimum or maximum age for participation in MSF projects, although there are other criteria that applicants must fulfil.

Areas that are of particular interest to MSF are TB and HIV/AIDS specialists, obstetricians/gynaecologists and infectious disease specialists. Training in these areas is highly desirable.

It is also essential to have a minimum of three months travel or work experience in a developing country or countries. This can be formed of shorter placements or one longer period of travel.

We can only take on people who meet our strict criteria and do not provide gap year placements.

MSF UAE can only accept applications for field positions from UAE residents who have a valid permit to work in the UAE. If you do not have this we cannot accept your application.

Please contact your nearest MSF office or one of the MSF Operational Centres in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Brussels, Geneva or Paris in order to apply for a position, details can be found on here.

Our recruitment process, tests, interviews etc. take place in Dubai and applicants are expected to attend in person. MSF UAE does not cover travel costs at this stage.

It is assumed that successful candidates are based in the UAE and available to attend induction, training and briefing. MSF UAE can only finance travel arrangements for these events from addresses in the UAE.

Detailed information about the selection criteria and role descriptions can be found on our website:

• Find a field role
• The application process

We can only accept applications from people who meet our strict requirements and applications must be made online.

MSF recruits medical and non-medical staff to work in its projects. All of these people bring professional abilities, practical experience, as well as a commitment to and concern for the people they help.

Our projects are manned by national staff with minimal international presence. On average, for every expatriate posted to a specific project there are seven local workers. They provide everything from technical and administrative assistance to nursing and medical skills.

Follow the link for more information on who we need.

While the majority of our volunteers have a medical background, we also need skilled support staff such as: nutritionists, epidemiologists, lab technicians, mental health professionals, water and sanitation engineers, construction engineers, logisticians and HR and financial controller

Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of your offences.

MSF does not recruit dentists.

Please note that MSF does not currently recruit paramedics. We do not require staff with this profile because we do not run ambulance services in our projects in the field. When patient transfers take place, these are often done in MSF vehicles, and patients are accompanied by MSF nurses and/or medical doctors.

Please read our guidelines on being a photographer for MSF.

If your skills don't match our recruitment criteria, you may like to contact other organisations

MSF sends out approximately 3,000 international volunteers per year and employs around 25,000 local staff. In addition, there are 11 MSF offices around the world providing operations and support functions.

Events by MSF are free of charge while some require registration.

You can view it through our Facebook page or the main page on the website.

Yes, you need to register

MSF is an international medical humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists in France in 1971. MSF provides aid in nearly 80 countries to people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe, primarily due to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from health care, or natural disasters. MSF provides independent, impartial assistance to those most in need. MSF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999.

In emergencies and their aftermath, MSF provides health care, rehabilitates and runs hospitals and clinics, performs surgery, battles epidemics, carries out vaccination campaigns, operates feeding centres for malnourished children, and offers mental health care. When needed, MSF also constructs wells and dispenses clean drinking water, and provides shelter materials like blankets and plastic sheeting

No. MSF is an independent organisation which operates free of any political, military, or religious agendas. MSF's activities are not connected to any of the UN agencies. However, MSF may advocate with the United Nations on common medical and humanitarian concerns.

MSF works mainly in countries where it has found services inadequate to meet a population's medical needs. MSF is present in nearly 80 countries worldwide in Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America.

Yes. MSF has field teams and undertakes medical work in countries such as Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and Yemen. In addition, MSF has  regional offices in the UAE and Lebanon. 

Yes. All MSF services are free. MSF rejects the idea that poor countries deserve third-rate medical care and strives to provide high-quality care to patients and seeks for highly professional staff (medical and non-medical). For example, in the MSF mission treating Iraqi war wounded, MSF covers all expenses related to the treatment including travelling costs, accommodation, etc.

MSF does not represent an alternative for the health facilities in the countries where it intervenes. MSF tries to fill the gap of medical and humanitarian needs. When such needs are fulfilled MSF hands over to local health institutions and gives support to other populations in need.

No. MSF observes neutrality and impartiality in the name of universal medical ethics and the right to humanitarian assistance and claims full and unhindered freedom in the exercise of its functions. MSF works for providing health and humanitarian assistance for distressed populations regardless of their religious, ethnic and political connections and without discrimination.

MSF is a medical organization so its activities are medical in the first place. MSF provides health care, rehabilitates and runs hospitals and clinics, performs surgery, battles epidemics, carries out vaccination campaigns, operates feeding centres for malnourished children, and offers mental health care. When needed, MSF also constructs wells and dispenses clean drinking water, and provides shelter materials like blankets and plastic sheeting.

MSF is ready to intervene in any country regardless of political, religious or ethnic considerations. The decision to intervene in any given country is based on assessment of the medical and humanitarian needs in that country.

At all times, MSF directs at least 80 per cent of its revenue to fund operational activities. A minimum of 80 cents from every dollar is spent supporting field operations, which provide medical assistance to populations in distress around the world.

We don’t accept in-kind gifts such as medical equipment, drugs, food or other materials for our operations. Here’s why: a huge part of what makes MSF so effective at emergency medical response is our ability to operate rapidly. After decades of experience, we’ve developed specialized, pre-packaged kits that are ready to go at a moment’s notice. These tried-and-tested materials can get to our teams much more efficiently than if we had to manage screening, sorting, and packing different types of supplies. Some more viable options could be to check with your local community centres, shelters, hospices, hospitals or seniors’ homes, as they can often make use of extra supplies.

In cases of emergencies – such as earthquakes, epidemics or conflicts – MSF can respond immediately. This is because we encourage donors to give unrestricted funds, which means we can spend them where the need is greatest. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, MSF has a significant emergency reserve fund. This means there is no delay in mobilizing our response, no delay for government funds to be released and no lag as donation appeals are launched; we can act immediately and then replenish this fund with new donations. Once the money reaches the medical programmes it is carefully managed by the project team. It is subject to a rigorous accounting system, with every penny logged and all the information flowing back to the headquarters and our donors – transparency and accountability are essential.

Corporate matching gift programmes are charitable giving programmes created by corporations in which the company matches donations made by employees to eligible nonprofit organizations. It’s a way for companies to support the investment of the employees in MSF. The company will give the same amount as the employee (or more).The employee doubles (or more) his donation!

Unfortunately we do not accept speculative applications. Please apply for specific roles that match your skills and experience.

You do not have to be based in the UAE to apply for a role. However, it is assumed that you have the right to work in the UAE (unless it is specified otherwise), and can cover any potential relocation costs.

We don’t ask applicants to complete a formal English test, however a good level of verbal and written English is required.

You may apply for more than one role, but each role must have its own cover letter that details how you meet the role’s specifications. Each role has different tasks and responsibilities.

We are an equal opportunities employer and will ensure that every reasonable adjustment is made to enable candidates to attend interviews.

If you have any special requirements for your interview please make them known at the time you are offered an interview so we can accommodate you as much as possible.

Rest assured that every application is carefully reviewed and considered, but unfortunately we are not able to provide feedback as standard to unsuccessful applications unless you reach the interview stage.

Yes, and we encourage you to apply if you believe you have the right skills and experience required for the role.

Some roles require occasional or regular travel to the field or other MSF offices; the opportunity to travel depends on the role and its responsibilities.

There is no age limit for our field staff. Difficult working conditions do mean that applicants must be in a good state of health.

It takes around 4–6 months from the submission of an application to eventual addition to our pool of field staff.

You can apply as soon as you have definite dates of your availability, normally around six months before you want to start.

We guarantee an intense and dynamic working environment, and the opportunity to work in a diverse and multicultural team.

Living and working closely with a relatively small team in stressful conditions may be challenging, and the work may not be heroic, but it will certainly be rewarding.

To hear about life in the field directly from our staff, read our field staff blogs.

Assignments last generally between 9 and 12 months, except for some medical specialties, for whom a minimum of 6 weeks is required.

Working hours vary considerably depending on the program with, on average, one day off per week. Work can frequently be hectic and you may be required to put in longer hours. However, time is normally set aside for rest and relaxation.

MSF will provide health insurance while on assignment. This will continue for up to three months after you return. In the event of medical evacuations, repatriation is also covered.

Individuals are matched to specific roles. It is therefore highly unlikely that two people would simultaneously be matched to two jobs in the same place at the same time.

Living conditions in the field (security, housing, etc.) make it difficult for field staff to be accompanied by children or partners who are not participating in the program.

If you are not qualified for any of the profiles on the list, we will not be able to hire you. Among others, we do not currently hire paramedics, dentists, occupational therapists, ophthalmologists, podiatrists or dietitians.

Applicants need to be able to speak Arabic and English or French.