It is rare for MSF to post a job offer for a specific country or project. 

To respond to medical emergencies, MSF recruits applicants into different professional reserve lists, (also referred to as “pools”). MSF then assigns a specific position in a designated country to candidates within the pool, based on their skills, technical experience and personal background. 

MSF expects you to demonstrate flexibility regarding the location of your assignment so that we can meet our missions’ needs. However, if you have special skills, speak additional languages, or have restrictions, these will be considered for each assignment. 

You can apply as soon as you have the required skills for the position in question and have definite availability dates. Ideally, you would apply three to six months before your earliest availability.

The standard duration of a first mission is six months. The assignments for specialist doctors, such as anesthetists, gynecologists, and surgeons, range from eight weeks to three months. This is not the case for other profiles whose missions are a minimum of six months. 

For subsequent missions, depending on the needs of the country, the duration may be shortened in emergencies (from several weeks to three months) or extended (from six to twelve months, for example) in more stable contexts. Coordination positions correspond to longer missions, ranging from one to two years. 

MSF primarily seeks candidates who are willing to commit long-term, that is, for more than one mission. One or more rest periods are included in this duration, as it is important to rest between different missions. We encourage you to discuss your rest period with your career manager upon your return from your first mission.