Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) France

Our Mission

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) - translated as Doctors Without Borders is an international medical humanitarian organisation founded by doctors and journalists in 1971 in Paris. Our teams are made up of tens of thousands of health professionals, logistic and administrative staff - bound together by our charter. We are a global movement, with staff from over 160 countries.

MSF provides medical relief to the victims of war, disease and natural or man-made disaster, without regard to race, religion, or political affiliation.

Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of impartiality, independence and neutrality. We are a non-profit, self-governed, member-based organisation.

The association's independence is guaranteed by the fact that it is funded 99% privately, mainly by individual donors and companies. MSF is an international movement of associations organised in 23 sections and 6 operational centers.

The executive entities (sections and delegated offices) are linked to one of MSF's operational centers: Amsterdam (OCA), Barcelona-Athens (OCBA), Brussels (OCB), Geneva (OCG) and Paris (OCP).

Operations are run from these centers. Each operational center has its own patterning with its partner sections.

Since 2019, an association has been added to the list of entities that can lead operations: WaCA (West and Central Africa).

91.2% of our expenses are directly allocated to the social mission, with only 8.4% of operating & fundraising expenses. MSF makes financial transparency and rigorous management of its accounts a priority. The 3 audits of the Cour des Comptes (The French Court of Auditors) in 1998, 2004 and 2010 resulted in particularly commendable reports. Logistical strength: MSF Logistique (located in Merignac, France), is a dedicated entity created in 1986. The Merignac base is one of the world's largest centres for the transport of humanitarian supplies, with 18,500 m of storage space. It allows us to be very responsive in our operations, with the possibility of sending more than 100 tons of emergency supplies in 24 hours. Driving change: new approaches for greater impact. Throughout its history, MSF has sought to create dynamics for change and to benefit the populations it serves.