ECHO is a European, faith-based humanitarian aid organization that works all across the globe to eliminate suffering. They have a particularly strong focus on agriculture and teaching the affected communities how to make food for themselves and to be industrious so that they can eventually become independent of the aid organizations and maintain dignity by making a life for themselves. In their words, “The urban poor face high prices and low incomes, making nutritious food unattainable. Rural families are often malnourished because of a lack of diverse nutrients in their diets, if they have enough to eat at all. In both cases, children suffer the most. We gather solutions from around the world that are solving hunger problems and disseminate them to our active network. These solutions promote sustainable farming techniques, nutritional plants, and appropriate technologies. They are well tested and proven to be successful over and over again.”

Essentially, they work to help those who are teaching farmers around the world know how to be more effective  in producing enough to meet the needs of their families and their communities. They in turn teach others and the ECHO effect continues.

One major aspect of the company that I like it that they are one of the organizations that I noticed has a particular investment in maintaining the cultural and spiritual aspects of the communities they work with. This is very important to me since we’ve been learning so much in class about the harm that some aid organizations do to the cultures in the places they operate in. Especially with the White Savior Complex always present, it was comforting to discover that they do all they can to gather information about the culture they are about to enter and perform tasks that they affected community has actually approved and asked for. This maintains and maximizes dignity.

Although ECHO is a faith-based organization that requires its aid workers to sign a pledge stating that they have given their lives to Christ, they are not extremely proselytizing. I like this because I believe the humanitarian imperative is for all people of all religions or lack thereof. With that being said, as a Christian, I also believe that Christ has called us to serve everyone, not just Christians. And exploiting a vulnerable population by making them choose a religion in exchange for food is immoral and not at all Christ-like.

It’s important to note that they do try to make ties to churches in the communities that they serve and religion is heavily influencing what they do and their mission, they do read the Bible with the affected groups as a means of comfort and consolation, but never for conversion purposes.

I’ve attached a link of a video on their site:

https://www.echonet.org/echo-videos/the-power-of-information-rod-sebastian

While reading “Emergency Sex” the character that intrigued, yet frustrated me at the same time, was Heidi. Her journey differed from that of Andrew and Ken, by Heidi having the status of a woman. Heidi’s gender played a renowned role in her experiences working within the UN while complicating her statuses and defining who she is. While Heidi was changed through her work, I was disappointed with the outcome of her sections. There are many questions I collected while reading that I would want to ask Heidi, had I gotten the chance to meet her. The below questions help outline the main frustrations that came from reading Heidi’s sections within the stories.

• Why did you allow your experiences to be defined and affected according to the role of men, before allowing yourself to experience this alone?
• Do you believe your perspectives and actions would have differed if you were a man?

One of the most important quotes I found of Heidi’s was when she explained that “[she’s] afraid to lose the women [she has] become, absorbed into yet another man’s world” (Heidi, 221). After reading this quote, I finally began to feel satisfied with the changes that occurred within how Heidi viewed herself. Leading up to this point in her story, Heidi was so defined by her statuses that it did not allow her to develop into her own person. Her obsession with finding her purpose and where she belongs ultimately hurt her in establishing this. Heidi was constantly debating her status, making her the most frustrating story to read. She consistently battles her identity, wishing she could be a Harvard graduate or a local at all of the countries she visited. To fulfill these desires she relied on the presence of men to make her feel needed and have a purpose. When reading “You are as You are Seen: Race/ Ethnicity/ Culture Identity” one is able to see how Heidi’s many identities have changed the way people treat and view Heidi; even including herself. The many identities Heidi finds herself as are: A female, a wife, an uneducated human, an American, and so many more. It is through these that Heidi understands that “branding is important” (Arcaro,  “You are as You are Seen: Race/ Ethnicity/ Culture Identity”). However, this branding mainly affects how Heidi views herself and her needs.

In terms of looking glass self, Heidi would fall under the category of “people whose sense of self are totally driven by how they see others seeing them” (Arcaro, “The moral career of a humanitarian aid worker”). Heidi is overly conscious about how the people she is surrounded by view her. Her desire to fit in, from the very beginning of her story, is evident as this drives most of her decisions. However, the reader has no choice to pitty Heidi on her journey of finding her true self.

While reading I was constantly waiting for Heidi to find this peace and develop her moral career to its fullest potential. I was rooting for her to finally be content with her life, free of insecurity and reliance on others. I felt the relief Heidi felt in Haiti when she finally “graduated from a blanc, a foreigner, an outsider, to a gremelle, a mixed-race Haitian” (Heidi, 243). Heidi explains that her home becomes Haiti as this is where she found where she belongs with Marc. The role of life partners and being a misfit completely affected Heidi’s experiences. However, the unexpected twists mentioned at the end of her stories almost reversed the progress she created for herself personally. The death of Marc and her mother was as a reader, shocking. Although Heidi frustrated me as I was reading her story, it was these frustrations that bring the storyteller and the reader together. I was able to feel the uncertainty that Heidi was feeling and the struggling of finding one’s true identity while working in this force.

References

Arcaro, Tom. “The Moral Career of a Humanitarian Aid Worker.” 25 Jan. 2016, blogs.elon.edu/aidworkervoices/?p=414.

Arcaro, Tom. “You Are as You Are Seen: Race/Ethnicity/Cultural Identity.” 31 July 2014, blogs.elon.edu/aidworkervoices/?p=157.

Cain, Kenneth, et al. Emergency Sex: (and Other Desperate Measures): True Stories from a War Zone. Ebury, 2006.

History & Background Information

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is an Intergovernmental Organization (INGO) that was founded in 1991. In fact, the OCHA was formed during a General Assembly in which  resolution 46/182 was adopted as a way for the United Nations (UN) to respond to complex emergencies and natural disasters, as well as improving the implementation and delivery of humanitarian aid across the globe. In addition, this resolution created the Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC) position. The responsibilities of the ERC include “oversight of all emergencies requiring United Nations humanitarian assistance,” serving as a focal point for governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental relief activities, as well as the leading the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), an “inter-agency forum” that handles coordination, policy development, and decision-making between the United Nations and non-United Nations humanitarian partners. OCHA formerly called the Department of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA). In 1998, the DHA became the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), whose mandate included: “the coordination of humanitarian response, policy development and humanitarian advocacy.”

Currently, OCHA functions primarily through the IASC, chaired by the ERC. The IASC works to ensure collaboration between different organizations with regards to decision-making in times of emergencies and other crises. The IASC tackles issues involving need assessment, consolidated appeals, field coordination, and humanitarian development policy. Other organizations involve humanitarian partners from the UN agencies and other humanitarian organizations including:  UNDP, UNICEF, UNHCR, WFP, FAO, WHO, UN-HABITAT, OCHA, IOM. The list of Standing Invitees include: ICRC, IFRC, OHCHR, UNFPA, the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of IDPs, the World Bank, and the NGO’s CVA, InterAction, and SCHR. OCHA’s current Mission Statement  states “Our mission is to coordinate the global emergency response to save lives and protect people in humanitarian crises. We advocate for effective and principled humanitarian action by all, for all.”

Size & Scope

The headquarters for the OCHA are located in two locations: New York, USA and Geneva, Switzerland. Additionally, the organization has five regional offices located in Latin America and the Caribbean (Panamá, Panama), the Middle East and Africa, Southern and Eastern Africa (Nairobi, Kenya), West and Central Africa (Dakar, Senegal), and Asia and the Pacific (Bangkok, Thailand). Furthermore the OCHA is comprised of thirty country offices across the globe (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, Libya, Palestine, Yemen, the Pacific Islands, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Philippines, Colombia, Haiti, and Ukraine), and nineteen humanitarian adviser teams (Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Ecuador, Georgia, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Mexico, Peru, Tajikistan, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela). As of 2017, the organization reported 1,962 staff members or aid workers, spread across the globe.

Funding

The OCHA receives a meager five percent of the UN’s Budget. As a result, the OCHA relies on and receives several sources of funding from a variety of different donors. In fact, the the OCHA receives funds and assistance from the OCHA Donor Support Group (ODSG), a group of donors who provide policy advice, management, and handle budgetary and financial issues. The ODSG is comprised of 29 different members including: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States and the European Commission. In addition, the OCHA receives funds labeled “Specially Designated Contributions” (SDCs). SDCs, contributed by OCHA in the form of grants, allow donors to choose which humanitarian projects to contribute to including those represented by third parties (UN partners or NGOs). Examples of SDCs include Country-Based Pooled Funds (CBPFs) and United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) Mission Accounts.

Allocations

In 2018, OCHA’s Budget was approximately $240.8 million. The Budget is allocated to different regions, experiencing different crises. The budget is divided into specific categories. An example comes from the Iraq Humanitarian Fund (IHF): 1st Standard Allocation 2019. The total budget of $36,965,000 was divided into categories which include: Protection Monitoring and Community-Based Activities ($1,400,000), Provision of Legal Assistance ($1,600,000), GBV Case Management Services ($950,000), Psychosocial Support for GBV Survivors & Community Engagement ($650,000), Case Management Services ($1,400,000), Child Protection Integration in Education ($600,000), Survey and Clearance of EH & EH Risk Education, PHC Services & Medicine ($2,900,000), Reproductive Health Services ($1,200,000), Nutrition Services ($500,000), Hygiene Services ($5,000,000), Damaged Agriculture ($2,000,000), Food Security ($2,000,000), Replacement of Shelter ($2,640,000), Flood Risk Mitigation ($300,000), Camp Coordination & Management ($2,000,000), Educational Support ($200,000), Teacher Payment ($600,000), Educational Materials ($800,000), Emergency Livelihoods ($2,500,000), Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance ($3,225,000), and Technology & Equipment ($2,000,000).

Branding & Website

In terms of branding efforts, OCHA logo resembles that of the UN. The OCHA’s website contains seven different tabs: About Us, Our Work, Where We Work, Themes, Events, Media, Center, and Donate. The Themes tab provides information on topics ranging from El Niño to Environmental Emergencies, Gender Equality Programing, Saving Lives Together (SLT), Humanitarian Development Nexus, and Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas. The Events page that includes content on upcoming events including the Humanitarian Policy Forum and World Humanitarian Day. Finally, the Media Centre includes speeches from the Emergency Relief Coordinator and the Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, as well as press releases, infographics, reports, news, interactive maps, and photos.

External Critiques

OCHA is not immune from critique. In fact, in the past few years they have been under fire for funding issues, altering and omitting crucial information in the U.N. Humanitarian Response Plan to paint the Syrian Government in a better light, as well as Aid Worker deaths.

Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

OCHA takes Gender Based Violence quite seriously. In fact, they have devoted a page regarding the issue on their website. To summarize, the page states that “OCHA is responsible for ensuring that SGBV prevention and response are prioritized as immediate life-saving priorities across all sectors and clusters.” In addition, they define the term, examine when and why it occurs, and discuss the challenges with GBV, especially as it relates to conflict-related sexual violence.  

Works Cited

• “OCHA.” OCHA, https://www.unocha.org/node. Accessed 10 Mar. 2019.
• “Aid Worker Deaths: The Numbers Tell the Story.” OCHA, 19 Aug. 2018, https://www.unocha.org/story/aid-worker-deaths-numbers-tell-story.
• Gutman, Roy. “How the U.N. Let Assad Edit the Truth of Syria’s War.” Foreign Policy, https://foreignpolicy.com/2016/01/27/syria-madaya-starvation-united-nations-humanitarian-response-plan-assad-edited/. Accessed 10 Mar. 2019.
• OHCA Strategic Plan 2018-2021. https://www.unocha.org/sites/unocha/files/OCHA%202018-21%20Strategic%20Plan.pdf. Accessed 10 Mar. 2019.

History

Samaritan’s Purse was founded in 1970 by Bob Pierce with the vision to “meet emergency needs in crisis areas through existing evangelical mission agencies and national churches.” After WWII, Pierce traveling throughout Asia as an evangelist and journalist with Youth for Christ. While he was in China he was inspired by women who were spreading their love of Jesus Christ. After this, he then dedicated himself to support Christians who were volunteering their time to help others around the world. Franklin Graham met Pierce in 1973 and they went on several trips together to visit relief projections in Asia and around the world. Graham eventually became the president of Samaritan’s Purse in 1979 after Pierce’s death. The organization grew in size and Samaritan’s Purse not only helped fund mission partners but also began to develop their own relief projects.

Purpose

Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational Christian organization that provides “spiritual and physical” aid to people suffering from “way, natural disasters, famine, poverty and persecution in more than 100 countries with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His son, Jesus Christ.”

Major Projects

Crisis and Disaster  

• International Relief: Samaritan’s Purse specializes in meeting critical needs for victims of war, disaster, and famine and usually are working through local churches.
• U.S. Disaster Relief: Staff and volunteers have helped more than 39,000 families impacted by U.S. natural disasters.

Feeding Programs

Health and Medical

• World Medical Mission: Samaritan’s Purse deploys hundreds of doctors, dentists, and other medical professionals in under-developed countries.
• Emergency Field Hospital
• Children’s Heart Project

Operation Christmas Child

• Operation Christmas Child uses gift-filled shoeboxes and gives them to children around the world. According to the website, Operation Christmas Child has delivered more than 157 million shoebox gifts to children in more than 160 countries.

Financials

According to Forbes, Samaritan’s Purse was voted the 15th largest charity in the United States. It’s total revenue is $801million dollars. $32 million came from government support, $759 million came from individual donors, and $10 million came from other income. Of that amount, $611 million is spent on charitable services, management/general, and fundraising. There is a $190 million dollar surplus (Forbes).

Recent Controversies

• In November 2018, Samaritan’s Purse responded to accusations that it is anti-gay and anti-Muslim. This was in response to a recent Guardian article that was published arguing that the charity behind Operation Christmas Child holds negative sentiments towards Muslims. They responded to the article by saying, “Our purpose is to show God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world. We do this by distributing millions of shoebox gifts to children who are affected by war, disease, disaster, poverty, and famine to let them know that they are not forgotten… Shoebox gifts are given to children regardless of religious affiliation and with no strings attached. Our method is demonstrated in love and we hope that our acts of compassion are an example of our faith.”
• There is also controversy surrounding Franklin Graham’s friendship with Donald Trump and meetings with Vladimir Putin. Putin’s anti-gay legislation is very similar to Graham’s views, and, in 2014, Graham wrote, “In my opinion, Putin is right on these issues. Obviously, he may be wrong about many things, but he has taken a stand to protect his nation’s children from the damaging effects of any gay and lesbian agenda”(The New Yorker).

Youtube Video:

Here is a short Youtube video describing what Operation Christmas Child is.

Sources

1. “Samaritan’s Purse on the Forbes The 100 Largest U.S. Charities List.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, www.forbes.com/companies/samaritans-purse/#15cb9e2c26c9.

2. Griswold, Eliza. “Franklin Graham’s Uneasy Alliance with Donald Trump.” The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 12 Sept. 2018, www.newyorker.com/news/dispatch/franklin-grahams-uneasy-alliance-with-donald-trump.

3. “Samaritan’s Purse Home Page.” Samaritan’s Purse, www.samaritanspurse.org/.

“To protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and violence and to provide them with assistance”

The ICRC stands for the International Committee of the Red Cross; an INGO which began in 1863 with a conference in Geneva, Switzerland. Although only having 5 members, they sought to improve the overall protection of wounded soldiers. Over the duration of a year, those 5 members were able to contact government officials with this proposition to allow armies to care for these wounded soldiers; ending in the creation of the recognizable emblem of the red cross against a white background.

With the effects of the First World War and the Second World War that this organization began to flourish and develop. During the First World War, the ICRC opened a “Central Prisoners of War Agency” with the purpose to connect war prisoners to their families. Battlefields became a  place for ambulances to reside to find wounded soldiers and care for them. With a want for peace from the general population, the Red Cross began to shift to support this. However, the ICRC remained present in places such as Ethiopia and South America; still fighting for the protection of prisoners of war. During the Second World War, the responsibilities of the ICRC expanded though including the shipment of relief supplies and exchanging Red Cross messages to families. Post Second World War, the ICRC continues to help and strengthen international humanitarian aid efforts.

Today, the organization “has more than 12,000 staff in 80 countries around the globe” (“The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)”). Although shaped by past World Wars, the ICRC has developed into an organization with many roles and responsibilities in order to help all people affected by armed conflict. Some of the activities completed by the ICRC for those affected are addressing sexual violence, establishing economic security, implementing forensic science, and assisting with providing water and habitat (“International Committee of the Red Cross.”). The above quote at the beginning of this blog post is the mission statement of the International Committee of the Red Cross, which is sought to be completed by such activities. The most important and noteworthy words within this statement are “protect” and “provide” due to that fact that this proves the actions implemented by the staff of the organization.

In terms of finances, the ICRC is funded by “by voluntary contributions from the States party to the Geneva Conventions (governments); national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies; supranational organizations (such as the European Commission); and public and private sources” (“International Committee of the Red Cross.” ). Each year the ICRC re-evaluates the projected budget they anticipate is needed. The below graphs show how the ICRC wants to allocate their assistance through the year 2019. As one can see the ICRC is very organized with their funds and strategically planning how they can best help those in need.

According to a report of the branding toolkit of the International Committee of the Red Cross, their branding “is the sum of people’s thoughts and feelings” about the organization (“Council of Delegates of the International Red Cross…”). Those working for the ICRC want to have people to understand what they are doing, how they are making a difference, and what they stand for. In order to portray this, the report explains that those must work according to the ICRC’s values to prove to the public of the positive effects of the organization.

One of the main critiques of the ICRC can be found within an article entitled “The ICRC is a Paradox” by Victoria Morgan. Some of these paradoxes listed in the article include being “a Swiss private agency with a special status in public international law” and having “liberal goals, but conservative means” ( “‘The ICRC Today Is a Paradox.’”).

References

“International Committee of the Red Cross.” Comité Internacional De La Cruz Roja, 1, 31 Aug. 2016, www.icrc.org/en.

“Council of Delegates of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement Seoul, 16–18 November 2005: Resolutions.” International Review of the Red Cross, vol. 87, no. 860, 2005, pp. 755–827., doi:10.1017/s1816383100184553.

“The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).” What Is Vulnerability? – IFRC, www.ifrc.org/en/who-we-are/the-movement/icrc/.

Morgan, Victoria. “‘The ICRC Today Is a Paradox.’” SWI Swissinfo.ch, Swissinfo.ch, 29 June 2012, www.swissinfo.ch/eng/looking-ahead_-the-icrc-today-is-a-paradox-/32993136.

CARE, which stands for Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, is one of the oldest and largest humanitarian aid organizations with a focus on fighting against global poverty. They are known as a global leader dedicated to their “unshakeable commitment to the dignity of people” (CARE). It is an international and confederation of fourteen CARE National Members, each are registered as non-profit and non-governmental organizations. Some of the programs and topics that they address in the developing world include emergency response, food security, water and sanitation, economics development, climate change, agriculture, education, and health (Wieters). They also have a special focus on working with women in poverty and fighting for equality everywhere. They put a focus on helping women and girls because they “know we cannot overcome poverty until all people have equal rights and opportunities” (CARE). CARE believes they need to first address poverty’s root causes, and not just fight against its consequences.

Origin

CARE was founded in 1945 during World War II. They started by delivering packages to World War II survivors, known as CARE packages. Twenty- two organizations came together to deliver these packages and thousands of Americans helped with this effort. The first 15,000 packages were delivered to survivors in France. Soon after CARE began making their own packages that were mostly made from donations from different American companies. The packages included things such as blankets, clothes, medicine, school supplies, and books (CARE). Although the CARE packages ended a long time ago, it still remains a symbol for their vision and what they continue to do. Now, they focus on much more long-term projects and emergency relief. They deliver emergency aid to war and natural disaster survivors. CARE advocates at the local, national, and international levels for the rights of those in poverty.

Mission

CARE’s mission statement is to “work around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty, and achieve social justice” (CARE). Their values that they focus on to achieve this mission are integrity, diversity, excellence, and equality. There are hoping for a world of tolerance and social justice so all people can live with security. CARE’s mission is to first work with different communities to prepare for the impact of disasters, then they partner with local groups to provide assistance right after an emergency hits, and lastly they work with the survivors to help them recover. 90% of CARE’s expense go to their program activities: 76% of that goes to long-term solutions to poverty and 24% goes to emergency response and rehabilitation (CARE).

Scope

CARE worked in 92 countries last year and was able to reach 63 million people through their humanitarian aid programs. They had a reported income of $694.4 million in 2015 (CARE International). This map shows the places that they are providing relief to currently.

In 2020 CARE’s goals are to support 150 million people to overcome poverty and social injustice. This includes focusing on women and girls and helping them exercise their rights to sexual and maternal health, and increasing food security for 50 million vulnerable people (CARE).

Works Cited:

 CARE, CARE, 7 Jan. 2019, www.care.org/.

“CARE International.” NGOmonitor, 22 Feb. 2017, www.ngo-monitor.org/ngos/care/.

Wieters, Heike. “Reinventing the Firm: From Post-War Relief to International Humanitarian Agency.” European Review of History, 26 Oct. 2015.

History

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is a non-profit, member-based organization that began officially on December 22, 1971, in Paris, France. They are also widely known by their translated name, Doctors without Borders, and originally began with 300 members, including the 13 doctors and journalists who were the founders. The damage after the war and famine in Biafra, Nigeria is what inspired them to begin and now they also assist people globally affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare. Members operate on the belief that “all people should have access to healthcare regardless of gender, race, religion, creed or political affiliation, and that people’s medical needs outweigh respect for national boundaries (Who We Are).”

Timeline

• 1972 | 1st mission in Managua, Nicaragua’s after earthquake kills between 10,000 and 30,000 people.
• 1974 | 1st long-term medical assistance after the hurricane in Honduras.
• 1975 | 1st large-scale medical program for Cambodian refugees escaping Pol Pot’s rule. Considered the turning point for MSF.
• 1979 | MSF co-founder, Dr. Bernard Kouchner, leaves when the organization moves toward creating a more structured organization instead of only sending doctors to crisis zones. Kouchner later starts Médecins du Monde.
• 1980 | launch of 1st international appeal in protest against the Vietnam War.
  Also, 1st nutritional program in the Karamoja province of Uganda.
• 1988 | 1st large-scale intervention planned by 6 Operational Centres (France, Belgium, Spain, Luxembourg, Holland and Switzerland) after the earthquake in Armenia claims at least 60,000 lives. MSF is one of the 1st non-government organizations to respond.
• 1991 | Over 300,000 Somalis die in Mogadishu civil war. MSF is only foreign presence and aids refugees.
• 1994 | Over 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus murdered in the Rwandan genocide. MSF calls for military intervention. MSF assists refugees and creates the largest cholera program.
• 1999 | MSF awarded Nobel Peace Prize “in recognition of the organization’s pioneering humanitarian work on several continents.,”
• 2001 | MSF starts antiretroviral therapy for treatment of HIV/AIDS in 7 countries: Thailand, Cambodia, Cameroon, Guatemala, Kenya, Malawi, and South Africa.
• 2003 | MSF becomes a founding partner in Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi): an initiative to undertake drug development for neglected diseases.
• 2010 | MSF launches 1 of their largest interventions with 26 projects after the earthquake in Haiti; MSF and VII photo agency launch Starved for Attention multimedia campaign on global malnutrition
• 2014 | MSF launches Missing Maps project: a collaboration with the British and American Red Cross, and the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team “aiming to map the most vulnerable places in the developing world.”
• 2016 | MSF stops taking funds from European Union and Member States “in opposition to their damaging deterrence policies against refugees and migrants and intensifying attempts to push people and their suffering away from European shores.” (Timeline)

Size/Scope 

MSF has over 45,000 staff members from over 150 countries working mainly in-field domestically and internationally, with around 3,700 at their headquarters. As reported in the 2017 International Activity Report, MSF worked in 72 countries, running 462 projects: approximately 57% in Africa, 18% in the Middle East, 13% in Asia, 6% in Europe, 6% in the Americas and 1% in the Pacific. Most of MSF’s funding comes from private sources as an effort to guarantee independence. In 2017, 96% was acquired from private donors, 2% from public institutions and 2% from other sources. 83% of funds are used to support their social mission, 13% for fundraising and 5% for management and general administration (Liu).

Mission

MSF’s mission is to “provide lifesaving medical care to those most in need” (Charter).

• Impartiality | To assist people based on need. The originating country, religion or political affiliations don’t matter and priority is given to those in the most serious and immediate danger.
• Independence | To evaluate medical needs, independent of political, economic or religious interests. Over 90% of funding comes in small amounts from individual private donors. MSF strives to access populations without restriction.
• Neutrality | To not support the agendas of warring parties or take sides in armed conflicts. (Who We Are)

Branding Efforts

MSF is popularly known by both their original French and translated English name. The logo includes a running man symbol. Their website display’s updated figures on aid statistics. They utilize PSA’s and even an interactive documentary to reach out to the public for assistance. Giving a glimpse at the scope of the crises around the world.

External Critiques/Internal Conflict

Not many external critiques of MSF were found. They have been reported as facing conflict with the U.S. government though, as Huffington Post particularly cites the Obama administration’s pursuit of “policies that prevent poor countries from accessing low-cost generic versions of expensive name-brand medications,” while MSF argues for looser standards and flexibility (Carter). MSF faced internal issues particularly in 2017 with cases of sexual assault by staff members, resulting in the dismissal of 19 workers total. MSF released this information in light of Oxfam’s sexual exploitation scandal in Haiti, as a way to display transparency and advise on their remedial efforts. They investigated 40 complaint cases of abuse and/or harassment, leading to the 24 cases of sexual harassment and now all complaints are internally investigated (Baker). 

With MSF also operating on a principle of neutrality, some have reported resulting moral conflicts, like having to negotiate with criminals in the interest of saving lives. MSF published a self-exposé, Humanitarian Negotiations Revealed, detailing how they “paid an Al-Qaeda-affiliated militia a $10,000-per-project registration fee to continue working in Somalia.” In this article, titled “The Big Dilemma Facing Doctors Without Borders,” 2013 MSF research director, Fabrice Weissman, stated that the MSF principle of independence was a myth. “Instead, we choose our dependencies. The only independence we have is the independence of mind” (Gugliotta).

Works Cited

Baker, Luke. “Doctors Without Borders Fired 19 People for Sexual Abuse Last Year.” Reuters. Reuters. 14 Feb 2018. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-oxfam-msf/doctors-without-borders-fired-19-people-for-sexual-abuse-last-year-idUSKCN1FY2QC. Accessed 3 Mar 2019. 

“Branding Guidelines.” Médecins Sans Frontières. Médecins Sans Frontières. https://branding-guidelines.msf.es/eng/logo.html. Accessed 3 Mar 2019. 

Carter, Zach. “Obama Has Been Fighting Doctors Without Borders For Years.” Huffington Post. Huffington Post. 30 Oct 2014. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/29/obama-doctors-without-borders_n_6068634.html. Accessed 3 Mar 2019. 

“Charter.” Doctors Without Borders, Médecins Sans Frontières. https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/who-we-are/principles/charter. Accessed 3 Mar 2019. 

Gugliotta, Guy. “The Big Dilemma Facing Doctors Without Borders.” Smithsonian Magazine. Smithsonian. April 2013. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/the-big-dilemma-facing-doctors-without-borders-4946758/. Accessed 3 Mar 2019. 

Liu, Joanne and Jérôme Oberreit. “International Activity Report 2017.” Médecins Sans Frontières. Médecins Sans Frontières. https://www.msf.org/international-activity-report-2017. Accessed 3 Mar 2019. 

“Timeline,” Doctors Without Borders, Médecins Sans Frontières. 27 Jun 18. https://www.doctorswithoutborders.ca/timeline. Accessed 3 Mar 2019.