Non-Profit Organization Report: Doctors Without Borders
Introduction
On Monday, February 15, 2016, in northern Syria, a 30-bed hospital operated by Doctors Without Borders was destroyed by two targeted airstrikes. Nine staff members and sixteen patients and their caregivers were killed. Later updates confirmed U.S.-led forces hit the facility four times (Dettmer; “At Least 25 Killed”).
This event may be your only reference to this private, independent non-profit organization. It is important to know it provides extensive independent and impartial global medical humanitarian aid to those affected by epidemics, armed conflicts, natural or man-made disasters and crises, or are overlooked for urgent medical care. (“History & Principles: Mission Statement”). This brief business report examines components and activities of this organization.
History of the Organization
The concept of an international medical humanitarian organization was devised in France in 1968 after war and famine in Nigeria and floods in what is now Bangladesh. Eventually, it became Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), known internationally in English as Doctors Without Borders. The founding volunteer doctors had worked for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva but wanted to improve emergency medical and humanitarian care. In 1971, steps were taken to establish a group of 300 volunteer doctors, nurses and staff members to help those suffering from major disasters. The concept was simple but established borders made access to patients difficult. The founders believed people came first and the need for medical care overrode border restrictions. Thus, its name (“History & Principles: Founding of MSF”).
After its first humanitarian efforts, it was apparent MSF needed to improve its operations by preparing better and providing continuing support and supplies. The first relief missions helped Nicaraguan and Honduran natural disaster victims recover from earthquakes and hurricanes and Cambodians wanting sanctuary from an oppressive government. In 1979, MSF organizers decided to make the organization more professional (“History & Principles: Founding of MSF”).
The progression of the organization has been striking. MSF employs over 30,000 people in 28 offices in 21 countries. There are international offices in Geneva and New York City and MSF branch offices in seven nations. More than one hundred million patients in over 60 countries have been treated by MSF that has “maintained its institutional and financial independence” and criticizes itself and others when effective and timely aid is not being provided to those who need it (“History & Principles: Founding of MSF;” “Other MSF Offices”).
Current Structure and Leadership of the Organization
MSF leaders coordinate the organization’s activities based on their first-hand field experience and knowledge (“History & Principles: Accountability”). MSF’s current organizational structure involves local and international components. Twenty-four MSF offices and five Operational Centers around the world form associations to manage, protect and evaluate the quality of current operations and help design future MSF initiatives – always striving to maintain the highest level of medical care and core principles: “independence, impartiality and neutrality.” Association membership is limited to current and past MSF-USA workers (“MSF Leadership”).
The MSF-USA Association’s structure is typical. Since 1990, U.S. association members have elected a U.S. Board of Directors that governs on their behalf. The board elects the Executive Director, works to maintain MSF principles and monitors the responsibility for its actions. An Advisory Board also monitors operations and offers suggestions to the board (“MSF Leadership”).
Financial Support, Accountability and Transparency
MSF controls directly and independently the aid it provides. This allows MSF to act quickly, efficiently and effectively when needed. Governments and intergovernmental agencies provide only limited funding for MSF. Although solicitations have been made for specific events or situations, generally unrestricted donations provide most of the group’s finances (“History & Principles: Accountability”). 2014 income totaled $344.6 million while expenses totaled $228.1 million. Less than one percent of the annual budget is for administrative expenses. About ten percent is for fundraising activities. More than 88 percent of the annual budget is spent on programs. Individual donations, gifts, grants and fundraising events provide most of the income (“Financial Information;” Charity Navigator). MSF-USA raised almost $190 million dollars in 2014 and sent 445 US-based workers overseas on assignment (“History & Principles: Accountability and Leadership”). A leading watchdog of the philanthropic marketplace ranks highly Doctors Without Borders, USA for its global emergency medical care (Charity Navigator). Medical ethics, humanitarian principles and the goal of transparency guide MSF’s accountability efforts. Internal and external groups (e.g., current and former field workers) provide continuous scrutiny of the role, mission and operations of MSF. “To be accountable is to be willing to review, analyze, and critique our operations constantly, at all levels” (“History & Principles: Accountability”).
MSF maintains transparency in its activities and financial dealings. MSF-USA continues to meet all watchdog agency standards and issues regular financial reports (“Financial Information”). Periodic publications relate the nature and scope of the work and how MSF deals with global organizations, nations and groups (“History & Principles: Accountability”). One group wants the organization to provide more monitoring and evaluation reports (GiveWell).
Advertising, Fundraising, Promotion and Publication Efforts
MSF uses all available media outlets to promote its work and raise funds. Its website provides detailed information about current and past operations, operating principles and issues the organization has confronted. In addition, books, radio, television and video productions increase MSF’s visibility and impact (“Mass Media”).
Who the Organization Helps
MSF helps those who would not otherwise receive the medical assistance they need. Typical initiatives include supporting a community hospital handling gunshot and trauma problems and establishing mobile and fixed position health clinics. MSF services are available with no restrictions based on race, religion, creed or political affiliations. The help provided is impartial – offered to those on all sides of conflicts or disasters. MSF determines the nature and seriousness of each situation and provides help to build trust that leads all victims to come willingly for MSF assistance. MSF withdraws or suspends operations when conditions are determined to be unsafe or medically or ethically ineffective. Medically and ethically relevant and effective services are hallmarks of MSF’s decisions to intervene and offer aid (“History & Principles: Accountability;” “Cases”).
The Business Landscape
Six large UN organizations work in refugee and disaster relief, providing technical assistance, medications, food, transportation, logistics and refugee relief. MSF is classified as a non-government relief organization (NGOs). Others in this category are the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, CARE USA/International and Catholic Relief Services. Estimates indicate approximately 1500 NGOs provide 20 percent of health assistance in developing countries (“International Medical Volunteers Association”).
MSF has a distinctive niche in this marketplace. MSF pays all volunteer expenses. MSF volunteers willing enter war-ravaged areas without government permission. MSF speaks out on global human rights abuse and health care issues. MSF is one of the first on the scene and often the last to leave situations involving famines, conflicts and natural disasters. These activities make their work dangerous and often very difficult (“International Medical Volunteers Association”).
Charity Navigator gives Doctors Without Borders, USA a four-star rating (the highest) and an overall quality score of 95.17, slightly behind Samaritan’s Purse’s 98.79 score. Other highly rated charities performing similar types of work include The Zakat Foundation of America, PATH and Aga Khan Foundation, USA (Charity Navigator).
Conclusion
MSF faces continuous challenges. Financing is often uncertain and variable. Staffing is sometimes uneven, especially for needed medical specialties. Security and neutrality require constant monitoring and patience. Access to medications, diagnostics and treatments often restricts the ability to help those most in need (“About Us”).
In 1999, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) received the Nobel Peace Prize “in recognition of the organization’s pioneering humanitarian work on several continents” and to honor medical personnel helping millions of people in 80 countries. When accepting the award, the president of MSF International used the occasion to condemn current violence against civilians and emphasized that “the humanitarian act is the most apolitical of all acts . . . [and has] profound . . . political implications.” Nobel Peace Prize money was used to establish a Neglected Disease Fund to start pilot programs (“History & Principles: The Nobel Peace Prize”).
Works Cited
“About Us.” doctorswithoutborders.org/about-us/faq. Doctors Without Borders. 09 June
2009. Web. 22 Mar 2016. <http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/about-us/faq>.
“At Least 25 Killed in Attack on MSF-Supported Hospital in Northern Syria
(Updated).” doctorswithoutborders.org. Doctors Without Borders. 15 Febr 2016. Web. 21 Mar 2016. <http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/article/least-25-killed-attack-msf-supported-hospital-northern-syria-updated>.
Charity Navigator. “Doctors Without Borders, USA.” charitynavigator.org.
Charity Navigator, 2016. Web. 21 Mar 2016. <http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3628>.
Dettmer, Jamie. “UN: Nearly 50 Dead in Strikes on Syrian Medical Facilities,
Schools.” voanews.com. Voice of America, 15 Febr 2016. Web. 21 Mar 2016. <http://www.voanews.com/content/airstrikes-destroy-msf-backed-hospital-northwestern->.
“Financial Information.” doctorswithoutborders.org/about-us. Doctors Without Borders.
09 June 2009. Web. 21 Mar 2016. <http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/about-us/financial-information>.
GiveWell. “Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières,
MSF).” givewell.org/international/charities/doctors-without-border. The Clear Fund. 2012. Web. 22 Mar 2016. <http://www.givewell.org/international/charities/doctors-without-borders#Transparency>.
“History & Principles.” doctorswithoutborders- ksgr.blogspot.com. Doctors Without Borders.
09 June 2009. Web. 22 Mar 2016. <http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/about-us/history-principles>
International Medical Volunteers Association. “The Major Health Care
Organisations.” imva.org/Pages/orgbio. IMVA, n.d. Web. 21 Mar 2016.<http://imva.org/Pages/orgbio.htm#REFUGEE>.
“Mass Media.” doctorswithoutborders.org/about-us/msf-leadership. Doctors Without Borders.
09 June 2009. Web. 22 Mar 2016. <http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/about-us/mass-media/films>.
“MSF Leadership.” doctorswithoutborders- ksgr.blogspot.com. Doctors Without
Borders. 09 June 2009. Web. 21 Mar 2016. <http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/about-us/msf-leadership>.
“Other MSF Offices.” doctorswithoutborders.org/about-us. Doctors Without Borders. 09
June 2009. Web. 21 Mar 2016. <http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/about-us/other-msf-offices>.
