Why MSF values remote and low-resource setting experience

What do we mean by remote and low-resource settings?

Many of our projects are based in rural and remote areas with limited human resources, materials and equipment. There may not be electricity in our facilities 24 hours a day and you may not have access to additional supplies when you need them. When working for MSF, you could be the only medical practitioner in the health facility. It’s therefore important to be flexible, creative and confident working autonomously in these contexts.

Our teams provide healthcare in some of the most remote environments in the world to deliver that care. Kiribati, for example, is a country made up of 33 island atolls over a vast distance in the Pacific. The project receives essential supplies in a variety of ways. Transporting shipments by sea can take months to arrive, and air freight can be very expensive. Our Kiribati logistics staff work creatively to coordinate their transportation of resources in the most efficient way, but each project member needs to adapt collaboratively when shortfalls occur.

An MSF mobile clinic team working in Old Fangak Country, Jonglei state, South Sudan, July 2024. The team travels by boat every two weeks to isolated villages whose communities have no access to healthcare. © MSF

Why is this experience so important?

1. To be able to overcome challenges

Working with limited resources and in high-pressure conditions presents challenges that require you to be adaptable and flexible. Experience working with limited medical supplies and infrastructure prior to applying for MSF helps build skills to adapt and solve problems when on assignment with MSF.

2. To be resourceful

Our staff often don't have access to the technology or supplies that they are accustomed to in the countries they have trained in, because of limited infrastructure in the remote contexts we work. Therefore, you will need to be able to work effectively with fewer resources than you may be used to.

3. To enhance patient outcomes

MSF’s social purpose is to provide medical humanitarian assistance to people affected by disasters, conflict, epidemics or those excluded from healthcare, no matter where they live. Being resourceful, flexible and adaptable will enable you to do all you can for patients with the resources available.

4. To form good working relationships

Being able to understand, respect and work in other cultures is very important when working for MSF. Cultural differences may impact punctuality at work, respect for personal space, or restrict interactions between genders. Understanding and respecting local customs, beliefs, and languages is vital to be able to communicate cross-culturally and build good relations with your team, your patients and the community you work within.

How can I gain this experience?

To gain relevant experience in resource-limited settings, we recommend the following:

• Work in a remote and low-resource context overseas with another NGO.
• Work in rural and remote communities of Australia or New Zealand, to get hands-on experience of how your job is done in these regions.
• Investigate rural opportunities by tapping into your colleagues’ knowledge about what’s available.
• Upskill in basic techniques for your role to prepare you for working with MSF. 

MSF staff construct new latrines to improve sanitation and reduce the risk of diseases like cholera and mpox in Sam Sam camp for internally displaced people in Goma, North Kivu, DRC. © Michel Lunanga/MSF

 

Is there any additional support for staff on assignment?

MSF provides operational resources to staff including guidelines and protocols. MSF medical guidelines cover key areas of care, and  MSF also has logistics protocols for specific activities such as setting up cholera treatment facilities. There is also technical support available to staff, relevant to their field of expertise. It’s important to note, however, that this support may not be immediate, and staff need to be confident managing emergency situations.