Internships at MSF are part of an intra- or extra-academic course, or according to federal professional integration measures lien Etat de Genève : engager un-e stagiaire. A tripartite internship agreement is mandatory.

Context & Mission

The UREPH (Research Unit on Humanitarian Stakes and Practices) of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Switzerland was created in 2006 and aims to improve the way MSF projects are implemented in the field and to participate in critical thinking on humanitarian and medical action, notably by producing publications and organizing conferences and debates. The UREPH conducts research with the objective of improving the understanding of operational issues, along with contributing to analytical and reflective positioning on humanitarian stakes and practices.

One of MSF Switzerland’s strategic objectives is the reduction of its ecological footprint. In this context, the Operations department has tasked the Research Unit with conducting a review of the consumption of single-use items in humanitarian medical action and of the ways to limit their impact on the environment and society.

The UREPH intern will work under the supervision of the Supply Chain Sustainability Coordinator and in close collaboration with the project team made of representatives of Medical, Operations and Logistic departments.

Tasks and responsibilities

• The intern will assist the project team in exploring avenues and providing recommendations for reducing the environmental footprint of single-use items, namely masks and gloves. To carry out this work, various duties will be necessary, such as:
  • Research on environmental and societal impacts associated with the use of disposable masks and gloves.
  • The further identification of viable innovations that could be used by MSF; the implications in terms of environmental and financial costs of these alternatives compared to our current practice, including those generated by the potential purchase of equipment needed for these alternatives; risks and limitations of these alternatives at the legal and ethical levels, practical considerations, adaptability of medical staff, patients and communities.
  • Communication with the suppliers of viable innovations.
  • Support in the preparation, implementation and follow-up of pilots of viable innovations in MSF projects as well as a pilot of a campaign aimed at reducing the consumption of gloves without compromising the quality and ergonomics of care.
  • Being the focal point with external partners in charge of performing the Life Cycle Assessments of selected products.
  • Contribution to the drafting of a final report on the project, including recommendations and lessons learned as well as the development of a methodology that could be replicated to reduce the environmental impact of other items.
• The intern will be asked to use the following methods:
  • Literature review
  • Qualitative analysis: internal interviews with MSF managers and technicians from the Medical and Logistics departments; external interviews with suppliers and other humanitarian (e.g. ICRC, WHO) or medical (e.g. HUG) organisations
  • Quantitative analysis: transactional data related to the purchase of single-use items; estimates of financial costs and CO2 emissions
  • Analysis of technical documentation

Your profil

• Have a tripartite internship agreement
• Finished or in progress Master’s degree, in environmental engineering or sustainable development
• Fluent in both English and French (Spanish or Arabic a plus)
• Command of usual computer tools (MS Office 365)
• Excellent writing skills and ability to summarise
• Proactivity, autonomy, initiative, rigour and organisational skills
• Flexibility and team spirit
• Keen interest in humanitarian action
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment

Terms of employement

• A tripartite internship agreement is mandatory
• 6 months, or according to internship agreement
• Full time (40h/week)
• Based in Geneva
• Start date : October 3^rd, 2022
• Gross monthly remuneration 2'000.- CHF

To apply

Please send a CV (2 pages maximum) and a cover letter (1 page maximum).

Closing date for applications August 21^st, 2022.

APPLY HERE

All applications will be treated with strict confidentiality.

Only successful candidates will be contacted.

At MSF, we are committed to an inclusive culture that encourages and supports the diverse voices of our staff members. We strive to create workplaces where teams of people with diverse backgrounds, characteristics, perspectives, ideas and experiences work together for the social mission of MSF to create better outcomes for our patients and the communities we work with.

We welcome applications from individuals of all genders, ages, sexual orientations, nationalities, races, background, religions, beliefs, ability status, and all other diversity characteristics.

MSF does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of discrimination or harassment, including sexual harassment. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo reference checks.