Motion:
We ask the OCB Board to task the Executive to implement concrete measures to improve the embeddedness of community engagement as a participatory process in all MSF projects, missions, and overall operations. We ask that 2-3 years action plan to be proposed, with dedicated resources, that considers:
- Necessary structural adaptations to foster more community participation in operational decision making
- Awareness raising in all departments both in the field and offices (on what constitutes community engagement, its importance in MSF operations, and different ways to engage with them)
- Training in all departments both in the field and offices (on how to enable and empower patients, communities, and their groups throughout MSF project lifecycles)
- Including community engagement as a transversal topic across medical circles and operations
- How to empower and promote the participation of the most vulnerable so that community engagement approaches do not reinforce existing exclusion and violence
- Integrating a system to monitor quality and impact of community engagement processes and outcomes in our activities
Background and explanation:
Médecins Sans Frontières has recognized the importance of community engagement in our operations, as outlined in OCB’s Strategic Orientations. It is inextricably tied to the responsiveness of our activities and the quality of care we offer patients and their communities. It is also a key element in ensuring accountability to vulnerable populations with whom and for whom we work.
However, engagement with communities is often overlooked, forgotten, not prioritized, consists of tokenism or done superficially. If we want to prioritize quality of care, and to have accountability towards our patients and their communities this must change.
Communities must be engaged considering their socio-cultural, political, and historical diversity, and as active subjects of the humanitarian intervention. Communities must not be superficially understood as a homogeneous group of people in need, waiting for aid and care.
Gabrielle Schittecatte, Jesse Verschuere, Ana Claudia Naldinho, Lucy O'Connel, Mariana Garcia, Cassandre Dumon, Peter Arko, Daniela Garone, Kirrily de Polnay, Umberto Pellecchia, Patrice Vastel, Sanni Myllyaho, Hilde De Clerk, Elisa Campagnone, Pauline Kennes, Kemi Ogundipe, Mira Jimenez, Melissa How, Pietro Curtaz, Dorothy Wuyep and Camille Coletta