The international organization, Médecines Sans Frontiéres (MSF), translated directly to Doctor Without Borders, is aimed to provide medical services to patients in countries suffering from conflict or endemic disasters. Worth (2020) outlines the basic principles of the structure and governance used in this organization that compares to the common practices of INGOs.
Even though MSF is considered by many to be an INGO, the organization claims to be more of a movement rather than an NGO (Worth, 2020). Therefore, MSF incorporates both features of centralization like NGO and decentralization of operation, similar to the movement. MSF has an international board that oversees its activity, providing cohesion. At the same time, each mission is quite independent and flexible enough to meet the region’s demands.
The scale of operation and the need for some decentralization make accountability and transparency more complex and challenging. However, MSF accomplishes this goal up to international standards. MSF is transparent when it comes to funds distribution and spending. As for political statements, the main principle of MSF is impartiality, according to Worth (2020). MSF must not make a definitive stance, as it is aimed to provide medical help regardless of the details. This fact shows that accountability and transparency in NGOs can be complex depending on their mission. At its core, MSF’s mission is medical service provision and advocacy. Moreover, MSF remains an NGO with a high impact internationally. According to Worth (2020), Crutchfield and Grant highlighted two main criteria for this high impact: substantial and sustained results and influence on the whole system.
Therefore, it is clear that MSF’s mission of providing medical help worldwide and standing up for people’s health and lives is consistent with the ideas of a high-impact organization. Furthermore, MSF’s results and accomplishments support this conclusion, as it managed to assist multiple people in over 70 countries and continues to expand its operations.
Table 1: Notes and Critical Analysis Narratives
References
Sharma, E. (2019). A review of corporate social responsibility in developed and developing nations. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 26(4), 712-720. Web.
Worth, M. J. (2020). Nonprofit management: Principles and practice. CQ Press. Web.