CONTEXT
Médecins du Monde has an organizational project and, since 2016, has adopted a strategic plan. The second version, covering the period 2024-2029, outlines the organization’s ambitions, defines its objectives, its main directions, and its transformation projects. It structures its implementation, including the governance of this implementation.
The association’s historical socio-economic model, although never formally defined as such, is based on four pillars:
- A historical foundation whose importance has been reaffirmed to preserve our activism and our freedom of action: volunteering and public generosity;
- The role of public and private subsidies to amplify our capacity for action, with a desire for diversification and choice of our funders to limit our dependencies;
- The development of strategic alliances, first with the MdM network, but also with French humanitarian NGOs and with other actors to increase our impact and raise funds;
- The specific nature of MdM’s “business” is based on advanced expertise and the long time required for social change, with the corollary being a relatively large headquarters compared to other NGOs more focused on providing services (such as distribution).
We are currently experiencing a systemic crisis of solidarity, a political and financial crisis. The rise of anti-rights movements and the far right is increasingly delegitimizing solidarity both locally and globally. We are witnessing profound transformations in the ecosystem in which we operate. This paradigm shift is reflected in the shrinking of civic and humanitarian spaces, the scarcity and transformation of available financial resources (changes in the NGO landscape, reforms of UN agencies, drastic reductions in official development assistance, demands for return on investment, politicization and conditionality of aid, etc.). These systemic transformations could reduce our room for maneuver and severely undermine our capacity for action and advocacy.
In this context, to ensure an efficient, sustainable and long-term model, like many other associations, we must strengthen the following areas:
- Strengthening our legitimacy, expertise and impact while limiting degrowth, to become a more influential player;
- Maintain our momentum in improving the quality of action by introducing new approaches;
- Maintaining a militant dimension and collective commitment while having a high degree of professionalization, maintaining or developing a complementarity of skills and statuses;
- Strengthening our strategic alliances.
The association has therefore launched a project, through its Steering Committee and in conjunction with its Board of Directors, aimed at analyzing and assessing our social and environmental management (SEM) in light of potential changes in the context. Beyond the immediate survival of the association, the goal is to adapt it to guarantee and sustain our organizational project and our fundamental stability.
In this context, MdM-France is seeking a consultancy to support it in this project.
GOALS
General objective
Supporting project management, the Management Committee and the Board of Directors in defining a target socio-economic model.
Specific objectives
The consultancy will support the project management team throughout all stages of the project, and in particular:
- Finalize the working methodology and provide methodological support to the project management team throughout the project.
- Supporting the project management team in writing the self-assessment of the current MSE;
- Supporting project management in the selection and analysis of disruptive hypotheses;
- To stimulate, encourage and participate in the construction of the association’s target scenario by mobilizing relevant people;
- Structure the implementation of the MSE that responds to the target scenario on the 3 levers of the MSE;
- Facilitate discussions with the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors at key stages and participate in feedback sessions with these two bodies where appropriate, and more broadly with the MdM community, at the end of the project;
- Draft intermediate and final versions of the target scenario and associated MSE, including recommendations for implementing the trajectory from the current MSE to the target MSE.
Perimeter
Even though there is an essential link between MdM-Fr’s MSE and the work carried out with the MdM network, in particular the network’s economic model and the ‘one-MdM’ trajectory, the scope of the project and the consultancy is limited to MdM-France.
ORGANIZATION OF THE CONSULTATION
Piloting
The consultancy is managed by a project management team.
Methodological preferences
The project is based on the methodology proposed by Le Rameau: https://www.lerameau.fr/kit-modeles-socio-economiques-dinteret-general/
In-person workshops will need to be organized at our headquarters in Saint Denis:
- with the Executive Committee (estimate: 4)
- with the revenue (estimated at 3)
- with resource persons (estimated at 4)
Individual interviews may be conducted in addition.
Calendar
- Auto-diagnostic : fin avril
- Validation of disruptive hypotheses: end of April
- Disruptive Hypothesis Analysis Paper: End of May
- Target scenario validation: early July
- Final approval by the MSE Board of Directors: end of September/beginning of October
EXPECTED DELIVERABLES AND RETURNS
Methodological framework note
A methodological framework note, specifying the methodology used and the timing, will be presented at the beginning of the consultancy (early April).
Disruptive assumptions and target scenario
Written document (word) presenting the analysis of the different disruptive hypotheses, and the rationale that led to the construction of the selected target scenario.
MSE
A document (Word) explaining the target MSE and the relationship between the three levers will be included. Recommendations for implementing the trajectory from the current MSE to the target MSE will be included.
Restitutions
A report to the MdM community (to be defined) is planned at the end of the mission.
SKILLS REQUIRED TO CARRY OUT THE MISSION
Required skills:
- Proven prior experience in supporting associations in defining their socio-economic model
- Proven experience in facilitating discussions with governing bodies
- Analytical, synthesis, and writing skills
Expected respect for MdM’s working frameworks.
APPLICATION FILE
Consultants invited to submit a bid must provide the following information to the email address: doi.applications@medecinsdumonde.net , specifying “MSE Consultancy” in the subject line:
Technical proposal including:
- understanding the terms of reference
- the technical approach developed,
- The CV and availability of the person (or team, if applicable),
- the provisional intervention schedule as well as an estimate of the workload in person-days
- references to two similar previous works
Financial proposal including:
– the total budget including VAT, incorporating the budget breakdown (fees, etc.).
Application deadline: 19/03/2026 at 9:00 am Paris time
How to apply
Please send your application to doi.applications@medecinsdumonde.net specifying in the subject line “MSE Consultancy” before 19/03/2026 at 9:00 am Paris time.