Doctors Without Borders, an international humanitarian medical association created in 1971, provides medical assistance to populations whose lives are threatened: mainly in cases of armed conflict, but also epidemics, pandemics, natural disasters or exclusion from care.
The France mission is seeking an intercultural mediator for its project on the North Coast.
Context :
Doctors Without Borders works in France with exiled people facing the health, psychological, and social consequences of violence related to migration and the loss of protection. The France Mission combines care, protection, and testimony to meet the needs of the most vulnerable.
Today, it focuses its efforts on the North Coast and the Île-de-France region, while maintaining a capacity for rapid response to emergencies. Supported by multidisciplinary teams, it develops medical, psychological, social, and advocacy activities within a constantly evolving context.
Your role:
As part of a multidisciplinary team, you will play a vital role as a liaison between the individuals receiving support and the medical, psychosocial, and social teams. Your linguistic and intercultural skills will facilitate mutual understanding and help remove barriers to access.
Main responsibilities:
Promote clear and respectful communication between the people being supported and MSF teams, mitigating language barriers, cultural misunderstandings and discrimination, in order to contribute to equitable access to appropriate care and support.
Your main responsibilities:
Facilitating intercultural communication and mediation
- To provide a faithful interpretation that is culturally appropriate for the people involved, in the language in which they wish to express themselves.
- Helping teams and individuals to understand socio-cultural differences that may influence interactions, care, or support.
- Share with professionals the elements of cultural context useful for care, and report obstacles to equal access to services.
- To contribute to a respectful environment, free from racism and discrimination, in accordance with MSF principles.
Welcoming, informing and guiding people
- Welcoming people to MSF respite and consultation facilities, building trust and, if necessary, gathering initial basic information.
- Facilitate the referral and follow-up of individuals to other health or social services facilities when necessary.
- Inform people, in conjunction with the relevant professionals, about how the health system works and the services available: accommodation, food, transport, social support or legal assistance.
- Participate in the proposed group activities, contribute to the organization of the reception area and ensure that it remains suitable and safe, especially for accompanying young children.
Contribute to monitoring situations and understanding needs
- Participate in case management meetings and interdisciplinary exchanges when necessary.
- Contribute to assessments, surveys and data collection on medical and humanitarian issues, with particular attention to situations of vulnerability.
- Ensure reliable data collection and entry and transmit relevant information expressed by individuals and communities to teams, in strict compliance with confidentiality.
- Providing linguistic and intercultural interpretation when collecting testimonies for communication or advocacy actions.
- Contribute, as appropriate, to media reviews and the creation of communication content.
Ensuring a safe and respectful welcome
- Monitor the reception conditions and report any safety issues concerning the activity premises to the manager.
- To ensure the proper application of safeguarding measures and to contribute to the protection of the people being supported.
- Working closely with MSF teams and relevant partners, in compliance with procedures and confidentiality rules.
Desired profile
Education and experience:
- Secondary education level required; a degree in social sciences, social communication or teaching is desirable.
- Training in intercultural mediation or interpreting is an asset.
- Experience in translation and/or cultural mediation is desirable.
- Experience working with vulnerable populations, adolescents or young adults, as well as within a multidisciplinary team, is appreciated.
- Knowledge of social protection, child protection, reception arrangements for unaccompanied minors and migration dynamics is desirable.
Qualities:
- A sense of service, active listening, and the ability to build a relationship of trust.
- Respect for individuals, their backgrounds and their cultural differences.
- Enjoys teamwork and cooperation.
- Adaptability and ability to work in a demanding environment, including night shifts.
- Adherence to the principles and values of MSF.
Languages and tools:
- Fluency in French is essential; English is desirable.
- Mandatory mastery of at least one of the following languages: Tigrinya, Amazigh, Farsi, Somali or Kurdish-Sorani.
- Knowledge of Arabic is an asset.
- Proficiency in common computer tools, including Word, Excel and the Internet.
Employment conditions
Mobility required on the North Coast between Calais and Dunkirk
Non-managerial position: 12-month fixed-term contract, renewable
Compensation and benefits:
- €2,767.75 gross monthly salary over 13 months + 22 days of RTT (reduced working time) per year.
- Supplementary health insurance fully covered by MSF.
- Meal vouchers worth €12 (MSF subsidized at 60%)
- 50% reimbursement of public transport costs or bicycle mileage
Position available: As soon as possible.
Due to administrative constraints related to the duration of the contract, candidates must already have a work permit in France (citizen of the European Union) or a residence permit allowing them to work on French soil.
How to apply
To apply
Please send your application, including your CV, cover letter, and copies of required diplomas, by November 27, 2026 , via email with the following reference in the subject line: INTERCULTURAL MEDIATOR – NORTH COAST – LAST_FIRST_NAME to msff-france-recrutement@paris.msf.org
Only candidates whose application has been selected will be contacted.
Deadline for submission of applications: 27 November 2026