Cultural mediator
Recruitment for cultural mediators is currently on hold. Please check back in September 2023 to see whether applications will be accepted from that time.
Cultural mediators are critical in facilitating communication between those we care for and Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) staff.
You will be the bridge between the psychosocial facilitator/psychologist and our patients with the aim of improving the quality of services offered. You will foster the removal of linguistic and cultural barriers and improve the access to healthcare (including mental health) and other available services.
Responsibilities
Support for the provision of quality services that facilitate communication between our patients and staff by:
- Creating a relationship of trust between the two parties
- Translating the doctor/psychologist's words into the patient's mother tongue so that they understand what the medical team is saying, and vice versa
- Helping MSF staff to understand specific aspects of the patient's culture with whom you have cultural ties, with the aim of improving the delivery of MSF services
- Exchanging with other cultural mediators and all MSF collaborators in order to approach each person in the best possible way
- Guaranteeing confidentiality, impartiality and neutrality
- Actively participating in all parallel activities related to the health and social assistance of patients, including information and advocacy activities
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience in interpreting and/or intercultural mediation
- Ability to work well as a part of a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary team
- Ability to cope in a difficult environment and under pressure
- Flexible and able to manage stress
- High flexibility and adaptability
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills
Desirable
- Experience in the context of migration or related projects
- Experience with other NGOs or civil society organisations
- A training/diploma in cultural interpretation or mediation
In their own words
Get eye-witness accounts from MSF cultural mediators on our blogs site.
Language requirements
For cultural reasons and in order to facilitate access to our patients, we are looking for people with a mastery (level C2) of at least one of the following languages: Amharic, Arabic, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish (Sorani) and Tigrinya, and in-depth knowledge of the associated cultures.
- Fluency in English (level C2), which is the working language
Before you apply
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