Médecins du Monde is dependent on qualified members with field experience, volunteers in France, voluntary workers for international operations and a permanent paid staff. The support of hundreds of thousands of donors ensures Médecins du Monde’s financial independence. Thanks to this diversity, MdM always operates on the basis of debate, the views of civil society, and the operational efficiency of its programmes for beneficiaries. As a result, MdM has an original organisational structure which is strong and distinctive among large NGOs.

		En chiffres
DECISION-MAKING WITHIN MDM Once a year, MdM members (1,205 in 2008) come together at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), the highest decision-making body and the only one with the authority to modify the organisation’s statutes. The AGM elects 12 members of the Board of Directors, and three substitute Directors. From among its members, the Board elects the President and the organisation’s Officers for one year: the Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, Deputy Treasurer, General Secretary and Deputy General Secretary and a Representative.		• 1,205 members • 1,395 volunteers • 248 employees • 5 continental groups • 8 thematic groups • 1 Mission France group • 17 regional delegations

The Board, the organisation’s executive body, meets monthly and takes any decisions concerning the organisation’s management. To carry out its tasks properly the Board relies on:

• an advisory structure of MdM members
• a permanent operational structure
• joint decision-making bodies bringing together the staff and MdM members
• the regional offices.

THE ADVISORY STRUCTURE

This includes the continental groups and thematic groups. Each of these groups, made up of volunteer members with project experience or involved in projects, advises on the continent or theme for which it is responsible. Their role is vital in terms of analysing contexts, working methods and drawing on the experience of projects. MdM has five continental groups, eight thematic groups and a France group which includes the Mission France and Harm Reduction steering committees. The members of the advisory groups are elected in line with the internal regulations.

THE PERMANENT OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE

This is led by two Directorates. The Humanitarian Aid Directorate includes the international operations department, the Mission France co-ordinating office, project logistics, the adoption department, and the communication department. The Management Directorate includes the human resources department, the development department, the finance and IT department and the legal department. Non-strategic operational decisions are made each week during a ‘project meeting’ for project-related decisions and at a ‘management meeting’ for other aspects. International programmes are managed by the programme’s medical co-ordinator, who reports to the Head of Project who deals with aspects of policy or specific expertise and is in operational contact with the desk officer in headquarters or the project officer in some regional offices. Heads of Project are nominated by the different internal bodies and ratified by the Board.

THE JOINT DECISION-MAKING BODIES

These include the Management Committee, which brings together the staff members involved in management each week and examines strategic decisions concerning projects and takes a close look at decisions about bearing witness, political lobbying and publicity. Other joint decision-making bodies include the human resources group which meets monthly to define human resources and management policies which are then finalised and ratified by the Board.

THE REGIONAL DELEGATIONS

Across France, Médecins du Monde has set up regional delegations. Elected every two years, the regional boards represent MdM in the regions. The delegations carry out international or regional projects, within the overall framework defined by the Board. All of the Board members, Heads of Project, group co-ordinators, regional and board representatives meet three times a year for a National Advisory Council meeting.

THE DONORS’ COMMITTEE

The Donors’ Committee is made up of 12 co-opted members and it provides constructive criticism and consensual analysis of MdM’s projects, finance or communication strategy. It is given funding to go and evaluate projects in France and abroad. Through its Chair, it can express its views to the Board and to the Annual General Meeting. This specific set-up encourages debate at all levels. It allows MdM to be an active association which is both politically and financially independent. It encourages voluntary commitment by health workers in the service of the most destitute and vulnerable people, and has a constant concern for the quality and effectiveness of its international or local projects.

• Board
• Vie associative