OT01900
INTERCULTURAL MEDIATOR
Level 4
Reports to (Hierarchical)
Project Medical Referent / Activity Manager / Intercultural Mediator Supervisor/ Field Coordinator
Reports to (Functional)
Project Medical Referent / Activity Manager / Intercultural Mediator Supervisor/ Field Coordinator
Job Family
Operations/ Medical
Main Purpose
Supporting the communication and interaction between the people receiving services and care providers in the host country, through addressing consequences of language barriers, socio-cultural differences and discrimination, following MSF protocols and procedures, to improve access to quality health care and other relevant services and providing MSF with an understanding of local socio-cultural determinants.
Accountabilities
Facilitating the relation between the people receiving services and the care providers involved in medical consultations, mental health, physiotherapy and social worker sessions, etc. through:
- Providing quality and culturally sensitive interpretation between the care providers and the person receiving a service (trialogue) in the language in which they would like to express themselves (source language / target language), Supporting intercultural awareness, sensitiveness and clear communication between the parties
- Assisting care providers and the people receiving services in addressing negative consequences of socio-cultural differences, to support the therapeutic/social intervention through sharing with the care providers relevant aspects of the cultural background of the the person receiving a service, acting as a cultural broker; Identifying and reporting barriers impairing fairness and equality in access to services.
- Accompanying and following up the people receiving services to referrals (health and social care facilities) as needed.
- Upholding MSF’s principles and fostering an environment free from racism, discrimination, or cultural insensitivity. Refraining from participating in interventions where such principles are compromised or where there is a risk of offense to the customs, culture, beliefs, and values of any party involved, be it the person receiving services, staff, or the ICM themselves.
- Participating in case management meetings & medical meetings on ad hoc basis
Together with relevant project team members, providing information to the people receiving services on the use of the healthcare system and other support services (shelter, food, transport, legal support) provided by MSF and other actors, with the aim of favouring empowerment and autonomy of the people receiving services in ‘navigating’ the host societies:
Contributing to context understanding and data collection on medical/humanitarian issues, with a specific attention to vulnerabilities, to provide reliable information for operational decision-making through:
- Ensuring quality linguistic and intercultural interpretation during the collection of testimonies for advocacy/ communication purposes.
- Supporting administration of assessments/ surveys when needed
- Reporting all important information expressed by the people receiving services and the communities, ensuring confidentiality at all times
- Supporting media reviews and content creation for communication
**When requested supporting other MSF activities (HP activities, NFI distribution, crowd control, etc.)
Guaranteeing confidentiality, impartiality and neutrality. Declaring conflict of interest.**
Education
- Essential secondary education. Desirable degree in social sciences, social communication or teaching
- Training in interpretation or intercultural mediation is an asset.
Experience
- Minimum two years’ experience in similar position, preferably in provision of medical services and/or with NGOs
- Previous experience in migration/refugee contexts
Language Level Description
B1 Independent User
Threshold or intermediate
- Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.
- Can deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling in an area where the language is spoken.
- Can produce simple connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal interest.
- Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
Technical Skills
This job doesn't have technical skills.
Transversal Competencies
Commitment to MSF’s Principles
Demonstrates knowledge of and accepts MSF’s principles
- Respects the choices made by the organisation.
- Has basic knowledge of MSF’s mission and main activities.
- Respects and accepts the medical ethics and principles of MSF.
- Knows the difference between MSF’s activities and those of other NGOs and actors.
Behavioural Flexibility
Accepts changes
- Accepts changes without knowing the full reasons for them.
- Accepts new ideas in a positive way.
- Positively accepts changes in his/her environment.
- Accepts arguments opposed to his/her own.
- Is willing to listen and to take on new tasks in his/her job.
Stress Management
Manages own stress
- Expresses awareness of his/her own stress level.
- Is able to identify causes of his/her own stress and/or asks for help in detecting them.
- Is able to express to others his/her personal stressors at an appropriate time without overwhelming them.
Results and Quality Orientation
Performs his/her work
- Knows objectives of the job.
- Defines tasks to achieve objectives and establishes a working plan.
- Reviews and checks his/her work to detect mistakes and to correct them immediately.
- Values high-quality work.
Service Orientation
Knows and understands clients’ needs and interests
- Identifies and has a clear understanding of who the client to be served is.
- Identifies clients’ needs and concerns, and provides them with useful information and quick solutions.
- Listens to clients and asks them questions to determine their needs and motivations.
- Gets to know how the rest of the team works.
Teamwork and Cooperation
Acknowledges the importance of teamwork and cooperation
- Is responsible for his/her work because he/she knows the repercussions it has on the team or on others.
- Establishes and maintains good working relationships with colleagues, is accessible and listens to others.
- Cooperates with the team and supports decisions made.
- Demonstrates a predisposition to work with others and gives help when asked.
- Acknowledges there are common goals as well as individual objectives deriving from the personal plan of action.