MSF Emergency Project Medical Referent – Emergency Pool Job 2026
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is recruiting an Emergency Project Medical Referent (E-PMR) to support the design, implementation and monitoring of emergency medical activities across the West and Central Africa (WaCA) region. The position is based in Abidjan, Lagunes, Côte d’Ivoire, with the role requiring high mobility and short-notice deployments to emergency contexts across the region.
The successful candidate will support MSF WaCA field teams in delivering relevant, timely and quality medical responses during humanitarian emergencies. The role focuses on rapid response, emergency preparedness, medical strategy, operational coordination and monitoring of medical activities.
Job Title: Project Medical Referent – Emergency Pool
Organisation: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
Department: Operations
Location: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire / Field deployments
Contract: Fixed-term, renewable
Working Time: 100%
Position: As soon as possible
Application Deadline: 2 October 2026 at 18:00 GMT
About Médecins Sans Frontières
Médecins Sans Frontières is an international medical humanitarian organisation providing emergency medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters and exclusion from healthcare.
MSF was founded in 1971 and brings together medical, logistics, administrative and other professionals working according to principles including impartiality, independence and neutrality.
MSF WaCA was established in 2019 as the first MSF headquarters in Africa. The organisation aims to strengthen access to healthcare, improve responsiveness and increase medical coverage for populations affected by emergencies.
About the Emergency Project Medical Referent Role
The Emergency Project Medical Referent will participate in the design and implementation of emergency medical activities during MSF WaCA interventions.
The position will help ensure that medical responses are appropriate, timely and adapted to crisis contexts. The postholder will also contribute to emergency preparedness and provide support to field operations.
The role requires high mobility, with availability for short-notice deployments in emergency contexts across the WaCA region.
Key Responsibilities
The Emergency Project Medical Referent will participate in exploratory missions and rapid health assessments, helping identify medical needs and priorities and supporting the initiation of emergency responses.
The successful candidate will contribute to medical strategy development and implementation, ensuring that activities are aligned with MSF medical and operational priorities. The role also includes integrating public health approaches involving epidemics, nutrition and vaccination.
Operational responsibilities include supervising and supporting medical teams in the field and coordinating with Ministries of Health and other partners. The Emergency Project Medical Referent may also support or replace the Medical Coordinator or Project Medical Referent when required.
The postholder will contribute to planning, budgeting and monitoring medical resources while monitoring medical indicators and project performance. Producing reports and ensuring quality of care will also form part of the role.
MSF Emergency Project Medical Referent Requirements
Applicants should have a university degree in a medical or paramedical field.
Candidates should have technical competencies in areas including emergency public health, epidemiology and surveillance, outbreak response, vaccination, nutrition and crisis context analysis.
The role also requires leadership and decision-making skills, strong analytical abilities, coordination and organisational skills, flexibility, adaptability, negotiation and diplomacy.
Applicants need a minimum of two years of field experience in humanitarian contexts, together with experience as a Project Medical Referent or in a similar position. Experience working in emergency contexts is required, while previous MSF or international NGO experience is considered an asset.
Working proficiency in English and French is required. Candidates should also be comfortable using Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Diversity and Safe Recruitment
MSF states that it provides equal recruitment and development opportunities without discrimination. Female candidates who meet the requirements are strongly encouraged to apply, and persons with disabilities are also encouraged to apply, with reasonable accommodations available upon request.
MSF also highlights its commitment to safe recruitment principles and transparent, fair and respectful recruitment processes.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should review the complete vacancy details and submit their application through the official MSF recruitment process.
Application Deadline: 2 October 2026 at 18:00 GMT
APPLY ON THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
This opportunity may suit medical and public health professionals with humanitarian field experience who are prepared for emergency deployments across the West and Central Africa region.
