MSF Speaking Out Case Studies
MSF Speaking Out Case Studies
MSF’s commitment to speaking out is a core, evolving component of its history and mission – and complements medical action.
The MSF Speaking Out Case Studies (SOCS) document critical humanitarian dilemmas, constraints, and controversies surrounding speaking out. These case studies focus on contexts in which speaking out posed a dilemma for MSF and thus meant taking a risk.
The methodology aims to establish the facts using MSF documents, press archives, and interviews with the main MSF protagonists at the time of the events to provide insight into, and analysis of the positions adopted, including personal reflections. The SOCS will help you to better understand some of the critical dilemmas and challenges faced by teams in the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
Interested in more? All the case studies are available for download in French and English here: https://www.msf.org/speakingout
SOCS Learning Modules:
Grounded in primary sources available in the MSF SOCS, the modules offer the learners the rare opportunity to look at events and issues as they happened, at how MSF teams faced impossible choices, and at how decisions were made and their consequences. The SOCS Learning Modules are about critical thinking and analysis of MSF's speaking out experience in complex humanitarian contexts. They offer fresh and innovative tools that use MSF’s key historical moments as windows for solving tomorrow’s challenges.
There are already 3 courses available on the Tembo platform, all self-paced and ready to use.
Speaking Out Podcasts:
The MSF Speaking Out podcasts are a new series adapted from the original MSF SOCS. Like the case studies, the podcast series examines the challenges and dilemmas surrounding speaking out.
This podcast investigates MSF's experience in the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan Tutsi genocide and, in particular, the impact on local populations and refugees living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) in eight episodes.
Available in English and French.
Over 9 episodes, this podcast examines the challenges and dilemmas MSF faced during the wars in Chechnya. Wars raised questions on how MSF should speak out publicly about the war crimes when access to those in need was repeatedly blocked by the Russian authorities. And when staff members were kidnapped, should MSF have raised a voice or laid low until their colleagues are released?
Available in English and French.
This podcast series is adapted from the MSF in Srebrenica, 1993-2003 case study. 5 episodes examine the speaking out constraints, questions, and dilemmas faced by MSF teams in Srebrenica. Available in English, French, and Arabic.