Mdecins Sans Frontires (MSF), known as Doctors Without Borders in the United States and some other countries,

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), known as Doctors Without Borders in the United States and some other countries, was founded in France in 1971 by doctors and journalists. Its purpose is to provide assistance to victims of natural or man-made disasters, epidemics, neglect, malnutrition, or armed conflict. MSF is independent of government and religious organizations and receives 89 percent of its funding from over three million private donors worldwide.

Observing strict principles of neutrality and impartiality, MSF provides medical care and other services, bears witness, and speaks out to bring the public's attention to humanitarian crises. For example, in 1985, MSF spoke out about the forced displacement of people by the Ethiopian government and, in 2004, called for international attention to the crisis in Darfur. MSF was forced to leave Afghanistan in 2004 when it was perceived by the Taliban to be an instrument of the West, and five of its staff members were killed. The organization was prominent among relief organizations that responded to the earthquake in Haiti in 2010 and the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014 and 2015.

MSF's principles of independence and impartiality are outlined in its charter and other core documents. Its dual role of providing services and also speaking out against inhumane conditions and actions inevitably creates difficult and sometimes controversial situations. For example, how can an organization speak out and also remain neutral, or be perceived as neutral, by both sides in a conflict? Two MSF officials explain the complexity of the distinction that is required (Tanguy & Terry, 1999):.................

Questions
1. How does the discussion in this chapter regarding the structure and governance of INGOs apply to the case of MSF/Doctors Without Borders?
2. How does the case of MSF/Doctors Without Borders illustrate the complexity of ensuring accountability and transparency in an international organization?
3. How is MSF's mission as both a service-providing organization and an advocacy organization consistent with the concept of high-impact nonprofits described by Crutchfield and Grant and discussed in Chapter 16.