PREPARE - Pre-Programme Assignment Readiness

About the course 

This onboarding programme by OCA prepares MSF staff for their first assignment or detachment, introducing them to themes like Life on Assignment, My Role as a Manager, MSF Work in Practice, and Our Safety and Security. 

PREPARE is a blended programme running monthly, with self-paced eLearnings and live webinars where participants connect with one another and practice the concepts they learned together with senior MSF facilitators. The language of delivery is English. 

Target audience 

This programme is for the following OCA staff: - International Mobile Staff (IMS) going on a first assignment with OCA - Locally Recruited Staff (LRS) going on a first detachment outside their country of residence - HQ Staff going on a first detachment or visit outside their country of residence.

Validation 

This course is validated for use by OCA staff. 

Duration

IMS and LRS participants are expected to commit 21h of their time over a week. HQ Staff going on a visit are expected to commit 10h of their time over a week. 

Learning objectives 

By the end of the programme, for each topic / theme learners will be able to: 
  • explain the meaning of the topic at OCA 
  • articulate the relevance of the topic to someone preparing for their first assignment or detachment 
  • analyse how topics are interwoven in practice, and build on one another 
  • identify and access further resources and support services available to them. 
Specific learning objectives for each topic can be found in the programme pages. 

List of contents 

215 topics clustered in 4 themes:

Theme: Life on Assignment (all learners)
  • Ready to Go! – practical considerations, what to pack, arrival info​ 
  • Health and Wellbeing​ 
  • Team Dynamics​ 
  • Cross Cultural Communications 
Theme: My Role as a Manager (IRS & LRS)
  • Leadership and People Management Values and Behaviours
  • ​ HR Process ​ 
  • Performance Management
  • ​ Working in Partnership
  • Conflict Management
Theme: MSF Work in Practice (all learners)
  • Safeguarding 
  • Patient Safety and Quality of Care​ (IRS & LRS only)
  • Getting in the Emergency mindset​ 
  • Termoignage & Advocacy (IRS & LRS only)
  • ​ Social Media Guidelines​ 
Theme: Our Safety and Security (all learners)
  • Introduction to Safety and Security in MSF OCA 
  • Risk Awareness and Identification 
  • Risk Mitigation in Practice 
  • Sexual Violence and Gender Based Risks 
  • Security Context Classifications and Evacuation 
  • Arrest, Abduction, and Critical Incidents  

Methodology 

During this programme learners will complete interactive self-paced eLearnings grouped under the themes Life on Assignment, My Role as a Manager, MSF Work in Practice, and Our Safety and Security. Each theme is then the subject of a live webinar, for a total of three webinars. Using scenario-based simulations, the webinars bring the topics to life and give learners a chance to connect and explore the concepts they learnt in the eLearning modules in practice. 

Evaluation 

To pass this programme learners will have to complete the eLearning resources and attend the live webinars. Certification After successful completion of this course, participants will receive a digital badge awarded by MSF OCA. 

Certification

International Mobile Staff (IMS) and Locally Recruited Staff (LRS) learners will be awarded with a badge upon completion of the Pre and Post KAS questionnaires and all the e-learning modules (10 hours). The learners for HQ Staff going on a visit will be awarded with a badge after completing the Pre and Post KAS questionnaires and all the e-learning modules (8 hours). 

A digital certificate will be awarded to participants who complete the modules, participate in the forum and webinars and submit the End of Course Experience Survey. IMS and LRS participants will receive a certificate for 21 hours, while HQ staff will receive a certificate for 10 hours.

Enrolment 

Enrolment is done by Pool Managers / Career Managers as part of the onboarding process.

Release and update 

October 2025.

Technical considerations 

The course is best completed on a computer, or laptop. The course includes some virtual live sessions. We recommend joining the sessions using headphones, and from a quiet place.