Medair's task

1. The Humanitarian Imperative Comes First: Our shared values compel us to provide humanitarian assistance wherever it is needed. The prime motivation of our response to disaster is our desire to alleviate human suffering amongst those least able to withstand the stress caused by disaster.
   
   
2. Remembering the Forgotten Crisis: Medair places a high priority on assisting communities hit by forgotten crises and/or receiving little or no other help. In order to reach them, Medair strives to ensure financial independence, by maintaining a broad constituency of private donors.
   
   
3. A Multisectoral Organisation so as to answer Varied Needs: In keeping with its priority of serving the victims of crisis, Medair seeks to develop programmes adapted to the specific vital needs of their communities and not the other way round. Medair is subsequently organised to enable the implementation of a broad scope of programmes that address all the vital sectors of humanitarian aid such as health, shelter, water, food and nutrition.

Medair's qualities

1. Impartiality Based on Independence: Assistance is given regardless of the race, creed, nationality and gender of the recipients and without adverse distinction of any kind. This can only be achieved by keeping Medair firmly independent from any form of political, economic or religious power. Aid priorities are set on the basis of need and vulnerability alone.
   
   
2. Stewardship achieved through transparency: Medair strives to promote excellence in programme management and administration. We demonstrate optimal quality, honesty, and effectiveness by making ourselves accountable and transparent to our donors and to the communities we serve. Evaluation is therefore considered an intrinsic part of our projects.
   
   
3. Professionalism aiming at Best Practice: We are committed, individually and corporately, to continuous learning, as we seek to attain the highest internationally recognised standards for emergency relief and rehabilitation. Innovation and creativity in project design and implementation are encouraged.
   
   
4. Sensitivity to the Developmental context: Medair recognises that the process of development goes on before and after a disaster situation. We endeavour to make a positive contribution to the long-term development of communities by applying principles such as capacity building, sustainability, and participatory evaluation in the context of our relief and rehabilitation projects. We seek to attain the highest level of involvement by the local population in order to ensure sustainability of improvements and renewed independence.

Medair's culture

1. The Importance of Relationships: Medair gives high priority to the development of quality and long-term relationships based on respect, trust, and integrity, with all the individuals, organisations and communities it works with. This is also true for individual Medair staff and between teams. After conflict and war, we recognise the need for reconciliation to restore relationships and consolidate peace. Medair is committed to promoting and facilitating this process.
   
   
2. We Focus on Individuals: Medair is about people. The end goal of all our projects is to see people's lives restored for the better. Despite the large populations involved in relief programmes, we are committed to making our assistance as personal as possible. This special attention to people also applies to our staff. We endeavour to recruit a suitable balance of young and more experienced professionals into Medair and to ensure that their time of service is a source of personal and professional growth. In addition, we appreciate the vital part played by each Medair supporter, and we value their support equally whatever the size or form.
   
   
3. Upholding the Dignity of the Disaster Victims: We believe in upholding the disaster victim as an equal partner in action. In fact, Medair generally initiates a response at their invitation. We highlight the capacities and aspirations of the victims and not just their vulnerabilities in our project planning and implementation as well as in our public information. Respect for the victims implies sensitivity to local culture, traditions, resources and knowledge.
   
   
4. A Commitment to Partnership: Medair recognises that humanitarian actors are highly inter-dependent, and subsequently shares information, knowledge and resources with a broad variety of local and international organisations. Where active partnership cannot be attained, co-ordination remains a must.