Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The Intersectional IFMSA initiative aims to ensure that the federation is a safe and inclusive space to all with an intersectional future, through fostering a culture of respect to our diversity, promoting a human rights based approach to our work and building cultural sensitivity by providing the evidence and tools to capacitate and sensitize our members and empower the NMOs.

The Intersectional IFMSA initiative, brought to life in 2019, worked on exposing this vulnerability through assessments conducted in the past years, highlighting that discrimination, racism and aggression manifest in IFMSA settings, exposing the rights and safety of our members, but also threatening the safe spaces IFMSA aims to provide. The initiative have evolved over the years to a sustainable, cross-cutting structure within the Federation, to guide and oversee the Federation’s work on oppression and privilege, and equity, diversity and inclusion issues. You can read more about the Intersectional IFMSA initiative through the documents available here. 

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator

The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator will serve as Vice-Chair of the Intersectional IFMSA Steering Committee, leading the Federation’s work on equity, diversity and inclusion issues, and accordingly work on the following tasks:

Task Description

  • Co-coodinating the Steering Committee meetings so that agendas are followed, discussions conclude to outcomes and meetings adjourn on-time.
  • Support in facilitating the discussions and decision making within the Steering Committee and Intersectional IFMSA working groups.
  • Responsible for overseeing and coordinating the Intersectional IFMSA Small Working Group and its thematic working stream, including coordinating the call for members and their selection.
  • Developing the preliminary annual work plan, priorities and strategic goals of the Intersectional IFMSA.
  • Ensure that IFMSA members are informed of activities and have opportunities to contribute to the plans, priorities and activities of Intersectional IFMSA and the Federation’s work on equity, diversity and inclusion issues.
  • Ensure Intersectional IFMSA’s visibility during international IFMSA events to promote its vision, key messages and priority activities. This may include preparing, conducting and following up on spaces/platforms in IFMSA’s General Assemblies.
  • Responsible for monitoring and tracking activities on equity, diversity and inclusion issues conducted by the different bodies within the Federation.
  • Responsible for elaborating the Intersectional IFMSA annual report.

Selection Criteria

Applicants are expected to:

  • Show an understanding of the IFMSA Code of Conduct.
  • Commitment to gaining an understanding of the equity, diversity and inclusion issues, acknowledge their own privilege and respect the different viewpoints.
  • In their candidature, highlight their background experience relevant to EDI work and reflect on IFMSA’s current status of affairs on equity, diversity and inclusion issues by answering the below question in their Motivation Letter: What do you think about the current situation of discrimination, cultural sensitivity and inclusion in IFMSA and what sort of direction should we take as a federation?