about the TIC

MSF is targeting to invest significant funds to improve the way the organization addresses the present and evolving needs to which it responds in support of its medical humanitarian mission.

To meet the increasing complexity and scale of humanitarian medical crises, MSF needs to keep pace with external changes, including: new patterns of disease outbreaks; global displacement of people on a scale not seen since World War II; greater visibility of humanitarian action; and a medical R&D system that does not serve the needs of the people MSF assists.

Given advances in medical science, operations and technologies, MSF is also facing huge internal challenges to continuously update and adapt its models of patient care with the latest advances.

Transformational changes would significantly improve MSF’s ability to respond to key external and internal challenges. New investments can instil a culture of continuous innovation and learning that will draw the brightest ideas from a diversity of MSF staff and association members across the whole of the movement.

To more effectively address the needs of people living in crisis around the world, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has launched the Transformational Investment Capacity (TIC) initiative. Through this initiative, we will invest funds, intellectual capital and human resources to improve MSF’s abilities to deliver urgent lifesaving care both now and in the future.

The TIC is an opportunity for people across the MSF movement to propose projects that can transform the organization’s abilities to meet the needs of our patients. Successful proposals will receive funding for development, and projects will be evaluated, selected and tracked in a way that is transparent and visible to everyone throughout MSF.

The Transformational Investment Capacity Secretariat, which manages applications for funding, is based out of the MSF-Canada offices in Toronto. However, the TIC has an international mandate and is working with MSF’s Operations Directorates, Sections, and field staff – everyone looking to submit or run a TIC project.

The Transformational Investment Capacity Secretariat staff manage the day-to-day business of receiving and processing proposals and supporting applicants in their project proposal submissions.

In addition to the Transformational Investment Capacity staff, a ten to twelve member Selection Committee composed of MSF and external representatives have the responsibility of evaluating proposals submitted. The Selection Committee meet every six to eight weeks to evaluate proposals and review approved projects.

Four areas were defined as requiring investment:
Human Resources, Learning & Development (HLD) – Develop and retain staff through game-changing learning-and-development initiatives and continuous interaction with fast-evolving professional and technical environments.

Medical Research & Development (MRD) – Support medical research and development projects that give priority to the needs of the populations MSF assists; make the case for an alternative R&D model that is more open and collaborative.

Operations Improvements & Technology (OIT) – Strengthen MSF operational capacity and adopt state-of-the-art practices, tools and technology to create an enabling environment that improves field work.

Efficiency Gains (EFH) – Implement cost reduction initiatives to minimize duplication and free up funds and people to focus on social mission

The Transformational Investment Capacity will also consider proposals outside these areas where a strong rationale/business case is presented.

A large-scale or very-large-scale project may be a new learning-and-development tool that improves the way we train our field staff, or a change in the technology we use in operations in the field.

An incubator idea can be a new way of distributing medicines, or a prototype for a new, innovative medical technology.

An incubator idea can also be a business case or research for a major project that requires greater study before significant funds can be committed.

Any MSF staff or association member is eligible to submit proposals. This includes all staff working in MSF offices and in the countries where we provide medical and humanitarian assistance, as well as any member of one of our associations.

Evaluation criteria for proposals include:

• Impact: Project proposals must offer the potential to create a sizable and transformational impact on MSF’s mission by improving outcomes for patients and/or improving MSF’s ability to provide medical assistance to people in need.
• Viability: Project proposals must demonstrate long-term sustainability; clear accountability mechanisms for project delivery; and ways through which success can be adequately measured.
• Risk tolerance: Proposals for projects that carry higher risks of failure will be welcomed, as long as they bring a correlated potential for greater transformational impact and provide lessons learned.
• Scalability: Projects must be scalable and replicable across the movement.

There is no minimum for proposals. What is required is an impact that can transform MSF medical and humanitarian assistance (people, processes, technology).

Complete instructions on how to submit a proposal can be found here or by contacting the TIC staff based in Toronto at TIC@msf.org.

Proposals may be submitted at any time for the TIC Selection Committee to review on a six-to-eight-week cycle throughout the calendar year. Please see “How to Apply – Dates and Timing” for submission timing and the Selection Committee schedule.

Once a proposal is submitted, it will be reviewed for completeness by the TIC Secretariat and then submitted to the Selection Committee for evaluation.

For Incubator proposals (less than €250,000), the TIC Selection Committee is the decision-making body. The Committee will review and evaluate the proposal. Potential outcomes include: Approved, Conditionally Approved, Request for Re-submission, or Decline to Approve.

For Large-Scale proposals (greater than €250,000 but less than €2.5M) , the TIC Selection Committee will review and evaluate the proposal. Outcomes could include Recommend Approve, Recommend Conditional Approval, Request for Re-submission or Decline to Approve. The Core ExCom will review and vote on proposal approval, taking into consideration the Selection Committee’s rating and feedback. A two-thirds majority is required to approve a large-scale proposal.

For Very-Large-Scale proposals (€2.5M and greater) , the TIC Selection Committee will review and evaluate the proposal. Outcomes could include Recommend Approve, Recommend Conditional Approval, Request for Re-submission or Decline to Approve. The Core ExCom will review and vote on proposal approval, taking into consideration the Selection Committee’s rating and feedback. A two-thirds majority is required to approve a proposal. If recommended by the TIC Selection Committee and approved by the Core ExCom, the Business Case will be sent to the Full ExCom and a webinar will be organized to articulate content and respond to any questions. Following this, a request will be sent to the Full ExCom for an off-line decision with two-thirds majority required for approval.

The Transformational Investment Capacity Secretariat is available to answer any questions you may have regarding the application process, submission deadlines, and to provide proposal support. For more information, please contact TIC@msf.org You can also check out our TIC SharePoint where you’ll find Concept Notes, Business Cases, Status Reports, and Videos for all TIC projects (for MSF staff only).