How to Apply

Application Guidelines

All MSF staff and association members are 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.

Applications for potential funding require submission of the required forms and appropriate sponsorship:

1. Incubator Ideas (less than €250,000) – Incubator proposals require a Concept Note, Proposal/Project Budget. The support/endorsement of one MSF Operational Directorate (OD) or Partner Section (PS) is required before submitting the proposed project idea to the TIC for review by the Selection Committee A Proposal Sponsorship Form must be completed and signed by one of the following: OD/PS Board President or Director General. Optional to include a 2-min video*.
2. Large-Scale Projects (greater than €250,000 but less than €2.5M) – Large-scale proposals require a Concept Note, a Business Case, Proposal/Project Budget, Metrics Framework and a 2-min video*. One MSF Operational Directorate must actively agree to sponsor the proposed project, and at least two other Operational Directorates must formally express support prior to submitting the proposed project idea to the TIC. A Proposal Sponsorship Form must be completed and signed by both the OC sponsor and the OD supports. Signatories should be the OD Director General or Board President. For large-scale proposals, the FinDir and iPMO teams of the sponsoring OD are required to review the proposal before final submission to the TIC.
3. Very-Large-Scale Projects (€2.5M and greater) – Very-Large-Scale proposals require a Concept Note, a Business Case, Proposal/Project Budget, Metrics Framework and a 2-min video*.
   One MSF Operational Directorate must actively agree to sponsor the proposed project, and at least two other Operational Directorates must formally express support prior to submitting the proposed project idea to the TIC. A Proposal Sponsorship Form must be completed and signed by both the OC sponsor and the OD supports. Signatories should be the OD Director General or Board President. For very-large-scale proposals, the FinDir and iPMO teams of the sponsoring OD are required to review the proposal before final submission to the TIC.

*2-Minute Video

The 2-minute video should be regarded as an informational tool (rather than a marketing tool), to give the TIC Secretariat and the Selection Committee a quick overview of the project and a chance to introduce the project team. The 2-minute video is required for both large-scale and incubator (i.e., small-scale) projects that have been reviewed by the TIC Secretariat. For an example of a 2-min video that has been submitted to the TIC, have a look at the following link. Also, please use one of the following platforms to submit your videos: Vimeo, Prezi, YouTube or PowerPoint.

Application Forms

• Concept Note

  Required for all projects.

• Business Case/Project Plan

  Only required for Large-Scale and Very-Large-Scale Projects (over €250,000 in funding).

• Proposal and Project Budget Template

  Required for all projects.

• Proposal Sponsorship Form

  Required for all projects.

• Metrics Framework

  Only required for Large-Scale and Very-Large-Scale Projects (Tabs 1b and 2b).

• 2-Minute Video Guideline

  A 2-minute video should accompany all TIC proposal submissions.

Note: While accepted, the Selection Committee does not commit to a full review of any additional materials that are submitted (i.e., appendices).Please include all documents in one attachment, as a Word file.

Application Process

   APPLY      VALIDATE      EVALUATE       FEEDBACK

   APPLY

Incubator Ideas (less than €250,000)
1. Submit Concept Note, Proposal/Project Budget.
2. Ensure that the proposal has the support/endorsement of one MSF Operational Directorate (OD) or Partner Section (PS) prior to submission.
3. A Proposal Sponsorship Form must be completed. A signature is also required from one of the following: OD/PS Board President or Director General.
4. Optional to include a 2-min video.

Large-Scale Proposals (greater than €250,000 but less than €2.5M)
1. Submit Concept Note , Business Case/Project Plan, Proposal/Project Budget and a 2-min video.
2. One MSF Operational Directorate must actively agree to sponsor the proposed project, and at least two other Operational Directorates must formally express its support prior to submitting the proposed project idea to the TIC.
3. A Proposal Sponsorship Form must be completed and signed by both the OD sponsor and the OD supports for the project. Signatures are required from both the OD sponsor and the OD supports. Signatories should be the OD Director General or Board President. The FinDir and iPMO teams of the sponsoring OD are required to review the proposal before final submission to the TIC.

Very-Large-Scale Proposals (€2.5M and greater)
1. Submit Concept Note, Business Case/Project Plan, Proposal/Project Budegt and a 2-min video.
2. One MSF Operational Directorate must actively agree to sponsor the proposed project, and at least two other ODs must formally express support prior to submitting the proposed project idea to the TIC.
3. A Proposal Sponsorship Form must be completed and signed by both the OD sponsor and the OD supports for the project. Signatures are required from both the OD sponsor and the OD supports. Signatories should be the OD Director General or Board President. The FinDir and iPMO teams of the sponsoring OD are required to review the proposal before final submission to the TIC.

Once complete, please submit the required documentation to the TIC Secretariat at:TIC@msf.org.

   VALIDATE 

The TIC Secretariat will provide a preliminary review of all proposals once Section/OD support/endorsement has been obtained.

Written feedback will be provided to applicants within 2-3 days of proposal submission.
Applicants will be given approximately one week to revise proposals based on feedback and asked to submit a 2-minute video (if one has not already been provided).

   EVALUATE

The TIC Selection Committee will evaluate proposals on an ongoing basis (every 6-8 weeks) against the criteria for selecting proposals and guiding practices. Please see dates and deadlines.

Selection Committee members will read all Concept Notes for both incubator (small-scale) and large-scale projects. Only project leads assigned to large-scale and very-large-scale projects will read the Business Cases.

Large-Scale and Very-Large-Scale project teams will be asked to be on standby for a 15-min Q&A during the Selection Committee Meeting. Applicants are advised to attend these sessions along with the project team, supporters/sponsors, leads, etc., if possible.

For incubator proposals, 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, 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, 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.

   FEEDBACK

Calls with applicants will be set up to review Selection Committee feedback within one week of the Selection Committee and Executive Committee review. Written feedback will be provided to the applicant after feedback call. NOTE: Applicants are required to attend these sessions along with the project team, supporters/sponsors, leads, etc.

Click here to download a summary of the TIC application process.

If you have any questions or ideas for project proposals that spring up at any time, please let the TIC know. We are interested to hear from you and happy to guide you with your applications at any stage.

Dates & Deadlines

Proposals may be submitted at any time. The selection committee will review proposals on a six- to eight-week cycle throughout the calendar year.

TIC Key Insights

Below are common themes that have emerged from the Selection Committee feedback on proposals reviewed:

• Minimum Viable Product (MVP)  What is the minimum product (features, scope, cost) that can be designed, tested, then fixed?
• User Testing  How can end-users and target populations be engaged to test training, usability and adoption?
• Change Management  Are different stakeholder groups engaged and how? How is change assessed and proactively incorporated into the plan?
• External Partnership  How are learnings from other organizations taken in account?  What experts can be drawn on?
• Impact Metrics  How do the projects impact populations served and how are success outcomes and impact measured?
• Transformational Impact  Will the idea advance MSF’s social mission – have a tangible impact on patients or enhance MSF’s long term capacity?
• Value for Money  Is the investment cost in line with the value and impact proposed?
• Link with the Field  How can target populations be accessed (i.e., those that are hard-to-reach, remote, under-resourced, unstable)?
• MSF Expertise  Have appropriate MSF experts been consulted?