July 2020
In the context of a global pandemic, MSF recognizes the need to innovate and to better reach our patients and the populations we assist. The Transformational Investment Capacity (TIC) brings together innovators and experts with new ideas and the desire to transform MSF’s response to the most pressing medical and humanitarian challenges including COVID-19.To date, the TIC has approved 60 projects to improve the quality of care for our patients; strengthen our operational response with advanced tools and technology; develop the skills and expertise of our frontline staff; and implement initiatives to be more efficient and effective.
Recently Approved Projects
The TIC Selection Committee met to review project proposals in March, May, and June and we are pleased to share that the following proposals have been recently approved:
• COPCOV (sponsored by OCP and Epicentre) is evaluating the use of hydroxychloroquine as COVID-19 prevention for frontline health care workers in low-resource settings. The team is leveraging Epicentre’s 20-year track record to participate in a multi-site, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial sponsored by Oxford University. The team will conduct a clinical trial of 400 participants in Niger, which is the first test site in Africa, among other study sites in Europe and Asia.
• MSF Academy – OPD Consultations (sponsored by OCB and supported by OCBA and OCG) is strengthening patient-centered care by building the clinical capacity of OPD (Outpatient Department) staff; evaluating MSFeCARE as an electronic decision-support system for OPD/primary health care settings; introducing a clinical supervision-mentoring model to support learning; and improving MSF’s understanding on how to organize OPD care to optimize quality and improve patient satisfaction.
• TEMBO – Phase 2 (sponsored by OCBA and supported by OCB, OCG and OCA) aims to scale-up the TEMBO learning and development platform across MSF Operational Centres and Partner Sections. TEMBO provides a common digital platform for all MSF staff to work, learn, and develop their knowledge and skills in real-time. It is especially pertinent during COVID-19 where online learning is critical in a travel-restricted world.
• Tackling Misinformation and Disinformation in Times of COVID-19 (sponsored by MSF UK) is strengthening MSF’s ability to manage digital misinformation as well disinformation targeting MSF and/or our patients, which is particularly relevant during COVID-19.
• Field Simulation for Operations – Phase 2 (sponsored by OCBA and supported by OCB) is embedding simulation into MSF’s field operations for frontline workers by leveraging lessons learned from an initial pilot to strengthen the quality of medical humanitarian service. The project will incorporate simulation into day-to-day activities to learn, innovate, reflect, provoke changes, and define new ways of working for people, teams and the organization itself.
• Telemedicine Field-Focused Acceleration (sponsored by OCB) is taking a field-focused approach to identify and break down technical, organizational, and cultural barriers to user adoption and accelerate the impact of MSF’s telemedicine program.
• Intersectional Critical Incident Response (CIRT) e-Training (sponsored by OCG) is developing a common Critical Incident Response training for all MSF Operational Centres. MSF Security Focal Points will engage with Learning & Development experts to develop and validate an educational approach and tools. Shared and targeted modular content will be tested at the project level with user feedback incorporated to strengthen the training.
• Travel Optimization and Harmonization (sponsored by OCA) – initially targeted for MSF Holland, MSF Germany, and MSF Sweden – is implementing a common travel platform and consolidating travel policies and practices to achieve cost savings, improve efficiency, and reduce MSF’s travel-related carbon footprint.
• SHARP: SHared Application Reporting Platform (sponsored by OCA) is creating an intersectional data warehouse platform to strengthen MSF’s business support functions through better reporting and data-driven decision-making. The project team will develop a shared data infrastructure, design standard reports, offer training and user support, and create a centre of expertise to support the movement.