New year, new look for the OCG innovation platform ThinkUp.
From now on, you’ll find a new user interface improving your experience. This redesign is focused on achieving, primarily, two things: better ergonomics and a more engaged community.

Here are the key changes you should know and some features we think you're going to like:

Use the top bar and navigate to the campaign page where you wish to submit your ideas.

Explore new entries to view and submit proposals:

1. When in the chosen campaign click on the ‘All Ideas’ section, you’ll see the complete list of the ideas related to the campaign. Towards the top, you’ll find the option to submit a new idea.

2. or click the orange plus button located on the top bar and the submission form will open.

Find the FAQ page under the compass icon.

Revise your profile page easily, which, among other things, allows you to add an avatar and track all of your activity, notifications, private messaging. This is where you can get a glimpse at all of your ideas as well.

Browse the new search mechanism that will allow searching for campaigns, members, along with ideas.

And much more… we won't spoil all the fun. Have a look and play around with the new ThinkUp design.

No all ideas must be submitted through the ThinkUp platform.

All ideas can be easily submitted through the ThinkUp platform by clicking on the "Submit" button on the main page. This will open a new page, which will have a form to complete with all the necessary fields. Most of the fields are mandatory to complete while some are optional, though it is highly recommended to complete all items.

Three main types of ideas can be submitted:

• OPEN IDEAS: you identified a need and you have an idea on how to solve it, but lack support, expertise or resources to try it out, you can post it here
• NEEDS: you identified a need but have no idea on how to solve it, you can post it here
• PROJECTS WORTH SHARING: you tested something and you would like to share it with the community, being it a success or failure.

When you submit an idea, you are invited to choose which idea type you want to submit (Campaigns)

The Submission form includes the below fields that need to be completed:

• Title
• Description of idea
• Problem addressed and benefits to users
• Has it been tested already?
• Category (drop-down)
• Your mission

You also have the possibility to add attachments or to add a co-author. Please note that depending to the campaign you choose, questions will be slightly different.

For the main campaign OPEN IDEAS, a submitted idea will go through the following stages:

• Initial review: In this stage, ideas are reviewed by the Innovation Coordination and assessed according to two criteria: 1- Innovation relevance; 2- Clarity in expression of the idea. The idea is then moved to the next stage Incubation or declined/parked (explanation below). An idea team is also created with the most important stakeholders (field, HQ and external).
• Incubation: The team develops the idea and the community can vote on their favorite ideas. The output of this stage is an Idea Charter.
• Proof of Concept: Ideas are coming to reality, prototypes are built, and proof of concept tested. Users feedback is collected. The outputs of this stage are the Prototype or Proof of Concept themselves and the documentation of the results.
• Pilot: In this stage, ideas are tested in the field. Results of the pilot will be posted on ThinkUp. Documentation of the pilot results are the main output of this stage.
• Implementation: This idea has been developed on ThinkUp. After a period of incubation and successful proof of concept and pilots, it is now being implemented by MSF.
• Parked Ideas: This is a good idea, but there were no resources to test it right now. It will be re-assessed later on this year or for the next PoA.
• Declined: This idea was not accepted either because it did not respond to an operation need, it was currently too costly, or was developed and tested already but without success.

An idea charter is a document that summarizes the below key topics of an idea. It allows the assessment and the comparison between different ideas. It contains information on:

• Description: Description of the problem or need and of the solution proposed. In particular why the solution is innovative, its scope and scalability and the alignment with operational strategy.
• Potential Impact: Quantitative and qualitative benefits expected and to whom (patients, communities, staff, etc). This field also explains what would be the impact of doing nothing (opportunity cost).
• Proof of Concept: Identify the principal tasks and cost related to the next step of the idea.
• Resources: Identify the principal tasks and cost related to the next step of the idea.
• Team & Stakeholders: Who will be participating on the project, who will be impacted by it and list of possible partners.
• Potential Risks & Next Steps: Identify any potential risk with the project & the next steps.

All ideas can be viewed on ThinkUp

• Innovation Coordination: All ideas are reviewed by the Innovation Coordination Team. The Team filters and classifies ideas/needs after submission, and assigns them to the correct stage (incubation, prototype, etc).
• Platform Moderator: Identifies and assigns Idea Champion's for each idea submitted. Proposes team members (experts) to Idea Champions to develop the idea. Helps animating the platform.
• Idea Champion: Leads the development of the idea and coordinates the Expert group exchanges. At later stage, can develop a prototype or design a pilot in the field with the help/approval of the Sponsor, operations, the mission and the relevant departments. Ensures the adequate documentation of the different stages.
• Idea Sponsor: Supports the idea, its development and the implementation of a pilot in the field. Advocates for the idea in the missions or the HQ.
• Experts: Can be Internal and/or External experts with knowledge and/or experience of need or idea under consideration. They support the Idea Champion in developing the idea and give advice on best practices.
• Innovation Committee: This Committee, composed of Operation, Medical and Logistic directors (+ DIS when needed), prioritizes ideas and decides on the attribution of resources to develop them.

You are welcome to engage with the Innovation team on any further questions that you might have on the platform.

Depending on the nature of the idea, ideas could be piloted in the field or wherever makes the most sense to be able to analyze all aspect of the idea.

Financial resources are available for funding innovation ideas through allocated innovation envelopes. These funds are meant to help develop, prototype and field test ideas that emerge throughout the year without waiting for the next PoA. There are two financial envelopes:

• The HQ envelope - managed by the Innovation Coordination, this envelope is used to fund ideas and is disbursed according to the budget needed for the idea. The management of the budget for the idea is delegated to the idea champion.
• The FIELD envelope: - included in the OPS budget and dedicated to investigating or testing innovation ideas in the field, its management is delegated to the Innovation Coordination. Once it is attributed to a particular idea, the budget management of the idea will be done by the mission/department. This money is not considered as part of a mission's operational budget.

The innovation envelopes can cover costs related to material, transport, consultants, workshop organization or salaries. They are meant for:

• feasibility studies and need assessment
• prototyping or proof of concept
• pilots
• innovation ideas impact assessment/evaluation

The moderators of the platform from the Innovation team monitor the platform on regular basis.

Moderators of the platform are limited to the Innovation team; however, we value input from the entire MSF community.

Yes, we welcome participation on the idea team when this fits with the requirements of the project. This is a collaborative tool that allows you to participate on ideas/projects coming from other missions. Start by sharing your insights in the comments.

That depends on the idea and the team involved in executing the project. Our goal is to see the successful implementation of ideas as quickly as possible.

Besides the fact that successful ideas will make our operations better and more efficient, there are incentives to submitting ideas. Idea owners with the most ideas submitted & most likes will be rewarded for their efforts to continue to innovate at MSF.

• MSF Certificate:
  • Best Idea in a Campaign
  • Most Innovative Mission
  • Best Innovator
  • Most Popular Innovator
  • Faster Innovator
  • Top Leader Board on Innovation Platform, ThinkUp
• Your name(s) and your idea in the Tous Terrains, ThinkUp Newsletter & TAG
• MSF Souvenirs
• 30 minutes with someone from MSF senior management (In person or online)

Ideas are worked on collaboratively online and offline. Generally, most of the work is actually done offline by the project team but they should still update their progress through the platform.

Please contact us using the following platform email address: thinkup.gva@geneva.msf.org

Name	Email	Phone #
Abiy Tamrat	abiy.tamrat@geneva.msf.org	+41228498735