MSF SIU Overview

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, provides international medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare. Founded in 1971, MSF is now a worldwide movement of more than 67,000 people.

In the humanitarian sector, where responding quickly to rapidly emerging crisis situations is absolutely crucial, humanitarian organisations struggle to maintain a balance between addressing short-term needs and building the capability to meet long-term challenges. Launched in 2012, the MSF Sweden Innovation Unit deploys a human-centered approach for promoting a culture of innovation within MSF, in order to more effectively co-create innovations that save lives and alleviate suffering. One way of thinking of the SIU is as an internal MSF consultancy who can provide services where needed on innovation projects and initiatives.

One of the MSF SIU’s objectives is to support the five MSF Operational Centres (OC) with more than just financial and human resources. The MSF SIU is one such contribution, allowing Operational Centres to more effectively explore needs, problems and opportunities within and outside of the organisation.

Click here to learn more about MSF’s international structure.

MSF SIU Core Values

Field Proximity We are heavily user-centred, valuing access to the needs in real field contexts.

Field Proximity
We are heavily user-centred, valuing access to the needs in real field contexts.

Co-creation We rely on strong partnerships inside and outside of MSF, across sectors, organizations and disciplines.

Co-creation
We rely on strong partnerships inside and outside of MSF, across sectors, organizations and disciplines.

Systematic  We strive to be well organized and systematic, to allow for effective scaling and maximum impact.

Systematic
We strive to be well organized and systematic, to allow for effective scaling and maximum impact.

Failing forward  We promote a culture of iteration and experimentation, where accelerating our learning curve is key.

Failing forward
We promote a culture of iteration and experimentation, where accelerating our learning curve is key.

Impact  We are aiming for ideas with real impact, requiring a balance between long-term vision and short-term action.

Impact
We are aiming for ideas with real impact, requiring a balance between long-term vision and short-term action.

Get in Touch with the SIU

If you are already working within MSF and have identified a tangible challenge that may be addressed with innovative approaches please get in touch. We are also interested in hearing from external organisations and experts that may be able to support or collaborate to further existing SIU Cases.

To continue the conversation, please fill in the form below and we will get back to you at our earliest convenvience

Address
MSF Sweden Innovation Unit,
Fredsborgsgatan 24
Box 47021,
SE-100 74 Stockholm
SWEDEN

Email
siu@stockholm.msf.org