Grand Challenges

Overview

Grand Challenges is a global initiative led by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to solve persistent problems in health, agriculture, and development affecting low- and middle-income countries. It encompasses several grant programs including Grand Challenges Explorations (small grants for novel ideas), Grand Challenges Canada (funded by the Government of Canada for transformative innovations), and Grand Challenges India and Africa chapters. The initiative is designed to fund the early and risky stages of innovation - the ideas that would not receive conventional funding but could lead to breakthrough solutions for global development challenges.

What You Can Find Here

• Grand Challenges Explorations (GCE) - $100,000 Phase I grants for innovative early-stage ideas in global health and development
• Grand Challenges Canada grants for bold ideas in health, gender equality, nutrition, and more
• Calls for proposals on specific challenge topics defined by the Gates Foundation and partners
• Grand Challenges Africa and India chapter grants for locally-relevant innovations
• Phase II follow-on grants up to $1 million for successful Phase I innovations
• Community of innovators - 2,000+ innovators from 100+ countries in the Grand Challenges network

Who Should Use This

• Innovators with bold, unconventional ideas to address persistent health or development challenges
• Researchers, scientists, and engineers from low- and middle-income countries working on global health solutions
• Social entrepreneurs with novel approaches to health, agriculture, nutrition, or poverty
• University researchers and faculty with early-stage ideas that need seed funding to test feasibility
• Global health professionals with field-tested concepts seeking scale-up funding

How to Get Started

1. Step 1: Visit grandchallenges.org to find current open calls and challenge topics
2. Step 2: Read the call description carefully - each challenge defines the problem to solve and evaluation criteria
3. Step 3: Prepare a short project description following the call format - Grand Challenges Explorations uses a streamlined two-page application
4. Step 4: Submit your application through the grandchallenges.org portal before the deadline
5. Step 5: Successful Phase I grantees are invited to apply for Phase II follow-on funding to validate and scale

Things to Check Before Applying

• Grand Challenges calls are topic-specific - not all innovation areas are open at any given time
• Grand Challenges Explorations Phase I applications are deliberately short (2 pages) - focus on the idea, evidence, and feasibility
• The initiative prioritises solutions relevant to low- and middle-income countries - innovations for developed country markets are not the focus
• Grand Challenges Canada has separate governance and funding - Canadian organisations and LMICs receive separate calls
• Phase II follow-on grants require successful Phase I results and clear demonstration of impact potential

Frequently Asked Questions