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Prioritizing innovation for youth mental health
By: Nicole Bardikoff and Nicole Toole, members of the Grand Challenges Canada Global Mental Health team Only about 0.1% of global development assistance for health is targeted towards youth mental health. This figure illustrates the dearth of youth mental health funding, of particular importance considering that 75% of mental health challenges are established by 25, […]
Guest blog by Sanivation: Integrating innovations with government for scale and lasting impact
By Andrew Foote, CEO & Co-Founder, Sanivation One out of two people are living in communities where human waste is not safely managed, most often in low- and middle-income countries. While sanitation’s public and environmental health benefits are clear and abundant, access has not kept up with population growth. A key barrier to scaling sanitation is relative cost and available funding: traditional sanitation […]
Reflections from Grand Challenges Canada’s 2021 Summer Fellows
Grand Challenges Canada (GCC) has seen yet another summer come and go. Despite our work-from-home context, summer fellows went above and beyond with new perspectives, inventive solutions, and passionate attention to issues that mattered most to them. The fellows never cease to amaze GCC with their dedication and hard work! This year, operating within an […]
Global Mental Health announces first cohort of youth mental health seed funding projects
On the occasion of the United Nations’ International Youth Day, Grand Challenge Canada’s Global Mental Health Program, in partnership with the National Institute for Health Research and Global Affairs Canada, is announcing its first cohort of youth mental health seed projects. The 18 innovations all address mental health literacy and/or provide youth-friendly services for young people aged 10 to 24 in low- and middle-income countries. Young people, who are themselves closest to the challenges, were critical in shaping this call […]
UK and Canada team up to support youth mental health projects worldwide
International partnership seeks to foster better post-COVID-19 world for youth by investing $4.4M CAD in 18 mental health innovations in low-and middle-income countries London/Ottawa/Toronto, August 13, 2021—The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated mental health challenges worldwide, yet only about 0.1% of global development assistance for health goes towards youth mental […]
Canadian-led project saves lives in Somalia through innovative solar-powered oxygen system
U of A researchers team with Grand Challenges Canada and World Health Organization to bring a life-saving project to a Somalian conflict zone. (Edmonton, AB) On Feb. 5, minutes after she gave birth to her eighth child at the Hanaano General Hospital in Dusamareb, Somalia, 37-year-old Zahra’s* heart sank. Her doctor explained her baby had […]
Indigenous Innovation Initiative announces first-ever grant recipients for gender equality program
$2.5 million of new seed investments in 10 innovation projects to advance Indigenous gender equality, in partnership with Women and Gender Equality Canada Toronto, May 5, 2021—The Indigenous Innovation Initiative—an Indigenous innovation platform hosted by Grand Challenges Canada—is proud to announce the inaugural grant recipients for its Advancing Indigenous Gender Equality through Innovation and Social […]
Grand Challenges Canada thanks the Government of Canada for its continued support of our work in global health and humanitarian innovation
Canada’s largest impact-first investor receives renewed support through $200 million in grant agreement funding over seven years Toronto, April 7, 2021—Grand Challenges Canada—a Canadian not-for-profit organization, primarily funded by the Government of Canada, which invests in novel, local innovations that address critical global health, humanitarian and Indigenous community challenges in Canada and low-resource countries—would like […]
Grand Challenges Canada provides additional support to 14 innovations to assist low- and middle-income countries to keep women and children healthy during COVID-19 pandemic
Grand Challenges Canada, with funding from the Government of Canada, is increasing its investments in 14 health and international development projects. Our support allows innovators to adapt their product to also provide novel, affordable and locally sourced resources, ideas and solutions to acquire critical COVID-19 supplies and services for low-resource countries during the global pandemic. […]
Grand Challenges Canada appoints two noteworthy Board members to benefit from the values and wisdoms of local communities
Noted Franco-Manitoban Métis midwife Nathalie Pambrun and internationally renowned Senegalese scholar and scientist Dr. Awa Marie Coll Seck join board of Canadian impact-first investor Toronto, January 21, 2021—Grand Challenges Canada—a Canadian not-for-profit organization, primarily funded by the Government of Canada, which invests in novel, local innovations that address critical global health, humanitarian and Indigenous community […]