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Request for Proposals: Play Learn Thrive
Grand Challenges Canada is launching a new portfolio, Play Learn Thrive, to respond to gaps in current Early Childhood Development in Emergencies (ECDiE) and Education in Emergencies (EiE) approaches.
We aim to create strong support systems for children in complex crisis settings so that they can play, learn, and thrive. We recognize that children’s holistic development, including their physical, intellectual, psychological, cultural, and social wellbeing, is intrinsically linked to the wellbeing and capacity of their caregivers and educators, as well as other members of their community. Strengthening this support network is essential to fostering children’s growth and development.
Supported by The Lego Foundation, this funding call seeks solutions that create more robust support systems for children from birth to 12 years of age in complex crisis settings, with a focus on those who are left behind and whose developmental and educational needs are not being met.
While the Play Learn Thrive portfolio will have a broader geographical focus, this RFP will only fund projects that will be implemented in at least one (1) of four (4) countries: Jordan, Lebanon, Kenya, and Uganda.
To be eligible for funding, applying organizations must (among other criteria):
- Be not-for-profit organizations that are legally incorporated¹
- Have an active presence in at least one of the four priority countries (Jordan, Lebanon, Kenya, Uganda)
- Be legally registered to do business in at least one of the four priority countries
- Implement programming directly in at least one of the four priority countries.
Please read all of the eligibility criteria in the full Request for Proposals.
- Request for Proposals (RFP) - English (pdf, 19.93 MB)
- Request for Proposals (RFP) - French (pdf, 19.18 MB)
- Request for Proposals (RFP) - Arabic (pdf, 19.59 MB)
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - English (pdf, 13.95 MB)
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - French (pdf, 15.43 MB)
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Arabic (pdf, 17.16 MB)
- 3-Page Summary - English (pdf, 1.61 MB)
- 3-page summary - French (pdf, 1.62 MB)
- 3-page summary - Arabic (pdf, 1.62 MB)
AVAILABLE FUNDING:
With funding from the LEGO Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada will award grants in two categories through this Request for Proposals:
Proof of Concept (POC)
We are offering Proof of Concept (POC) funding of up to $250,000 CAD for a maximum of 24 months. POC funding supports early-stage innovations to test and refine bold ideas. Our goal is to strengthen the pipeline of tested ECDiE and EiE innovations that focus on children from birth to 12 years of age in at least one of four countries (Kenya, Uganda, Lebanon, and Jordan).
How to Apply:
The final deadline for applications for Proof of Concept (POC) grants is April 24th, 2025, at 2 pm ET.
To ensure your application is eligible and competitive, please carefully read through the full Request for Proposals document and the Frequently Asked Questions prior to submitting your application.
To apply for funding, applicants MUST use the online application form provided, which is ONLY accessible via Grand Challenges Canada’s Fluxx Portal.
Existing users should log in to their existing account and new users must register for an account on the main application portal on Fluxx.
To apply for funding, applicants MUST use the online application form provided, which is ONLY accessible via Grand Challenges Canada’s Fluxx Portal.
New users – Create an account at https://gcc.fluxx.io
Existing users – If you have ever applied for Grand Challenges Canada funding you already have a Fluxx Portal account. Please use your existing account instead of registering for a new account. If necessary, you can reset your password at https://gcc.fluxx.io/forgot_password)
Transition to Scale (TTS)
Funding for more mature innovations that have already achieved proof of concept and are ready to be implemented more widely. These are grants between $300,000-$1,500,000 CAD per project over a maximum of 24 months.
Transition to Scale (TTS) grants will be accepted on a rolling basis between January 21, 2025 – November 27th, 2025. The first application deadline is on April 24th, 2025, at 2 pm ET. Subsequent TTS application deadlines throughout the year will be posted on the Grand Challenges Canada website and in the FAQ.
TTS applications will involve a two-stage process:
- Stage One: applicants complete a screening questionnaire and project summary
- Stage Two: applicants submit a full project application. Only those applications that pass stage one will be invited to submit a full application in stage two.
*Please note that having an established Proof of Concept is a key requirement for TTS funding.
We expect to award approximately nine (9) Proof of Concept and seven (7) Transition to Scale innovations in this funding call.
Request for Proposals: Funding Bold Ideas for Youth Mental Health in 12 countries
Being, an international mental health initiative hosted by Grand Challenges Canada is looking to fund bold prevention and promotion ideas that address the early drivers of mental health and wellbeing for the most underserved young people aged 10- to 24 in: Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Vietnam.
Being’s funding is guided by specific country priorities determined through locally driven country analyses and consultations with youth, policymakers, local organizations, and mental health experts in 12 countries: Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Vietnam. We strongly encourage applications from, and will give preference to, youth-led organizations based in the 12 countries
More information and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are available on Being’s website: www.being-initiative.org/opportunities
- Request for Proposals (RFP) - English
- Request for Proposals (RFP) - French
- RFP Summary for Seed and Transition-to-Scale - English
- RFP Summary for Seed and Transition-to-Scale - French
- RFP Summary for Seed and Transition-to-Scale - Spanish
- RFP Summary for Seed and Transition-to-Scale - Arabic
Available Funding Opportunities
- Proof-of-Concept (POC) Funding
We’re looking to fund innovative ideas to address the prevention and promotion of mental health targeted to young people aged 10-24 in 12 priority Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Vietnam.
POC funding up to $250,000 CAD will be awarded to early-stage projects that can implement, test and refine solutions to country-specific personal, social, and/or environmental factors impacting young people’s mental health and wellbeing in one of the 12 countries.
- Transition-to-Scale (TTS) Funding
We’re looking to fund tested mental health promotion and prevention approaches targeting young people aged 10-24 in Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, Romania, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Vietnam, with positive results and significant potential to achieve high impact.
TTS funding between $300,000 CAD and $1,500,000 CAD will be awarded to support tested mental health promotion and prevention approaches that align with country-specific priorities along their scaling journey to help catalyze their sustainability and impact.
Eligibility
Legally incorporated organizations worldwide can apply for funding, but only those working in the 12 priority countries will be considered. Please note: Only organizations implementing their project in the 12 priority countries, Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Vietnam, will be considered. Preference will be given to youth-led organizations based in the 12 countries.
All applications will involve a two-stage application process:
- Completing a screening questionnaire and submitting a project summary (stage one); and
- Submitting a full project application (stage two). Only those applications that pass screening (stage one) will be invited to submit a full application (stage two).
Please note: Applications will only be accepted through our online application form only accessible via Grand Challenges Canada’s Fluxx Portal https://gcc.fluxx.io. New users must register for an account on Fluxx at least 7 days before an intake deadline.
Key Deadlines
- Register on our online application portal, Fluxx, by Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EDT (3:59 a.m. GMT) to secure your chance to apply.
- Submit your application by Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. EDT (6:00 p.m. GMT).
Please review the Request for Proposals document for full details on our available funding and country priorities.