Overcoming barriers
A Grand Challenge is a significant barrier that, if overcome, could unlock transformational impact for millions of people. We use a Grand Challenges approach to identify critical barriers to global health and development—especially those that remain unsolved because they’re considered too complex, too risky, or too underfunded. We believe that these are the areas where innovation is needed most.
How it works:
Define the challenge
We identify urgent, critical barrier(s) where innovation could deliver transformational impact—drawing on evidence, local insights, and expert consultation.
Launch innovation competitions
We issue open calls that reach bold thinkers around the world—especially from underrepresented communities and low- and middle-income countries.
Invest selectively
We fund the most promising solutions through a rigorous, equity-centred review process, offering support at every stage—from seed to scale.
Provide flexible support
Our investments go beyond capital. We provide venture advisory, technical guidance, gender and policy expertise, and connections to co-investors and partners.
Accelerate impact
We help innovators strengthen their models, access new markets, and scale through public-sector partnerships, private-sector growth, or both.
Measure, learn, evolve
We measure lives reached, improved, and saved—and continuously refine our model to improve outcomes, accountability, and value for money.
How it works
Each Grand Challenge we launch is guided by three core principles. First, urgency and relevance—we focus on real-world problems that carry high stakes for health, equity, and well-being. Second, boldness—we seek out unconventional ideas and support innovations that challenge the status quo. Third, pathways to scale—we prioritize solutions with the potential to grow sustainably, whether through public systems, market mechanisms, or strategic partnership
Our approach invites bold thinking in areas others often overlook and shifts power by elevating local and underrepresented voices. It generates evidence that drives both funding and policy change, while building ecosystems that enable innovation to thrive. Most importantly, it’s catalytic—for every $1 invested by our anchor funder, we’ve leveraged $2.42 in additional funding.
A platform, not just a fund
We’ve applied this model across global health, humanitarian innovation, climate and health, sexual and reproductive health and rights, sanitation, mental health, and early childhood development. We’ve supported over 1,500 innovations, reaching more than 85 million people—and we’re scaling what works to reach 750 million people by 2035 with life-saving and life-improving innovations.
We tailor our support to each innovation’s pathway—whether it’s scaling through government adoption, market-based growth, or a hybrid model. We fund both directly and through mission-aligned investment funds, including the Global Health Investment Fund, Transform Health Fund, and Cross-Border Impact Ventures.
A Global Grand Challenges Network
Grand Challenges Canada is a proud member of the global Grand Challenges network—a community of organizations around the world that use this model to drive innovation and impact on global issues.
Together, we coordinate funding calls, share insights, and elevate breakthrough solutions that emerge from diverse contexts and communities. This collaboration expands our reach, strengthens our learning, and deepens the global pool of innovations addressing urgent challenges in health, development, and climate.
