Blog

Lessons from Jacaranda Health: Successfully Scaling Maternal Health Innovation in Kenya

Disclaimer: This piece discusses pregnancy and motherhood; while we use the term “mother” throughout the piece to mirror the language of the community we are collaborating with; we also acknowledge that not all pregnant people identify as “mothers.” We would like to recognize that pregnancy and motherhood can be experienced by people of all genders. […]


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Kenya-Based Social Enterprise Wins $10,000 CAD Canadian Innovation Prize for User-Friendly Affordable Toilets and Waste Management

As of the end of September 2022, more than 150,000 lives have been improved and more than 15,000 metric tonnes/year of sanitation waste safely removed Nairobi/Toronto, November 7, 2022— Fresh Life, a Kenya-based, social enterprise that works to make safely managed sanitation in low-income urban communities accessible and affordable, is this year’s winner of Grand […]


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Launch of Being, a new international mental health initiative for young people

Initial funding of $35 million (CAD) to support work in 13 low- and middle-income countries Being, an international mental health initiative to fund and support research and innovative approaches that improve the mental wellbeing of young people aged 10 to 24 in low- and middle-income countries, launched today. The initiative is hosted by Grand Challenges […]


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Reflections from Grand Challenges Canada’s 2022 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! Here’s what they had to […]


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Statement on the passing of Grand Challenges Canada Program Advisory Council member Dr. Martina Lukong Baye

Toronto, July 19, 2022—The Grand Challenges Canada team extends their deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Dr. Martina Lukong Baye. We are saddened by the passing of Dr. Baye. This is a a huge loss for the maternal, newborn and child health community in Cameroon and around the world. Dr. Baye recently […]


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Ukweli Test Strips: Pilot study funded by Grand Challenges Canada enables social innovation to scale their venture and save women’s lives

Guest blog by Samara Everman, Global Social Impact Fellow High maternal mortality rate in Sierra Leone Sierra Leone has one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates, with 1,360 deaths per 100,000 live births. Often, mothers do not have the disposable income or time required to travel long distances to health facilities. Consequently, women wait […]


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Guest blog by CanalCanoa: Decolonizing the approach to Early Childhood Development with Indigenous communities in the Amazon

In honour of National Indigenous History Month, we are celebrating the impact of the Indigenous Innovation Initiative, whose programs it manages are hosted at Grand Challenges Canada. We also invited CanalCanoa to share their story on their transformative innovation benefitting Indigenous communities in the Amazon.


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Statement on U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade

Toronto, June 29, 2022—Our hearts go out to Americans who are now set to lose their legal right to safe pregnancy termination. We are saddened by the message this sends to the rest of the world. Every year, there are more than 25 million unsafe pregnancy terminations, resulting in approximately 7 million women and girls […]


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Grand Challenges Canada-funded global health and humanitarian innovations reach important milestone: 10 million lives improved

Toronto, June 20, 2022—Grand Challenges Canada (GCC) is proud to announce that, since its inception in 2010, funded global health and humanitarian innovations have improved a total of 10 million lives in low- and middle-income countries. In terms of impact, amongst the 10 million lives are 1.78 million pregnant women and newborns receiving treatment and […]


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The most impactful Father’s Day gift? Support for new dads

By Michelle Cruickshank, Global Mental Health Lead, and Jocelyn Mackie, Co-CEO, Grand Challenges Canada Globally sourced solutions It’s Tuesday night in the Musanze District in Rwanda, a group of men gather to participate in their weekly fatherhood education course called “Bandebereho”, meaning “role model”. They receive training on childrearing and domestic duties, as well as […]


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