Innovations can play a pivotal role in transforming the lives of women around the globe. One such innovation making waves in Kenya is the Wema breast pump by Maziwa. This affordable device not only empowers women economically but also brings about significant social changes in the lives of mothers.  According to Maziwa, 60% of women drop out of the Kenyan workforce for family duties. As Kenyan mothers return to work – usually less than three months postpartum – they are met with workplaces that are impractical or unaccommodating for breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfeeding guards again ..read more

Grand Challenges Canada is excited to welcome two experienced leaders to lead the Indigenous Innovation Initiative (I3) team. Julie Williams was appointed as the Director of I3 and Kathryn Manners joined as the Deputy Director. Julie Williams, Director of the Indigenous Innovation Initiative Julie is Ojibway from Rama/Mnjikaning First Nation and is a member of the Muskellunge clan. As an enthusiastic lifelong learner, she has enjoyed a balance of formal institutional learning and traditional learning on the land and in storytelling. After years of studying and working abroad, she returned to ..read more

— Funds will be used to support early child development and education innovations in hard-to-reach communities impacted by emergencies — Toronto/Geneva, December 13, 2023 — The LEGO Foundation announced a USD $10M grant to Grand Challenges Canada to support Inclusive Learning in Crisis Settings, a new humanitarian grand challenge focused on supporting locally-led innovations for early childhood development and education in emergency settings. The announcement was made at the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva, Switzerland, the world’s largest gathering on refugees. The program will draw on the in ..read more

—Through their ‘Healthy Village’ approach, Max Foundation is creating lasting change for children and their communities in Bangladesh — Toronto, December 14, 2023 —The Max Foundation has been awarded the prestigious Rotman Innovation of the Year Award for their work to ensure healthy growth and prevent stunting for children in Bangladesh. The CAD $10,000 award is given annually by Grand Challenges Canada, a not-for-profit organization that invests in local innovations to address critical global health, humanitarian, and Indigenous community challenges in Canada and low- and middle-income count ..read more

 — Selected innovations will receive up to $150,000 CAD that address health effects of climate change in low-and middle-income countries —  Dubai, 3 December 2023 — Grand Challenges Canada announced the nomination of over 40 new innovations for awards to address the impacts of climate change and health in low- and middle-income countries. The announcement was made by Grand Challenges Canada CEO Dr. Karlee Silver at a climate and health event hosted at COP28, the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, in Dubai, UAE.  The innovations were selected as part of a 2022 Request ..read more

Mental health challenges contribute to over 10% of the global disease burden, three-quarters of which occurs in low- and middle-income countries. LGBTQIA+ youth are more than twice as likely to face mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety and substance abuse, than their heterosexual counterparts. Recently, four GCC-funded innovators from the Global Mental Health portfolio spoke to the GCC team about their work providing mental health and support services for LGBTQIA+ youth in their communities. The Raahat Project, SiyaFanaFana (SameSame), The Sexual Rights Center of Zimbabwe, a ..read more

— Mercy Mwangangi joins GCC’s board and Dr. Joseo Rono joins the Investment Committee — September 25, 2023 (Toronto, Canada) – Grand Challenges Canada (GCC) is thrilled to announce the appointment of two distinguished global health leaders, Dr. Mercy Mwangangi and Dr. Josea Rono. They both bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the organization’s mission of tackling some of the world’s most pressing global challenges. Dr. Mercy Mwangangi, former Chief Administrative Secretary in Kenya’s Ministry of Health Kenya, joins GCC’s Board of Directors. She holds a medical degree from the Univers ..read more

For the past 11+ years, Jocelyn Mackie has put her considerable talents to work at Grand Challenges Canada. For the past five years, she has served as co-CEO with Dr. Karlee Silver, drawing on her business acumen, legal training, and commitment to global health in service of funding bold innovations with big impact in more than 90 countries worldwide.   As Jocelyn prepares to step down from her role, she reflected on her time with Grand Challenges Canada and the lessons she’s learned along the way.  You’ve been at Grand Challenges Canada for 11 years, including 5 as co-CEO with ..read more

We are delighted to announce that the Health Finance Coalition (HFC) has received an ecosystem catalyst grant of CAD $500,000 from Grand Challenges Canada. This critical investment will help strengthen health systems in sub-Saharan Africa. While Africa is home to 16 percent of the global population and 23 percent of the global burden of disease, less than 2% of global impact investment capital goes towards health-related investments on the continent. “The Health Finance Coalition is incredibly grateful to Grand Challenges Canada for their commitment to scaling locally-led solutions that aim t ..read more

In partnership with Global Affairs Canada, Grand Challenges Canada has awarded $250K CAD in seed funding for 20 mental health innovations in low- and middle-income countries. More than half of the 20 selected innovations are youth-led and aim to tackle mental health challenges using digital technology, storytelling, and community-based care. Many of the innovations are female-led, and several focus on addressing the needs of those disproportionately affected by mental health challenges, including LGBTQIA+ youth, Indigenous youth, youth living with HIV and youth living in conflict and post-conf ..read more