Grand Challenges is a family of initiatives fostering innovation to solve key global health and development problems. Each initiative is an experiment in the use of challenges to focus innovation on making an impact. Individual challenges address some of the same problems, but from differing perspectives.

Challenges

Low-Cost mAb Manufacturing - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Grand Challenges

Innovations for Exceptionally Low-Cost Monoclonal Antibody (mAb) Manufacturing

This Challenge is in Honor of our late colleague, Dr. Steve Hadley, former Senior Program Officer at the Gates Foundation, who long championed the reduction of mAbs manufacturing costs to make them affordable to low- and middle-income countries. * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Before applying, applicants should familiarize themselves with the supporting documents for this Grand Challenge, including the descriptive <a href="https://gcgh.grandchallenges.org/sites/default/files/files/low-cost_mab_manufacturing_white_paper.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">White Paper</a>, <a href="https://gcgh.grandchallenges.org/sites/default/files/files/low-cost_mab_manufacturing_rules_and_guidelines.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rules and Guidelines</a>, <a href="https://gcgh.grandchallenges.org/sites/default/files/files/low-cost_mab_manufacturing_application_instructions.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Application Instructions</a>, and <a href="https://gcgh.grandchallenges.org/innovations-exceptionally-low-cost-monoclonal-antibody-mab-manufacturing-frequently-asked-questions" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Frequently Asked Questions</a>.
<h2>Background</h2>
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are one of the most powerful tools in modern medicine, offering a highly specific and effective treatment for a range of conditions - from infectious diseases like COVID-19 to chronic illnesses such as cancer and autoimmune disorders. These biologic therapies provide targeted interventions that can save lives and improve the quality of life for millions of patients globally. Yet, the high production costs associated with mAbs limit access to these lifesaving treatments for patients in low- and middle-income settings.
With efforts to improve technology and affordability, mAb costs have decreased significantly in the last 30 years and have stagnated at around $50-100 per gram. These high costs are driven by the complexity of the manufacturing process, which involves sophisticated methods, strict regulatory compliance, expensive raw materials, and significant infrastructure investments. Reducing production costs is critical, as many applications of anti-infective antibodies may require doses on the order of hundreds of milligrams (as seen for the antibodies that achieved emergency use authorization and/or approvals for COVID-19). In order to improve mAb affordability in low- and middle-income countries, we will need to reach a final drug substance cost-of-goods of $10 per gram - a goal long championed by our late colleague, Dr. Steve Hadley, former Senior Program Officer at the Gates Foundation.
To reach our goal, we will need to draw on innovation and novel approaches from a wide range of scientific and engineering disciplines. While those in the biopharmaceutical field are already deeply engaged in the challenge of reducing mAb manufacturing costs, there is tremendous potential for breakthroughs as we incorporate learnings from adjacent industries, such as dewatering and filtration, blood fractionation, industrial enzymes, and food and beverages. By bringing together diverse expertise and encouraging out-of-the-box thinking, we believe it is possible to achieve this ambitious goal.
The Grand Challenges family of initiatives seeks to source and seed innovations and accelerate the development of transformational solutions. The Gates Foundation, in collaboration with LifeArc, a self-funded medical research charity in the UK, is calling on innovators, scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs- whether they are seasoned experts in biologics or pioneers in related fields- to join us in this Grand Challenge. Together, we can unlock new pathways to reduce costs, enhance production efficiency, and ultimately expand access to life-saving treatments for all.
This Grand Challenge is calling for proposals that are bold in their vision and approach, offering clear pathways to achieving the $10 per gram target. This is not just a technical challenge; it is an opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of millions of people worldwide. We invite you to bring your expertise, creativity, and passion to this effort and help shape a future where the best medical treatments are available to everyone, everywhere.
<h2>The Challenge</h2>
The Gates Foundation and LifeArc are soliciting proposals to develop proof-of-concept for manufacturing platforms that produce monoclonal antibodies at a final drug substance cost-of-goods of $10 per gram (Option A). The goal is to catalyze and accelerate multiple, diverse, innovative bioprocessing approaches that hold the promise of low cost-of-goods mAbs.
Additionally, the Gates Foundation is interested in hearing from organizations that have already completed proof-of-concept work that could result in cost-of-goods of $10 per gram and may be interested in additional support (Option B).
Applicants can apply with solutions meeting the criteria for either Option A or Option B but should not submit entries to both options.
Option A: Proof-of-Concept
The primary outputs of this challenge will be (1) development of a conceptual facility design, and (2) generation of bench or lab-scale process data with sufficient analytical data to demonstrate the ability to produce an antibody at a final drug substance cost-of-goods of $10 per gram that could meet requirements for human applications and would support a rigorous cost-of-goods assessment by a third-party organization (chosen by the Foundation). A full physical demonstration that the manufacturing platform meets specific manufacturing cost targets is not required at this stage. If the success criteria from this process are met and if additional funding is available, Option A applicants may be eligible for further support in a follow-on phase of work.
To apply for the Option A opportunity, please click the "Apply Now" button at the top of this page, or visit this <a href="https://submit.gatesfoundation.org/prog/grandchallenges_mAb_Option_A" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">link</a>.
Option B: Operationalization and Economic Viability
Independent of the Proof-of-Concept (Option A), the Gates Foundation recognizes that some organizations may already have proof-of-concept data that could support a final drug substance cost-of-goods of $10 per gram and would like to partner for further development funding. If you have existing data meeting <a href="https://gcgh.grandchallenges.org/sites/default/files/files/low-cost_mab_manufacturing_trl.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Technical Readiness Level 3-5</a> (POC Defined, Lab Scale Demonstrated, or Pilot Scale Demonstrated) please share a solution with additional information listed below, as well as any non-confidential data demonstrating Technical Readiness Level 3-5 for production of a monoclonal antibody at a final drug substance cost-of-goods of $10 per gram. The proposal review committee will evaluate this information and reach out to you if there is interest in exploring further. To apply for the Option B opportunity, please visit <a href="https://submit.gatesfoundation.org/prog/grandchallenges_mAb_Option_B" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">this link</a>.
Objectives of the challenge (both Option A and Option B)
<ul>
<li>Advance innovative and bold ideas that enhance production efficiency and improve overall process economics for mAb production, resulting in a final drug substance cost-of-goods of $10 per gram. This includes, but is not limited to:
<ul>
<li>Alternative hosts to mammalian cell culture</li>
<li>Alternative to standard downstream purification methods</li>
<li>Reduction in material costs</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Push the boundaries of current technology by harnessing disruptive innovations, possibly from parallel industries, and identify process improvements to reduce manufacturing costs</li>
<li>Rethink existing methods of working such as release testing process and costs, high-quality and affordable raw materials and critical reagents</li>
</ul>
Funding Level
Option A: The Gates Foundation and LifeArc will consider several proposals for awards of up to $750,000 USD for each project, with a grant term of up to 18 months. Each organization will make coordinated but independent award decisions. Application budgets should be commensurate with the scope of work proposed.
Option B: Potential funding and grant terms will be evaluated on a per-project basis. The funding and timeline are intentionally open given that the work is exploratory at this time. Application budgets should be commensurate with the scope of work being proposed.
Eligibility Criteria – Options A and B
This initiative is open to nonprofit organizations, for-profit companies, international organizations, government agencies and academic institutions. We particularly encourage applications involving projects led by women / in collaboration with women-led organizations, and/or applications from / in collaboration with institutions based in low- and middle-income countries. Only individuals who are applying through a legally recognized corporate entity are eligible.
We are looking for proposals that:
<ul>
<li>Would work with the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/?term=ms-1797" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MAM01 malaria antibodies</a> (Option A applicants) or malaria, RSV, or HIV antibodies (Option B applicants) requiring high doses
<ul>
<li>We are focused on applications capable of producing antibodies at volumes of a metric ton per year and are modeled assuming tonnage demand (1000 kg per year)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Include fully loaded costs inclusive of reagents, consumables, labor, facility-related costs, QC/QA (quality control, quality assurance) costs, fill-finish, and licensing costs</li>
<li>Outline solutions with specific steps and/or end-to-end solutions</li>
<li>Provide technological solutions to reach the target rather than solutions relying upon multi-use facilities, brown-field facilities and other non-technological solutions
<ul>
<li>For the purposes of calculating costs, assume a "green-field" facility producing just a single product</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Clearly outline the capabilities of the team, including a level of demonstrated applicability to a related problem and/or credibility for pharmaceutical applications</li>
<li>Demonstrate technical quality and the ability to generate data within 12 months</li>
<li>Include a justification of costs, which will also be analyzed by an external third-party</li>
<li>We encourage applications that may include a number of collaborators who each bring specific expertise. If applicants need partners with specific expertise, please identify so within your proposal submission and we will consider areas to encourage collaboration amongst different applicants to enable end-to-end solutions</li>
<li>Articulate solutions that could enable manufacturing in LMICs</li>
<li>For applicants interested in Option B: Please share any non-confidential data sharing that technical readiness level 3-5 has been met for low-cost production of HIV, RSV, or malaria antibodies</li>
</ul>
For this challenge we are not seeking proposals that:
<ul>
<li>Include changes to an existing licensed molecule</li>
<li>Require changes to the coding of sequence of standard human- or humanized-IgG1s.
<ul>
<li>Since the foundation is separately funding the development of protein molecules with improved affinity and potency, this particular RFP is focused on manufacturing solutions</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Are focused on solutions for lower-cost delivery and administration of antibodies
<ul>
<li>This RFP is focused on drug substance only so applications on DP (drug product), filled container and alternative administration routes (oral, nasal, ID, etc.) are outside the scope of this RFP</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Are focused on technologies like in-vivo expression of antibodies using nucleic acid and gene delivery
<ul>
<li>The Gates Foundation is pursuing alternative paths to these technologies, and they are outside the scope of this RFP</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Include cost reductions resulting from price negotiations (e.g., buying materials in bulk)</li>
<li>Are focused on stepwise or incremental improvements that result in nominal cost reductions</li>
<li>Are not applicable to global-health target diseases</li>
</ul>
The Option A (Proof-of-Concept) part of this Grand Challenge is a collaboration between the Gates Foundation and LifeArc, however each funder will make independent funding decisions. Following the RFP process, organizations with successful applications will be invited to submit their proposal on Gates Foundation or LifeArc standard proposal templates in alignment with each potential funder's due diligence process as applicable.
The Gates Foundation is accepting proposals for Option B independently from LifeArc.

The Gates Foundation and Life Arc are soliciting proposals to develop proofs-of-concept for manufacturing platforms that produce monoclonal antibodies at a final drug substance cost-of-goods of $10 per gram. This Grand Challenge is calling for proposals that are bold in their vision and approach, offering clear pathways to achieving the $10 per gram target. This is not just a technical challenge; it is an opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of millions of people worldwide. We invite you to bring your expertise, creativity, and passion to this effort and help shape a future where the best medical treatments are available to everyone, everywhere.

Note that this RFP is being launched by multiple partners, across variable geographies, topic areas, and funding levels. Please review the requirements for each RFP to determine your eligibility. The individual RFPs are listed separately <a href="https://gcgh.grandchallenges.org/challenges/JTdCJTIyc29ydCUyMiUzQSUyMmRlc2NlbmRpbmclMjIlMkMlMjJzb3J0RmllbGQlMjIlM0ElMjJkYXRlJTIyJTJDJTIybnVtYmVyUGVyUGFnZSUyMiUzQTEwJTJDJTIycGFnZU51bWJlciUyMiUzQTAlN0Q=/JTdCJTIyeWVhcnMlMjIlM0ElNUIlNUQlMkMlMjJjaGFsbGVuZ2VzJTIyJTNBJTVCJTIyMzI1JTIyJTVEJTJDJTIydGVybXMlMjIlM0ElNUIlNUQlMkMlMjJpbml0aWF0aXZlcyUyMiUzQSU1QiU1RCUyQyUyMmxvY2F0aW9ucyUyMiUzQSU1QiU1RCU3RA==" target="_blank">here</a>. If you are eligible for multiple RFPs, please choose the RFP that most closely aligns with your proposed project.<h2>Background</h2>Climate change threatens hard-earned global health and development progress and puts the health, well-being, and livelihoods of future generations in jeopardy, with a special impact on women. The 2015 Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals signaled a promise from global leaders to act - to limit global average temperature rise to within 1.5°C by 2040 and prevent the worst health and development effects of climate change. While no one is safe from these risks, the people whose health and wellbeing are being harmed first and worst by the climate crisis are also the ones who contribute least to its causes, and who are least able to protect themselves and their families against it - namely people in low-income and disadvantaged countries and communities. In low-income settings, rising heat, extreme weather events, changes in precipitation patterns, climate-related undernutrition, shifts in duration and climate-event-driven surges of malaria and other vector borne diseases such as malaria,&nbsp;foodborne and water-borne diseases, and increased potential for the emergence of novel diseases damage already weak primary health care systems and community structures for health. This compromises accessibility, availability, provision, and uptake of essential health services for the most vulnerable populations. Climate change can also disproportionately affect the health and financial well-being of women and girls: extreme heat increases the incidences of stillbirth, the rampant spread of vector-borne diseases worsens maternal and neonatal outcomes, and gender disparities amplified by climate change can decrease the women's share of economic agricultural gains. Those same changes in climate and weather also negatively impact all aspects of agricultural activities, a major source of income for those in low-income settings.Catalytic research and development (R&amp;D) as well as innovations to scale the impact of existing green technologies are essential to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero and address the unprecedented health, agricultural and environmental challenges posed by climate change, which have an outsized impact on women. It is crucial to understand the emerging problems in health and agriculture, either directly triggered by climate change, or as a result of disruptions (e.g., operational) downstream of crises created by climate change. Consequently, there is an urgent need to invest in creative solutions to help vulnerable populations adapt and build their resilience to the existing and future climate related challenges impacting health and agriculture and build alternative livelihoods. This work will involve making those most affected, especially women, major stakeholders in discussions about how new climate resistant and adaptive innovations will be deployed, as well as giving them a deliberate choice and advantage in the creation of new economic opportunities that result from these investments.In recent years, global leaders, philanthropies, and private investors have begun committing significant resources to climate change mitigation R&amp;D. However, more is needed to unite partners across sectors and accelerate innovations addressing challenges at the intersections of climate, health, gender, and agriculture, particularly for underserved regions and groups.The Grand Challenges family of initiatives seeks to source and seed innovations and accelerate the development of transformational solutions. To this end, Grand Challenges (GC) partners including GC Africa (Science for Africa Foundation), GC Brazil (Ministry of Health of Brazil), GC Ethiopia (Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI)), GC India (Department of Biotechnology of India), and GC Rwanda (National Council for Science and Technology), along with the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation and the Pasteur Network, and supported by Wellcome, Foundation S-the Sanofi Collective, and the Rockefeller Foundation are launching this request for proposals (RFP) to identify and support promising innovations.<h2>The Challenge</h2>This Grand Challenges request for proposals seeks innovative research and pilot/feasibility projects utilizing transdisciplinary approaches to better adapt to, mitigate, or reverse the combined, deleterious effects of climate change on health, women's lives, and agriculture in the geographies of interest. These innovations include early warning and disease surveillance systems to respond to climate-event-driven surges in malaria and other vector borne diseases, as well as improved mapping of expanded vector ranges and vector-borne disease transmission. Preference will be given to innovations that are formulated locally or adapted from other contexts. We are especially interested in 1) locally led, system-level innovations that are scalable and sustainable and 2) cross-cutting solutions at the intersection of multiple scientific and engineering disciplines.This RFP focuses on the topic areas listed below. Under each of the topic areas, we provide examples of innovations we would like to see, but innovators are also encouraged to propose their own ideas related to these topics.Topic Areas:<ol><li>Health Outcomes -&nbsp;including systemic and compounding impacts of climate change on health. We are seeking solutions targeting: &nbsp;<ol type="a"><li>Early Warning and Disease Surveillance: We seek proposals that build resilient systems to mitigate health impact of climate change. Solutions may include accurate surveillance systems for early detection of vector-borne, waterborne, and zoonotic diseases; that predict the impact of climate-related events (heat, flood, population, vegetation, and zoonotic migration), and vectors and diseases introduced to new localities. Where possible, employment opportunities should be created for rural women. (Geographies of interest: sub-Saharan Africa; Brazil)</li><li>Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: Women are disproportionately impacted by climate-sensitive health risks. Women are themselves a vulnerable group, and they can also fall into many other vulnerable groups. As such, we&nbsp;seek solutions that address the increased risks related to maternal, newborn, and child health. Solutions should address gender disparities in access to food, health care, education, and economic well-being. Also of interest are solutions that address the vulnerability to forms of gender-based violence and post-traumatic stress disorders arising from climate change-driven conflict. (Geographies of interest: sub-Saharan Africa; Brazil)</li><li>Community Health Ecosystems: We are looking for proposals that strengthen the resilience and adaptability of health care service delivery and supply chains to climate related changes. These solutions can include anticipatory action, adaptation of provisions, quality, and accessibility of essential services to vulnerable communities, especially women, capacity building for health care professionals and community health actors. We are also interested in solutions that help individuals and families respond locally to new ailments and challenges brought about by climate-related events. (Geographies of interest: sub-Saharan Africa; Brazil)</li><li>Measurement &amp; Evaluation (M&amp;E): We encourage proposals focused on development of harmonized M&amp;E frameworks and systems for programs that better incorporate climate considerations. (Geographies of interest: sub-Saharan Africa; Brazil) &nbsp;</li></ol></li><li>Nutrition - Undernutrition is a consequence of climate change - and it makes people more susceptible to its effects, particularly extreme heat exposure which poses unique risks for pregnant women, newborns, and infants under 2 years old. We are seeking solutions that address:<ol type="a"><li>Heat stress and nutritional status, in particular gestation weight gain, low birth weight, preterm birth, small for gestational age, early growth faltering (in children &lt;6 months), and child wasting. (Geographies of interest: sub-Saharan Africa; South Asia; Brazil)</li><li>Heat stress and micronutrient status, including anemia and breastmilk quality.</li><li>Improved real-time monitoring and surveillance of wasting and the spatial relationship between climate vulnerability and undernutrition. (Geographies of interest: sub-Saharan Africa; South Asia; Brazil)</li><li>Integration of climate risk into social protection schemes and the inclusion of nutrition products and services as part of an essential nutrition package within social safety net programs. (Geographies of interest: sub-Saharan Africa; South Asia; Brazil)</li><li>Innovation in the composition of specialized nutritious foods (e.g., RUTFs to treat severe acute malnutrition), considering susceptibility of raw ingredients to climate shocks, price volatility, and decreased nutritional quality. (Geographies of interest: sub-Saharan Africa; South Asia; Brazil) &nbsp;</li></ol></li><li>Adaptation Strategies for Agriculture and Income Development, with a focus on women's agriculture livelihoods.<ol type="a"><li>The production of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers is energy-intensive and contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. For every kilogram of Nitrogen (N) produced by synthetic process, 10.1Kg of CO2 is emitted. Biofertilizers present great promise in reducing&nbsp;emissions associated with synthetic fertilizer production and providing nitrogen fixation needed for productive plants. The technological gap in validating this innovation lies in the lack of robust field measurements, which, when addressed by accurately measuring Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF), can help develop strategies to reduce GHG emissions, fertilizer runoff, and water pollution. We are looking for in-situ methods for measuring BNF at field level to help validate climate-smart biofertilizers as next generation inputs.&nbsp;Research topics may include novel biosensors, spectral analysis, infra-red, or any other fast and low-cost methodology for measuring nitrogen fixation and release of fixed nitrogen to plants, by free-living, associative symbiotic and non-symbiotic microbes. Research may also comprise innovative methods for proving candidate microbes are indeed drawing nitrogen from the atmosphere for direct or indirect crop benefit, rather than mining the soil. (Geographies of interest: sub-Saharan Africa; South Asia; Brazil)</li><li>Climate and weather information are fundamental for agricultural decision making and become even more essential amid changes in temperature and rainfall patterns. Women are typically underrepresented as users of climate decision support, due to cultural norms or technological gaps, and even more underrepresented as innovators and providers of climate services. We are looking for innovation solutions for scaling access to climate decision support provided by women- and youth-run, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). This may include women- and youth-run small and medium enterprises (SMEs) integrating climate information services or a climate service provider innovating ways to partner with women- and youth-run SMEs. (Geography of interest: sub-Saharan Africa)</li><li>Women face multiple systemic disadvantages that reduce their capacity to adapt to climate change. We seek proposals on three topics related to women's resilience: (1) Climate-smart labor-saving technologies for rural women that are affordable and accessible with potential for scale, (2) Identifying opportunities for rural women's organizations to influence national climate adaptation plans, and (3) Gender transformative climate-smart innovations for livelihood diversification on and off farm in food systems. Cross-cutting topics of interest include access to capital, upskilling, digital tools, social norms, expanding market access, and support for young women and adolescent girls. (Geographies of interest: sub-Saharan Africa; South Asia) &nbsp;</li></ol></li><li>Knowledge Management and Data Integration of Climate and Health Databases - Many vector-borne diseases may increase in localities that were not prepared for them before the advent of climate-change. We seek solutions that integrate data from climate scientists, disease modelers, and government health officials to help address the rise of specific diseases. Potential areas of interest include, but are not limited to:<ol type="a"><li>Facilitating community participation in/crowd-sourcing data collection to track climate change impact at local level (e.g., changes in weather patterns or detection of invasive vector species) (Geographies of interest: sub-Saharan Africa; Brazil)</li><li>Integrating commercially available databases and local data into early warning systems that can drive decision making, working to ensure sex-disaggregated data when relevant. (Geographies of interest: sub-Saharan Africa; Brazil)</li><li>Researching the relationship between climate change and the spread of vector-borne diseases (e.g., changes to vector populations or disease transmission dynamics) to develop early warning systems to prevent outbreaks. (Geographies of interest: sub-Saharan Africa; Brazil) &nbsp;</li></ol></li><li>Effective Response and Resilient Supply Chains for Crisis Management – Maintaining routine health delivery or non-routine campaigns such as humanitarian aid and vaccination efforts will be an increasingly multifaceted problem as the need for rapid, directed humanitarian aid increases in the face of extreme climate events, examples include changing landscapes for roads and bridges; Internally Displaced People (IDPs) and armed conflicts; and disrupted daily routines for affected populations. We are seeking to implement agile, resilient supply chains that allow for the re-deployment of interventions based on need, e.g., malaria insecticide-treated nets, preventive chemotherapies, etc. against vector-borne diseases. (Geography of interest: sub-Saharan Africa)</li></ol>Funding Level, Period of Performance, and Geography of InterestThe funding level is up to USD $200,000.00, for each grant. The period of performance is up to two years. The geography of interest is outlined within the topic/sub-topic areas listed above. This means that the effort needs to be led by investigators in the specified geographies above. Global collaborators may be included, but at least 80% of the funding must go to an organization within the specified geographies. Application budgets should be commensurate with the scope of work proposed.We are looking for proposals that:<ul><li>Demonstrate that projects are led by (Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC)<a href="#_ftn1" title="" id="_ftnref1" name="_ftnref1">[1]</a> investigators, local stakeholders, or community-led organizations. Global partners may be included, but proposals must demonstrate at least 80% of the funding is going to an investigator in an LMIC institution within the geography of interest. Teams comprising multiple LMIC institutions will be given preference over applicants from single institutions. We also encourage multi-country collaborations.</li><li>Come from women-led organizations or involve projects led by women and focused on reaching women.</li><li>Articulate how the project will lead to near-term impact and how the impact will be sustained over the lifetime of the project and beyond.</li><li>Articulate the scalability of the solution beyond a small local region or population. Strong consideration will be given to approaches that can scale to multiple geographic areas, demographic groups, etc.</li><li>Demonstrate engagement with local and/or regional communities, decision-makers, and adopters.</li><li>Promote inter-sectoral co-ordination and collaboration.</li></ul>We will not fund proposals that:<ul><li>Do not support communities and countries to adapt and be resilient to the effects of climate change on agriculture, health and gender in the geography of interest.</li><li>Do not demonstrate that the majority of the work proposed will be undertaken by investigators and/or local stakeholders living in the geography of interest.&nbsp;</li><li>Do not plan for or demonstrate a pathway to sustainable impact and scalability.</li><li>Are not linked to or have no plan to engage relevant key stakeholders and decision makers from the affected communities.</li></ul><a href="#_ftnref1" title="" id="_ftn1" name="_ftn1">[1]</a> See <a href="https://data.worldbank.org/country/XO" target="_blank">World Bank - Low- &amp; Middle-Income Countries</a> for definitions.

Accelerating Catalyzing Solutions for Climate Change's Impact on Health, Agriculture, and Gender

Note that this RFP is being launched by multiple partners, across variable geographies, topic areas, and funding levels. Please review the requirements for each RFP to determine your eligibility. The individual RFPs are listed separately <a href="https://gcgh.grandchallenges.org/grant-opportunities" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>. If you are eligible for multiple RFPs, please choose the RFP that most closely aligns with your proposed project.
<h2>Background</h2>
Climate change threatens hard-earned global health and development progress and puts the health, well-being, and livelihoods of future generations in jeopardy, with a special impact on women. The 2015 Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals signaled a promise from global leaders to act - to limit global average temperature rise to within 1.5°C by 2040 and prevent the worst health and development effects of climate change. While no one is safe from these risks, the people whose health and wellbeing are being harmed first and worst by the climate crisis are also the ones who contribute least to its causes, and who are least able to protect themselves and their families against it - namely people in low-income and disadvantaged countries and communities. In low-income settings, rising heat, extreme weather events, changes in precipitation patterns, climate-related undernutrition, shifts in duration and climate-event-driven surges of malaria and other vector borne diseases such as malaria,&nbsp;foodborne and water-borne diseases, and increased potential for the emergence of novel diseases damage already weak primary health care systems and community structures for health. This compromises accessibility, availability, provision, and uptake of essential health services for the most vulnerable populations. Climate change can also disproportionately affect the health and financial well-being of women and girls: extreme heat increases the incidences of stillbirth, the rampant spread of vector-borne diseases worsens maternal and neonatal outcomes, and gender disparities amplified by climate change can decrease the women's share of economic agricultural gains. Those same changes in climate and weather also negatively impact all aspects of agricultural activities, a major source of income for those in low-income settings.
Catalytic research and development (R&amp;D) as well as innovations to scale the impact of existing green technologies are essential to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero and address the unprecedented health, agricultural and environmental challenges posed by climate change, which have an outsized impact on women. It is crucial to understand the emerging problems in health and agriculture, either directly triggered by climate change, or as a result of disruptions (e.g., operational) downstream of crises created by climate change. Consequently, there is an urgent need to invest in creative solutions to help vulnerable populations adapt and build their resilience to the existing and future climate related challenges impacting health and agriculture and build alternative livelihoods. This work will involve making those most affected, especially women, major stakeholders in discussions about how new climate resistant and adaptive innovations will be deployed, as well as giving them a deliberate choice and advantage in the creation of new economic opportunities that result from these investments.
In recent years, global leaders, philanthropies, and private investors have begun committing significant resources to climate change mitigation R&amp;D. However, more is needed to unite partners across sectors and accelerate innovations addressing challenges at the intersections of climate, health, gender, and agriculture, particularly for underserved regions and groups.
The Grand Challenges family of initiatives seeks to source and seed innovations and accelerate the development of transformational solutions. To this end, Grand Challenges (GC) partners including GC Africa (Science for Africa Foundation), GC Brazil (Ministry of Health of Brazil), GC Ethiopia (Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI)), GC India (Department of Biotechnology of India), and GC Rwanda (National Council for Science and Technology), along with the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation and the Pasteur Network, and supported by Wellcome, Foundation S-the Sanofi Collective, and the Rockefeller Foundation are launching this request for proposals (RFP) to identify and support promising innovations.
<h2>The Challenge</h2>
This Grand Challenges request for proposals seeks innovative research and pilot/feasibility projects utilizing transdisciplinary approaches to better adapt to, mitigate, or reverse the combined, deleterious effects of climate change on health, women's lives, and agriculture in the geographies of interest. These innovations include early warning and disease surveillance systems to respond to climate-event-driven surges in malaria and other vector borne diseases, as well as improved mapping of expanded vector ranges and vector-borne disease transmission. Preference will be given to innovations that are formulated locally or adapted from other contexts. We are especially interested in 1) locally led, system-level innovations that are scalable and sustainable and 2) cross-cutting solutions at the intersection of multiple scientific and engineering disciplines.
This RFP focuses on the topic areas listed below. Under each of the topic areas, we provide examples of innovations we would like to see, but innovators are also encouraged to propose their own ideas related to these topics.
Topic Areas:
<ol>
<li>Health Outcomes -&nbsp;including systemic and compounding impacts of climate change on health. We are seeking solutions targeting: &nbsp; 
<ol type="a">
<li>Early Warning and Disease Surveillance: We seek proposals that build resilient systems to mitigate health impact of climate change. Solutions may include accurate surveillance systems for early detection of vector-borne, waterborne, and zoonotic diseases; that predict the impact of climate-related events (heat, flood, population, vegetation, and zoonotic migration), and vectors and diseases introduced to new localities. Where possible, employment opportunities should be created for rural women. (Geographies of interest: sub-Saharan Africa; Brazil)</li>
<li>Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: Women are disproportionately impacted by climate-sensitive health risks. Women are themselves a vulnerable group, and they can also fall into many other vulnerable groups. As such, we&nbsp;seek solutions that address the increased risks related to maternal, newborn, and child health. Solutions should address gender disparities in access to food, health care, education, and economic well-being. Also of interest are solutions that address the vulnerability to forms of gender-based violence and post-traumatic stress disorders arising from climate change-driven conflict. (Geographies of interest: sub-Saharan Africa; Brazil)</li>
<li>Community Health Ecosystems: We are looking for proposals that strengthen the resilience and adaptability of health care service delivery and supply chains to climate related changes. These solutions can include anticipatory action, adaptation of provisions, quality, and accessibility of essential services to vulnerable communities, especially women, capacity building for health care professionals and community health actors. We are also interested in solutions that help individuals and families respond locally to new ailments and challenges brought about by climate-related events. (Geographies of interest: sub-Saharan Africa; Brazil)</li>
<li>Measurement &amp; Evaluation (M&amp;E): We encourage proposals focused on development of harmonized M&amp;E frameworks and systems for programs that better incorporate climate considerations. (Geographies of interest: sub-Saharan Africa; Brazil) &nbsp;</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li>Nutrition - Undernutrition is a consequence of climate change - and it makes people more susceptible to its effects, particularly extreme heat exposure which poses unique risks for pregnant women, newborns, and infants under 2 years old. We are seeking solutions that address: 
<ol type="a">
<li>Heat stress and nutritional status, in particular gestation weight gain, low birth weight, preterm birth, small for gestational age, early growth faltering (in children &lt;6 months), and child wasting. (Geographies of interest: sub-Saharan Africa; South Asia; Brazil)</li>
<li>Heat stress and micronutrient status, including anemia and breastmilk quality.</li>
<li>Improved real-time monitoring and surveillance of wasting and the spatial relationship between climate vulnerability and undernutrition. (Geographies of interest: sub-Saharan Africa; South Asia; Brazil)</li>
<li>Integration of climate risk into social protection schemes and the inclusion of nutrition products and services as part of an essential nutrition package within social safety net programs. (Geographies of interest: sub-Saharan Africa; South Asia; Brazil)</li>
<li>Innovation in the composition of specialized nutritious foods (e.g., RUTFs to treat severe acute malnutrition), considering susceptibility of raw ingredients to climate shocks, price volatility, and decreased nutritional quality. (Geographies of interest: sub-Saharan Africa; South Asia; Brazil) &nbsp;</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li>Adaptation Strategies for Agriculture and Income Development, with a focus on women's agriculture livelihoods. 
<ol type="a">
<li>The production of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers is energy-intensive and contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. For every kilogram of Nitrogen (N) produced by synthetic process, 10.1Kg of CO2 is emitted. Biofertilizers present great promise in reducing&nbsp;emissions associated with synthetic fertilizer production and providing nitrogen fixation needed for productive plants. The technological gap in validating this innovation lies in the lack of robust field measurements, which, when addressed by accurately measuring Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF), can help develop strategies to reduce GHG emissions, fertilizer runoff, and water pollution. We are looking for in-situ methods for measuring BNF at field level to help validate climate-smart biofertilizers as next generation inputs.&nbsp;Research topics may include novel biosensors, spectral analysis, infra-red, or any other fast and low-cost methodology for measuring nitrogen fixation and release of fixed nitrogen to plants, by free-living, associative symbiotic and non-symbiotic microbes. Research may also comprise innovative methods for proving candidate microbes are indeed drawing nitrogen from the atmosphere for direct or indirect crop benefit, rather than mining the soil. (Geographies of interest: sub-Saharan Africa; South Asia; Brazil)</li>
<li>Climate and weather information are fundamental for agricultural decision making and become even more essential amid changes in temperature and rainfall patterns. Women are typically underrepresented as users of climate decision support, due to cultural norms or technological gaps, and even more underrepresented as innovators and providers of climate services. We are looking for innovation solutions for scaling access to climate decision support provided by women- and youth-run, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). This may include women- and youth-run small and medium enterprises (SMEs) integrating climate information services or a climate service provider innovating ways to partner with women- and youth-run SMEs. (Geography of interest: sub-Saharan Africa)</li>
<li>Women face multiple systemic disadvantages that reduce their capacity to adapt to climate change. We seek proposals on three topics related to women's resilience: (1) Climate-smart labor-saving technologies for rural women that are affordable and accessible with potential for scale, (2) Identifying opportunities for rural women's organizations to influence national climate adaptation plans, and (3) Gender transformative climate-smart innovations for livelihood diversification on and off farm in food systems. Cross-cutting topics of interest include access to capital, upskilling, digital tools, social norms, expanding market access, and support for young women and adolescent girls. (Geographies of interest: sub-Saharan Africa; South Asia) &nbsp;</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li>Knowledge Management and Data Integration of Climate and Health Databases - Many vector-borne diseases may increase in localities that were not prepared for them before the advent of climate-change. We seek solutions that integrate data from climate scientists, disease modelers, and government health officials to help address the rise of specific diseases. Potential areas of interest include, but are not limited to: 
<ol type="a">
<li>Facilitating community participation in/crowd-sourcing data collection to track climate change impact at local level (e.g., changes in weather patterns or detection of invasive vector species) (Geographies of interest: sub-Saharan Africa; Brazil)</li>
<li>Integrating commercially available databases and local data into early warning systems that can drive decision making, working to ensure sex-disaggregated data when relevant. (Geographies of interest: sub-Saharan Africa; Brazil)</li>
<li>Researching the relationship between climate change and the spread of vector-borne diseases (e.g., changes to vector populations or disease transmission dynamics) to develop early warning systems to prevent outbreaks. (Geographies of interest: sub-Saharan Africa; Brazil) &nbsp;</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li>Effective Response and Resilient Supply Chains for Crisis Management – Maintaining routine health delivery or non-routine campaigns such as humanitarian aid and vaccination efforts will be an increasingly multifaceted problem as the need for rapid, directed humanitarian aid increases in the face of extreme climate events, examples include changing landscapes for roads and bridges; Internally Displaced People (IDPs) and armed conflicts; and disrupted daily routines for affected populations. We are seeking to implement agile, resilient supply chains that allow for the re-deployment of interventions based on need, e.g., malaria insecticide-treated nets, preventive chemotherapies, etc. against vector-borne diseases. (Geography of interest: sub-Saharan Africa)</li>
</ol>
Funding Level, Period of Performance, and Geography of Interest
The funding level is up to USD $200,000.00, for each grant. The period of performance is up to two years. The geography of interest is outlined within the topic/sub-topic areas listed above. This means that the effort needs to be led by investigators in the specified geographies above. Global collaborators may be included, but at least 80% of the funding must go to an organization within the specified geographies. Application budgets should be commensurate with the scope of work proposed.
We are looking for proposals that:
<ul>
<li>Demonstrate that projects are led by (Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC)<a href="#_ftn1" title name="_ftnref1" id="_ftnref1">[1]</a> investigators, local stakeholders, or community-led organizations. Global partners may be included, but proposals must demonstrate at least 80% of the funding is going to an investigator in an LMIC institution within the geography of interest. Teams comprising multiple LMIC institutions will be given preference over applicants from single institutions. We also encourage multi-country collaborations.</li>
<li>Come from women-led organizations or involve projects led by women and focused on reaching women.</li>
<li>Articulate how the project will lead to near-term impact and how the impact will be sustained over the lifetime of the project and beyond.</li>
<li>Articulate the scalability of the solution beyond a small local region or population. Strong consideration will be given to approaches that can scale to multiple geographic areas, demographic groups, etc.</li>
<li>Demonstrate engagement with local and/or regional communities, decision-makers, and adopters.</li>
<li>Promote inter-sectoral co-ordination and collaboration.</li>
</ul>
We will not fund proposals that:
<ul>
<li>Do not support communities and countries to adapt and be resilient to the effects of climate change on agriculture, health and gender in the geography of interest.</li>
<li>Do not demonstrate that the majority of the work proposed will be undertaken by investigators and/or local stakeholders living in the geography of interest.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Do not plan for or demonstrate a pathway to sustainable impact and scalability.</li>
<li>Are not linked to or have no plan to engage relevant key stakeholders and decision makers from the affected communities.</li>
</ul>
<a href="#_ftnref1" title name="_ftn1" id="_ftn1">[1]</a> See <a href="https://data.worldbank.org/country/XO" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">World Bank - Low- &amp; Middle-Income Countries</a> for definitions.

This Grand Challenges request for proposals seeks innovative research and pilot/feasibility projects utilizing transdisciplinary approaches to better adapt to, mitigate, or reverse the combined, deleterious effects of climate change on health, women's lives, and agriculture in the geographies of interest. These innovations include early warning and disease surveillance systems to respond to climate-event-driven surges in malaria and other vector borne diseases, as well as improved mapping of expanded vector ranges and vector-borne disease transmission.

Accelerating Catalyzing Solutions for Climate Changes Impact on Health Agriculture and Gender

Note that this RFP is being launched by multiple partners, across variable geographies, topic areas, and funding levels. Please review the requirements for each RFP to determine your eligibility. The individual RFPs are listed separately <a href="https://gcgh.grandchallenges.org/challenges/JTdCJTIyc29ydCUyMiUzQSUyMmRlc2NlbmRpbmclMjIlMkMlMjJzb3J0RmllbGQlMjIlM0ElMjJkYXRlJTIyJTJDJTIybnVtYmVyUGVyUGFnZSUyMiUzQTEwJTJDJTIycGFnZU51bWJlciUyMiUzQTAlN0Q=/JTdCJTIyeWVhcnMlMjIlM0ElNUIlNUQlMkMlMjJjaGFsbGVuZ2VzJTIyJTNBJTVCJTIyMzI1JTIyJTVEJTJDJTIydGVybXMlMjIlM0ElNUIlNUQlMkMlMjJpbml0aWF0aXZlcyUyMiUzQSU1QiU1RCUyQyUyMmxvY2F0aW9ucyUyMiUzQSU1QiU1RCU3RA==" target="_blank">here</a>. If you are eligible for multiple RFPs, please choose the RFP that most closely aligns with your proposed project.<h2>Background</h2>Climate change threatens hard-earned global health and development progress and puts the health, well-being, and livelihoods of future generations in jeopardy, with a special impact on women. The 2015 Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals signaled a promise from global leaders to act - to limit global average temperature rise to within 1.5°C by 2040 and prevent the worst health and development effects of climate change. While no one is safe from these risks, the people whose health and wellbeing are being harmed first and worst by the climate crisis are also the ones who contribute least to its causes, and who are least able to protect themselves and their families against it - namely people in low-income and disadvantaged countries and communities. In low-income settings, rising heat, extreme weather events, changes in precipitation patterns, climate-related undernutrition, shifts in duration and climate-event-driven surges of malaria and other vector borne diseases such as malaria,&nbsp;foodborne and water-borne diseases, and increased potential for the emergence of novel diseases damage already weak primary health care systems and community structures for health. This compromises accessibility, availability, provision, and uptake of essential health services for the most vulnerable populations. Climate change can also disproportionately affect the health and financial well-being of women and girls: extreme heat increases the incidences of stillbirth, the rampant spread of vector-borne diseases worsens maternal and neonatal outcomes, and gender disparities amplified by climate change can decrease the women's share of economic agricultural gains. Those same changes in climate and weather also negatively impact all aspects of agricultural activities, a major source of income for those in low-income settings.Catalytic research and development (R&amp;D) as well as innovations to scale the impact of existing green technologies are essential to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero and address the unprecedented health, agricultural and environmental challenges posed by climate change, which have an outsized impact on women. It is crucial to understand the emerging problems in health and agriculture, either directly triggered by climate change, or as a result of disruptions (e.g., operational) downstream of crises created by climate change. Consequently, there is an urgent need to invest in creative solutions to help vulnerable populations adapt and build their resilience to the existing and future climate related challenges impacting health and agriculture and build alternative livelihoods. This work will involve making those most affected, especially women, major stakeholders in discussions about how new climate resistant and adaptive innovations will be deployed, as well as giving them a deliberate choice and advantage in the creation of new economic opportunities that result from these investments.In recent years, global leaders, philanthropies, and private investors have begun committing significant resources to climate change mitigation R&amp;D. However, more is needed to unite partners across sectors and accelerate innovations addressing challenges at the intersections of climate, health, gender, and agriculture, particularly for underserved regions and groups.The Grand Challenges family of initiatives seeks to source and seed innovations and accelerate the development of transformational solutions. To this end, Grand Challenges (GC) partners including GC Africa (Science for Africa Foundation), GC Brazil (Ministry of Health of Brazil), GC Ethiopia (Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI)), GC India (Department of Biotechnology of India), and GC Rwanda (National Council for Science and Technology), along with the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation and the Pasteur Network, and supported by Wellcome, Foundation S-the Sanofi Collective, and the Rockefeller Foundation are launching this request for proposals (RFP) to identify and support promising innovations.

Grand Challenges Africa

Grand Challenges Africa: Accelerating Catalyzing Solutions for Climate Change's Impact on Health, and Gender

Note that this RFP is being launched by multiple partners, across variable geographies, topic areas, and funding levels. Please review the requirements for each RFP to determine your eligibility. The individual RFPs are listed separately <a href="https://gcgh.grandchallenges.org/grant-opportunities" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>. If you are eligible for multiple RFPs, please choose the RFP that most closely aligns with your proposed project.
<h2>Background</h2>
Climate change threatens hard-earned global health and development progress and puts the health, well-being, and livelihoods of future generations in jeopardy, with a special impact on women. The 2015 Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals signaled a promise from global leaders to act - to limit global average temperature rise to within 1.5°C by 2040 and prevent the worst health and development effects of climate change. While no one is safe from these risks, the people whose health and wellbeing are being harmed first and worst by the climate crisis are also the ones who contribute least to its causes, and who are least able to protect themselves and their families against it - namely people in low-income and disadvantaged countries and communities. In low-income settings, rising heat, extreme weather events, changes in precipitation patterns, climate-related undernutrition, shifts in duration and climate-event-driven surges of malaria and other vector borne diseases such as malaria,&nbsp;foodborne and water-borne diseases, and increased potential for the emergence of novel diseases damage already weak primary health care systems and community structures for health. This compromises accessibility, availability, provision, and uptake of essential health services for the most vulnerable populations. Climate change can also disproportionately affect the health and financial well-being of women and girls: extreme heat increases the incidences of stillbirth, the rampant spread of vector-borne diseases worsens maternal and neonatal outcomes, and gender disparities amplified by climate change can decrease the women's share of economic agricultural gains. Those same changes in climate and weather also negatively impact all aspects of agricultural activities, a major source of income for those in low-income settings.
Catalytic research and development (R&amp;D) as well as innovations to scale the impact of existing green technologies are essential to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero and address the unprecedented health, agricultural and environmental challenges posed by climate change, which have an outsized impact on women. It is crucial to understand the emerging problems in health and agriculture, either directly triggered by climate change, or as a result of disruptions (e.g., operational) downstream of crises created by climate change. Consequently, there is an urgent need to invest in creative solutions to help vulnerable populations adapt and build their resilience to the existing and future climate related challenges impacting health and agriculture and build alternative livelihoods. This work will involve making those most affected, especially women, major stakeholders in discussions about how new climate resistant and adaptive innovations will be deployed, as well as giving them a deliberate choice and advantage in the creation of new economic opportunities that result from these investments.
In recent years, global leaders, philanthropies, and private investors have begun committing significant resources to climate change mitigation R&amp;D. However, more is needed to unite partners across sectors and accelerate innovations addressing challenges at the intersections of climate, health, gender, and agriculture, particularly for underserved regions and groups.
The Grand Challenges family of initiatives seeks to source and seed innovations and accelerate the development of transformational solutions. To this end, Grand Challenges (GC) partners including GC Africa (Science for Africa Foundation), GC Brazil (Ministry of Health of Brazil), GC Ethiopia (Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI)), GC India (Department of Biotechnology of India), and GC Rwanda (National Council for Science and Technology), along with the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation and the Pasteur Network, and supported by Wellcome, Foundation S-the Sanofi Collective, and the Rockefeller Foundation are launching this request for proposals (RFP) to identify and support promising innovations.

Grand Challenges Africa: Accelerating Catalyzing Solutions for Climate Change's Impact on Health and Gender

Grand Challenges Africa Accelerating Catalyzing Solutions for Climate Changes Impact on Health and Gender

Grand Challenges Ethiopia

Grand Challenges Ethiopia: Accelerating Catalyzing Solutions for Climate Change's Impact on Health

Grand Challenges Ethiopia Accelerating Catalyzing Solutions for Climate Changes Impact on Health

Grand Challenges India

Grand Challenges India: Accelerating Catalyzing Solutions for Climate Change's Impact on Agriculture

Grand Challenges India Accelerating Catalyzing Solutions for Climate Changes Impact on Agriculture

Grand Challenges India: Accelerating Catalyzing Solutions for Climate Change's Impact on Health

Grand Challenges India Accelerating Catalyzing Solutions for Climate Changes Impact on Health

Grand Challenges Rwanda

Grand Challenges Rwanda: Accelerating Catalyzing Solutions for Climate Change's Impact on Health

Grand Challenges Rwanda Accelerating Catalyzing Solutions for Climate Changes Impact on Health

<h2>Background</h2>Artificial Intelligence (AI) has significant potential to transform healthcare around the world. But as AI technology continues to advance, there is an urgent need to position low- and middle-income countries<a href="#_ftn1" title="" id="_ftnref1" name="_ftnref1">[i]</a> (LMICs) to lead on the design and co-creation of AI-enabled technologies – thereby helping to improve the health and well-being of their women, children, and vulnerable communities. Through this call for proposal, we are emphasizing AI solutions that are locally driven and owned hence more relevant to address the needs of people they intend to serve and more likely to be accepted and used by local communities.Responsible global use of AI entails a safe, equitable, transparent, reliable, and beneficial process that is adhered to with a high level of accountability. As the world rapidly moves to seize AI's opportunities, it is imperative to monitor and mitigate the safety, ethical, equity, and reliability dimensions of AI deployment. This will allow the enormous resilience, creativity, and commitment of researchers, scientists, and policymakers to capture the full capability of AI for lasting good.Grand Challenges (GC) partners including GC Brazil, GC Ethiopia, GC India, GC Senegal, GC South Africa, and GC Africa (pan-African), along with the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation, the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, and the Pasteur Network, have jointly discussed the need for an equitable and responsible approach to the use of AI and specifically Large Language Models (LLMs) in LMICs. This call by the various GC partners is a follow-up to the initial call by the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation representing collaborative steps towards identifying, nurturing, and catalyzing the creativity, energy, and skills that researchers, implementers, governments, and technical partners have demonstrated in solving specific challenges in their countries and regions through LLMs. We are optimistic that this family of related AI RFPs will provide a platform for potentially transformative solutions to improve the lives and conditions for numerous vulnerable communities.Note that this request for proposals is being launched by six Grand Challenges partners: African researchers located in Ethiopia, Senegal, and South Africa, should apply through the corresponding country specific Grand Challenges portal; African researchers located in all other African countries should apply through the Grand Challenges Africa portal; Brazilian researchers located in Brazilian organizations should apply through the Grand Challenges Brazil portal; and Indian researchers located in Indian organizations should apply through the Grand Challenges India portal. Eligible Pasteur Network sites located in Africa should apply through Grand Challenges Africa and Pasteur Network sites located in Brazil should apply through Grand Challenges Brazil. All other eligible Pasteur Network sites (not located in Africa or Brazil) should apply through Grand Challenges Senegal. Please consult the information provided in the subsection referencing geography of interest on the linked partner site to ensure that your application fits the requirements of the RFP you are applying to._______________________________________________________<a href="#_ftnref1" title="" id="_ftn1" name="_ftn1">[i]</a> See <a href="https://data.worldbank.org/country/XO" target="_blank">World Bank – Low Income Countries</a> for definitions.

Grand Challenges India: Catalyzing Equitable Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use to Improve Global Health

<h2>Background</h2>
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has significant potential to transform healthcare around the world. But as AI technology continues to advance, there is an urgent need to position low- and middle-income countries<a href="#_ftn1" title name="_ftnref1" id="_ftnref1">[i]</a> (LMICs) to lead on the design and co-creation of AI-enabled technologies – thereby helping to improve the health and well-being of their women, children, and vulnerable communities. Through this call for proposal, we are emphasizing AI solutions that are locally driven and owned hence more relevant to address the needs of people they intend to serve and more likely to be accepted and used by local communities.
Responsible global use of AI entails a safe, equitable, transparent, reliable, and beneficial process that is adhered to with a high level of accountability. As the world rapidly moves to seize AI's opportunities, it is imperative to monitor and mitigate the safety, ethical, equity, and reliability dimensions of AI deployment. This will allow the enormous resilience, creativity, and commitment of researchers, scientists, and policymakers to capture the full capability of AI for lasting good.
Grand Challenges (GC) partners including GC Brazil, GC Ethiopia, GC India, GC Senegal, GC South Africa, and GC Africa (pan-African), along with the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation, the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, and the Pasteur Network, have jointly discussed the need for an equitable and responsible approach to the use of AI and specifically Large Language Models (LLMs) in LMICs. This call by the various GC partners is a follow-up to the initial call by the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation representing collaborative steps towards identifying, nurturing, and catalyzing the creativity, energy, and skills that researchers, implementers, governments, and technical partners have demonstrated in solving specific challenges in their countries and regions through LLMs. We are optimistic that this family of related AI RFPs will provide a platform for potentially transformative solutions to improve the lives and conditions for numerous vulnerable communities.
Note that this request for proposals is being launched by six Grand Challenges partners: African researchers located in Ethiopia, Senegal, and South Africa, should apply through the corresponding country specific Grand Challenges portal; African researchers located in all other African countries should apply through the Grand Challenges Africa portal; Brazilian researchers located in Brazilian organizations should apply through the Grand Challenges Brazil portal; and Indian researchers located in Indian organizations should apply through the Grand Challenges India portal. Eligible Pasteur Network sites located in Africa should apply through Grand Challenges Africa and Pasteur Network sites located in Brazil should apply through Grand Challenges Brazil. All other eligible Pasteur Network sites (not located in Africa or Brazil) should apply through Grand Challenges Senegal. Please consult the information provided in the subsection referencing geography of interest on the linked partner site to ensure that your application fits the requirements of the RFP you are applying to.
_______________________________________________________
<a href="#_ftnref1" title name="_ftn1" id="_ftn1">[i]</a> See <a href="https://data.worldbank.org/country/XO" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">World Bank – Low Income Countries</a> for definitions.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has significant potential to transform healthcare around the world. But as AI technology continues to advance, there is an urgent need to position low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to lead on the design and co-creation of AI-enabled technologies – thereby helping to improve the health and well-being of their women, children, and vulnerable communities. Through this call for proposal, we are emphasizing AI solutions that are locally driven and owned hence more relevant to address the needs of people they intend to serve and more likely to be accepted and used by local communities.