Bold Ideas with Big Impact®
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Local Responders: Vital in Humanitarian Crises
By Gabriella Brent, Sanjana Janardhanan, Lindsay Tuthill, and James Radner Humanitarian crises pose unprecedented threats to the safety, well-being, and future of children and families. In 2023, over 300 million people lived in crisis settings, the highest number since World War II. Amidst the devastation in Gaza, the turmoil across the Middle East, and persistent […]
Climate x Health: Meet the innovators addressing the health impacts of climate change
Climate change threatens to roll back many of the gains that we’ve made in global health. In 2022, with support from the Government of Canada and in partnership with the South African Medical Research Council, we put out a call for funding, seeking bold ideas to address the impact of climate change on health. […]
Harnessing Youth Digital Innovation to Safeguard Youth Mental Health
Toronto, August 12, 2024 – This International Youth Day, we celebrate the incredible potential of young people to shape a sustainable future. Today’s youth are not just tech-savvy innovators; they are also key players in tackling one of their generation’s most pressing issues—mental health. Mental health is essential for young people to thrive, innovate, and […]
“Baatcheet”: Bridging Gaps in Youth Mental Health Through Digital Stories
Stories can make us feel seen, heard, and understood—like we’re not alone. When we share our lived experiences, we can create connections that inspire and transform. Through these shared narratives, we can find common ground, reduce stigma, and spark hope. India is home to one of the world’s largest populations of young people aged 16-24. […]
Grand Challenges Canada’s Innovator Council – FY24-25
By: Chloe Panganiban We are proud to announce the launch of the Innovator Council. Drawing on the expertise of 11 leaders from Grand Challenges Canada’s global health, humanitarian and Indigenous innovation portfolios, the Innovator Council will strategize, share insights and provide feedback on GCC’s work, including our strategic plans, the innovator experience, grants management processes […]
Grand Challenges: Catalyzing equitable AI use for improved global health grants awarded
The Grand Challenges (GC) Network¹, a family of global partners fostering innovation to solve key global health and development problems, today announced a group of more than fifty grant recipients leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle the world’s most pressing health challenges. Emerging technologies, such as AI, machine learning, and quantum computing, are transforming the […]
Empowering Indigenous Storytelling: The Haida Gwaii Media Collective
Raised as a member of the Haida Nation on Haida Gwaii, a small group of islands off the coast of British Columbia, Patrick Shannon developed a passion for storytelling. According to oral history, Haida Gwaii has been inhabited for over 15,000 years, with a history shaped by geography and shared traditions. Patrick dreamed of seeing […]
World Youth Skills Day Spotlight: How South African and Kenyan Innovators Support Youth Mental Health Through Skills Building
Resilience and coping strategies are crucial for navigating mental health challenges. Adolescence and young adulthood bring various stressors that impact wellbeing, such as social media pressures, academic stress, economic challenges, and global crises. Equipping youth with skills to understand and maintain their mental health, and support their peers, is essential. This World Youth Skills Day, […]
Safari Doctors: Bridging Healthcare Gaps in Remote Kenyan Villages
Reflections from Suhas Monga , Portfolio Manager, Global Health Innovation at Grand Challenges Canada During a recent visit to the Lamu Archipelago, Suhas Monga, Global Health Innovation Portfolio Manager at Grand Challenges Canada, witnessed firsthand the transformative work of Safari Doctors, an organization dedicated to providing essential healthcare services to some of Kenya’s most remote […]
Revitalizing Global Health: WHO and IDIA Extend Partnership to Scale Innovations
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Development Innovation Alliance (IDIA) have extended their Collaborative Agreement until the end of 2025 to accelerate the scaling of health innovations. This partnership combines WHO’s ability to identify public health needs with IDIA’s network of innovation funders, aiming to promote and implement impactful innovations in low- and […]