Blog

Key Learnings from the 2024 Digital Mental Health International Congress

By Sahil Chopra and Pulkit Aggrwal The Digital Mental Health International Congress (eMHIC) took place in Ottawa, Canada, on September 19th and 20th.  The theme of this year’s Congress, “Digital Building Capacity: 24/7 Mental Health Support for All,” brought together experts and leaders to discuss how digital mental health can provide support and services for […]


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Transform Health Fund

Transform Health Fund Surpasses $100 Million Target Final Close to Improve Access to Quality Healthcare in Africa

AfricInvest and The Health Finance Coalition (HFC) today announced the final close of the pan-African Transform Health Fund (THF), an innovative blended-finance fund that aims to bolster healthcare systems in Africa by scaling proven and innovative healthcare models across the continent.


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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 […]


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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.   […]


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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 […]


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“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. […]


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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 […]


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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 […]


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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 […]


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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, […]


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