Grand Challenges Canada is a global leader at the intersection of climate and health, committed to addressing one of the most pressing challenges of our time. Supported by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and Arm, we are advancing bold, innovative solutions to adapt to the health impacts of climate change, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
We lead the Climate and Health Survey, a groundbreaking new initiative designed to map urgent priorities for climate and health funding, research, and policymaking. The survey — developed in partnership with the Science for Africa Foundation, The Geneva Learning Foundation and the Global Grand Challenges Network — serves as a vital tool to identify critical gaps and emerging opportunities. To ensure its impact, we’ve convened an expert panel of global leaders in climate and health who will help us distill the results into actionable insights. The findings will be shared as a public good document, freely accessible to all stakeholders, underscoring our commitment to fostering collaboration and driving evidence-based solutions.
Through initiatives like our recent global call for proposals with the South African Medical Research Council, we’ve demonstrated our leadership in catalyzing innovation. Our funding call effort attracted 772 proposals from 80 countries, with 75% based in sub-Saharan Africa. From this, we have funded 42 groundbreaking seed projects, totalling CAN $6 million, to address issues such as malnutrition, disease burden, mental health, and healthcare infrastructure in the face of climate change. These solutions reflect our belief in the power of locally-led, context-specific innovation to drive resilience and health outcomes. (Learn more about some of the key themes, trends and lessons from this call in our report).
Working closely with partners, we are advancing a shared vision of a healthier, more equitable future in the face of climate change. By investing in innovation, building knowledge, and fostering global partnerships, we are paving the way for transformative change.
We invite organizations, researchers, and policymakers to collaborate with us or learn more about our work. Please reach out to us at ac.se1737847932gnell1737847932ahcdn1737847932arg@e1737847932tamil1737847932c1737847932 to explore opportunities to partner, engage, or contribute to this critical global effort. Together, we can lead the charge toward climate-resilient health systems worldwide.
