10 Years
of Impact

National Post op-eds by co-founder Peter A. Singer

Peter Singer, co-founding Grand Challenges Canada CEO, writes two National Post op-eds making the argument for a Canadian Grand Challenges organization, modeled on the Grand Challenges in Global Health research initiative of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and funded from Canada’s international development budget.

Think Small by Peter A. Singer

Dear Bono,… by Peter A. Singer

Material republished with the express permission of: National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.

Government announces Innovation Fund

Inspired by the two op-ed articles, the Canadian government announces the Development Innovation Fund in the 2008 Federal Budget, leading to the launch of GCC in 2010.

Launch of Grand Challenges Canada

GCC is founded (with $225 million through the Development Innovation Fund) and supported by the Rotman Family Foundation.

Launch of first program: Saving Lives at Birth (SL@B)

Saving Lives at Birth is launched with partners such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the U.K. Department for International Development and the Korea International Cooperation Agency.

Global Mental Health Program Launch

The Global Mental Health program is launched by GCC, dedicating $20 million in funding from the Government of Canada to improve and expand access to mental health care in low- and middle-income countries

Launch of Saving Brains

Saving Brains is launched as a partnership between GCC and the Aga Khan Foundation Canada, the Bernard van Leer Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The ELMA Foundation, Grand Challenges Ethiopia, the Maria Cecilia Souto Vidigal Foundation, the Palix Foundation, the UBS Optimus Foundation and World Vision Canada.

Over $100M in project funding committed

By May, GCC has awarded 283 peer reviewed grants and by the end of the year has committed more than $100 million in project funding.

Anchor investment in the Global Health Investment Fund

GCC makes an anchor investment in the Global Health Investment Fund that catalyzes $108 million USD to help advance promising interventions to fight challenges like malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and maternal and infant mortality in low-income countries.

700 innovations supported in over 80 countries

GCC supports to date more than 700 innovations in over 80 countries.

Government of Canada announces $161M for Grand Challenges Canada toward maternal, newborn and child health

The Government of Canada renews its commitment to GCC with $161 million in new funding for maternal, newborn and child health.

Launch of Every Women, Every Child Marketplace

The Every Woman Every Child Innovation Marketplace launches as a strategic alliance of development innovation organizations, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation and the United States Agency for International Development.

10,000+ lives saved

GCC-funded innovations save to date the lives of over 10,000 people.

Focus on sexual and reproductive health

Inspired by the Feminist International Assistance Policy, GCC shifts its focus towards sexual and reproductive health and rights projects.

1 million+ lives improved

GCC-funded innovations improve to date the lives of over 1 million people.

Funding for urban sanitation innovations

GCC receives $3.7 million in funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia) in support of urban sanitation.

Launch of Humanitarian Grand Challenge

The U.S. Agency for International Development, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the Government of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with support from GCC, partners to launch Creating Hope in Conflict: A Humanitarian Grand Challenge.

Launch of Indigenous Innovation Initiative

Hosted by GCC, the Indigenous Innovation Initiative is established with funding from the Government of Canada and partners Johnson & Johnson, the McConnell Foundation and the RBC Foundation. In 2019, the Government of Canada pledges $10 million to seed transformative approaches to empower Indigenous gender equality through social entrepreneurship.

Launch of OPTions Initiative

The Options for Pregnancy Termination Innovation Initiative is launched by GCC. The Initiative seeks innovative and transformative approaches that enable women’s and girls’ access to safe abortion.

Launch of youth-focused Global Mental Health

To scale up high impact mental health innovations, GCC, with funding from the Department of Health and Social Care UK aid through the National Institute for Health Research, is relaunched to seed innovations that help young people’s mental health.

Funding for Indigenous innovators

The Indigenous Innovation Initiative Request for Proposals is launched seeking bold ideas to advance equality for Indigenous peoples across Canada. Approaches grounded in Indigenous community, culture and ways of knowing, including those led by women and gender diverse innovators, are encouraged to apply.

5 million+ lives improved

GCC-funded innovations improve to date the lives of over 5 million people.

Support for innovators to mobilize against COVID-19

GCC provides additional supplemental funding to 20 innovations mobilizing to assist developing countries through the global pandemic. This includes novel, affordable ways to acquire medical oxygen, ventilators, masks, and other critically needed COVID-19 supplies and services.