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Grand Challenges Canada is currently seeking proposals from researchers, both in low- and middle-income countries and in Canada, to use scientific/technical, social and business innovation to address challenges in sexual and reproductive health and rights, to save and improve lives in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)

The current round of this competition will provide $100,000 in seed grants for approximately 80 successful proposals, with the possibility of additional scale–up grants. Projects are expected to be of 12 months’ duration. It is expected that about two-thirds of awards will be made to projects whose leads are based in LMICs, with about one-third of awards made to projects whose leads are based in Canada. Note that Canadian lead applicants must include LMIC collaborators among their teams.

Proposed innovations must have the potential to make a substantial, equitable impact on sexual and reproductive health and rights. The innovations are expected to improve gender equality through enabling comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls, through one or more of the following pathways:

• Improving the provision and use of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, including: contraception, comprehensive sexuality education, safe abortion where legal, and menstrual hygiene management.
• Preventing and responding to sexual and gender-based violence, including: female genital mutilation and cutting, sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and trafficking and exploitation.
• Preventing and responding to child, early, and forced marriage.

For more information about this competition, including details on applications and eligibility criteria, visit the competition website.

Any Dalhousie researcher intending to apply is asked to contact the International Research Manager (jennifer.morawiecki@dal.ca), for more information and support in preparing an application.

Deadline: 25 September 2018