Saving Lives at Birth Round 5 Broad Agency

… USAID, Government of Norway, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada, and the U.K. Department for International Development partner for common good

By Alltimepost.com

United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Government of Norway, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada, and the U.K.’s Department for International Development (DFID) have invited global problem solvers to answer their fifth call for groundbreaking prevention and treatment approaches for pregnant women and newborns in poor, hard-to-reach communities around the time of childbirth.

Specifically, the challenge seeks to identify and develop transformative approaches that integrate new technologies, better service delivery models, and improved “demand side” innovations that empower pregnant women and their families to practice healthy behaviors.

It also helps them to be aware of and access health care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the early postnatal period, especially the first two days after birth.

This year, in addition to the seed and transition awards used in previous rounds, the partners introduced a third funding stream.

“Validation” funds will be used to introduce and validate the effectiveness of innovations to reach proof-of-concept.

According to the partners, Round 5 will also place an increased focus on advancing the most successful and transformational innovations as they transition to scale, adding that actual number of awards in each category varies.

“We are particularly interested in investing in and supporting approaches that integrate the latest behavior change approaches with scientific and/or technological advances and service delivery platforms into radical solutions for widespread impact on maternal and newborn health.”

“Help us spark transformational change and accelerate substantial and sustainable progress against maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths at the community level. Together, we can transform insurmountable development challenges into solvable problems.”