Impact Funding Resources
RFP for Proof of Concept (POC) funding supports early-stage innovations to test and refine bold ideas. Our goal is to strengthen the pipeline of tested ECDiE and EiE innovations that focus on children from birth to 12 years of age in at least one of four countries (Kenya, Uganda, Lebanon, and Jordan).
End Date24 Apr 2025 Funding AmountUpto CAD 250k Funding Resource TypeGrant
Funding ProviderGrand Challenges Canada
Grant
Grand Challenges Canada
Please read FAQ carefully
https://www.grandchallenges.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/EN-Play-Learn-Thrive-RFP_FAQ.pdf
To be eligible for funding, applying organizations must (among other criteria):
• Be not-for-profit organizations that are legally incorporated¹
• Have an active presence in at least one of the four priority countries (Jordan, Lebanon, Kenya, Uganda)
• Be legally registered to do business in at least one of the four priority countries
• Implement programming directly in at least one of the four priority countries.
The following general areas of focus must be reflected in all project proposals in order to be considered for funding:
• Innovations should either focus on: Strengthening children’s (from birth to 12 years of age) education and/or development, with a focus on those who are left behind and whose developmental and educational needs are not being met;
• OR Strengthening the capacity and/or wellbeing of the support networks around children, including though not limited to their educators, caregivers, community care providers, religious leaders etc.
• OR Supporting children AND their support networks. While we would encourage and consider proposals that only focus on one of the first two options, preference will be given to proposals that demonstrate a dual focus on children and key figures in their support networks.
• Innovations should integrate play-based solutions in their programmatic concept (see section 2.2 and Appendix A in the RFP for illustrative examples of play-based solutions).
• Preference will be given to proposals that align with the sub-themes listed in Appendix B of the RFP.
• Please note that we would still encourage and consider proposals that do not explicitly focus on these sub-themes, so long as they align with the general areas of focus described in this section.
• Innovations should be culturally sensitive and community driven, accounting for the complex social, cultural and environmental drivers contributing to children’s early learning and development in at least one of the four priority countries.
• We encourage innovations that are whole child focused (see Section 2.2), understanding that children’s access to safe and supportive learning environments, both in and out of school, affects their overall development and growth outcomes.
