Investing in Climate and Health Innovation
Summary
In 2025, Grand Challenges Canada, Science for Africa Foundation, and partners committed to launch a new Climate and Health Innovation Program to catalyze climate-health breakthrough solutions at scale by sourcing and investing in innovative solutions for a healthier and more resilient future. This new collaborative fund and partnership aims to mobilize at least $50 million to identify, fund, and scale innovative solutions that address the health effects of climate change, particularly in vulnerable settings where the burden is greatest to reach at least 11 million people in low- and middle-income countries by 2032. Using the Grand Challenges Approach, the commitment will run competitive, merit-based selection processes to identify the most innovative and scalable solutions at the nexus of climate and health and provide catalytic funding and tailored mentorship and support toward implementation. This approach is a proven and powerful model for mobilizing the most promising talent from across geographies to unlock high-potential solutions while building a community of practice for innovators, funders, policymakers, and frontline implementers.
Approach
Grand Challenges Canada, Science for Africa Foundation and partners commit to launch a new Climate and Health Innovation Program that applies the Grand Challenges Approach, to source and invest in innovative solutions for a healthier and more resilient future.This approach is designed to catalyse breakthrough solutions at scale. This new collaborative fund and partnership aims to mobilize at least $50 million USD to identify, fund, and scale innovative solutions that address the health effects of climate change, particularly in vulnerable settings where the burden is greatest, reaching at least 11 million people by 2032.
Urgent action is needed to overcome the critical barriers preventing communities from adapting to the health impacts of climate change. A strategic, system-wide approach is required – one that tackles the root causes of vulnerability and builds lasting resilience. A Grand Challenge targets one or more well-defined barriers which, if removed, would unlock significant progress toward solving a major global health issue. The Grand Challenge model is proven and powerful, and it creates impact by engaging bold, innovative thinkers from across disciplines and geographies; Running competitive, merit-based selection processes to identify the most promising solutions; Providing catalytic funding and tailored support to help innovators test, scale, and sustain their ideas; Building a vibrant community of practice, connecting innovators with funders, policymakers, researchers, and implementers.
By mobilising talent, resources, and collaboration, this new program has the potential to deliver transformative impact, not only by surfacing high-potential innovations, but also by accelerating their scale and integration into health systems.
Action Plan
September 2025-December 2025
Building and Design Phase:the consortium will focus on finalizing the scope of the program and designing the Request for Proposals. This will be achieved through a collaborative process by way of monthly working group meetings and regular communication, to ensure partners are able to contribute to the process and design.
January 2026 – March 2026
Program Launch: The first call for proposals will be launched in the first quarter of 2026. The RFP launch will invite innovators from all LMICs to bring forward their climate and health innovations in the program areas of focus.
June 2026 – December 2026
First cohort of climate and health innovations: By late 2026, the first cohort of innovations will be selected through an extensive selection process.
January 2027 – December 2028
Subsequent rounds of funding: The next rounds of funding will be launched in mid-2027 and late-2028. Creating opportunities for new innovations or for the maturing and further support/funding for existing innovations in the program pipeline.
Background
Climate change is not only an environmental crisis but also a profound and escalating health crisis. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and shifting ecosystems are affecting human health in complex ways. It is estimated that 3.6 billion people live in areas that are vulnerable to climate change (WHO, 2023) Despite contributing the least to the climate crisis, low- and middle-income countries are disproportionally impacted and the most vulnerable to its effects (World Bank, 2015) . Incremental solutions are no longer enough. We need bold, system-level innovation to build long-term resilience in health systems on the frontlines of climate change.
Progress Update
Partnership Opportunities
The consortium will mobilize at least USD 50 million to address the most pressing climate-sensitive health challenges in low- and middle-income countries through a five-year program with at least three rounds of funding. The initiative offers flexible funding models and will tailor partnerships to align with funders’ priorities, while ensuring a coordinated and high-impact approach to addressing climate and health challenges.
Funders who join the Climate and Health Innovation Consortium will have an opportunity to shape the initiative’s direction and design; access a vetted pipeline of high-potential innovations; align investments with a coordinated global platform; drive impact where it’s needed most.
Through the existing Grand Challenges model, GCC can adapt to specific geographic or thematic focuses, preferred funding mechanisms, and desired levels of involvement.
The consortium is actively engaging with funders to broaden the initiative’s reach and ensure long-term sustainability. Depending on the level of engagement of funding partners, there is an opportunity to participate in advisory groups, help define funding priorities, and co-host high-level events and announcements.,As part of this commitment, Grand Challenges Canada and its partners offer the following resources:
A Proven platform: Based on the Grand Challenges model— trusted globally to source bold ideas.
Catalytic capital: Supporting innovators from seed to scale using grants, equity, or blended tools.
Ecosystem building: Linking innovators through a community of practice, joining funders through this partnership, and connecting to policymakers to drive systems change.