Request for Application (RFA) for Saving Lives at Birth: A Grand Challenge for Development (Round III) by USAID


 
USAID, the Government of Norway, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada, and DFID invite applications to respond to Saving Lives at Birth: A Grand Challenge for Development (Round III). This request for applications describes this Challenge targeting maternal and neonatal health and the types of activities covered; funding available and the process and requirements for submitting applications; criteria for evaluating applications; and refers prospective applicants to relevant documentation on the internet. Saving Lives at Birth: A Grand Challenge for Development anticipates awarding up to 30 grants as a result of this RFA. To this end, the Saving Lives at Birth Challenge is seeking applications from eligible institutions as described in Section III of the RFA.

How to Apply?

Apply online via http://www.savinglivesatbirth.net/apply. For proposal writing, please contact us at fundings@sevainfo.org.

QUESTIONS: Prospective applicants who have questions concerning the contents of this RFA shall submit them in writing no later than 2 pm. EST on Thursday, January 31, 2013 via email at GrandChallenge2013@usaid.gov.

Program Summary

United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Government of Norway, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada, and UK’s Department of International Development (DFID) have joined together to launch the third round of Saving Lives at Birth: A Grand Challenge for Development.
Together, we call for groundbreaking prevention and treatment approaches for pregnant women and newborns in poor, hard-to-reach communities around the time of childbirth. The estimated 2.6 million stillbirths, 3.1 million neonatal deaths and 360,000 maternal deaths that occur globally each year signal a major gap for intervention specifically around childbirth and the early postnatal period – a time when mothers and babies are most vulnerable and global progress in reducing mortality has been particularly poor. This gap in interventions is particularly acute in poor, underserved communities and among women who are disadvantaged.
Innovative ideas that can leapfrog conventional approaches are critical in this area. If we are to accelerate substantial and sustainable progress in reducing maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths at the community level, we need innovative prevention and treatment approaches across three main domains:
(1) Science & technology;
(2) Service delivery; and
(3) Demand-side innovation that empowers pregnant women and their families to practice healthy behaviors and be aware of and access health care during pregnancy, childbirth and the early postnatal period, especially the first two days after birth.

Audacious but achievable ideas with the potential to lead to transformational change will be swiftly funded through at least one of two funding streams:
(1) Seed Funds to demonstrate proof of concept, and
(2) Transition Funds to transition successful innovations toward scale up.

The challenge

We seek to address roadblocks to healthy pregnancies and births in three major domains:
1. Science & Technology: lack of affordable and effective medical solutions appropriate for the community or clinic setting;
2. Service Delivery: lack of quality health services, including inadequate numbers of trained, motivated, equipped and properly located and supervised health staff and caregivers; operating without adherence to up-to-date guidelines or evidence-based practices and limited by operational bottlenecks;
3. Demand: lack of opportunity, ability, motivation, and empowerment to access health care or adopt healthy behaviors before, during, and after pregnancy.

Funding value:

Idea awards, seed grants (valued up to $250,000 USD each), and transition grants (valued up to $2 million USD each) will be awarded in this third round of funding. Successful seed grants will be eligible to compete for follow-on transition grants in future rounds of funding.

Length of Award: Transition grants will be funded for up to four years.

Number of Awards: An anticipated five (5) applications will be funded in the third round of funding, although actual numbers may vary.

Important Dates:

Issuance Date: Thursday, January 17, 2013
Closing Date: Thursday, February 21, 2013
Closing Time: 2:00 p.m. EST
Questions Due Date: 2:00 p.m. EST, Thursday January 31, 2013