Chance for Childhood’s Challenge Fund funding innovation at the last mileChance for Childhood is inviting organisations, children and youths’ advocates, social entrepreneurs and unsung changemakers to submit innovative ideas that contribute to ensuring no child is forgotten, and denied opportunities to fulfil their full potential.

About the Competition

Through strategic investment into innovative ideas and approaches showing potential in our key thematic priorities, the aim of the Challenge Fund is to support early stage ventures and visionary social entrepreneurs, in turn generating new evidence on successful strategies to deliver impact in children and young people’s lives.

The 2018 priority themes of our inaugural call for ideas are dictated by Chance for Childhood’s Strategy, in areas that critically lack funding, and evidence.

We are seeking innovations that may contribute to advancing progress and finding solutions towards two specific challenges:

Inclusion Challenge

How might we effectively reduce stigma amongst teachers/parents/children and community members towards children with disabilities?  

Whilst progress is slowly being made towards tackling the physical barriers to disability inclusion, ranging from affordable assistive devices to greater consideration for inclusive buildings, schools and cities, Chance for Childhood believes that it is often the invisible barriers and negative attitudes that continue to hold back children with disabilities.

For example, negative cultural beliefs and lack of understanding around disability make them, especially girls with disabilities, three times more likely to be victims of sexual violence. There is also growing evidence that it is not the distance to schools, but shame or fear of bullying and mistreatment, that is deterring parents from supporting the education of a child with a disability.

To address this, Chance for Childhood is seeking to invest in ideas aiming to tackle gaps in;

  • The identification and information about disability for teachers, peers, parents and children with disabilities themselves
  • The participation of children and young people with disabilities in all aspects of life, especially those living with communication disabilities
  • The accessibility of quality basic services (in education, justice, protection) for all children with disabilities

Read the full background brief to this Challenge to learn more about these investment opportunities.

Gender and Justice Challenge

How might we effectively prevent, protect and improve the rehabilitation prospects of girls entering in conflict with the law?

Chance for Childhood’s experience support prevention and juveniles justice programmes in East Africa has highlighted the complex trajectories of girl offenders, often pushed into breaking the law in response to injustice or having been victim of violence, neglect or discrimination in the first place, and the frequent criminalization of their welfare needs.

It is estimated that girls and women make between 7 and 10% of total detainees population, a minority whose specific needs (in education, medical care or hygiene) are routinely overlooked. The negative consequences of imprisonment have a long-term, negative impact on young women and girls, and their families: they range from heightened poverty, poor mental health, and a disruption to education, healthcare or housing needs for children and other dependents.

To address this, Chance for Childhood is seeking to invest in ideas aiming to tackle gaps in;

  • The early identification of girls at risk of offending, and to prevent their involvement in crime
  • Access to justice and other offender support services for girls in conflict with the law
  • Rehabilitation initiatives that improve future prospects of girls in conflict with the law, and reduce re-offending

We are particularly interested in solutions supporting girls at the intersection of multiple vulnerabilities, such as girls with disabilities or young mothers.

Read the full background brief to this Challenge to learn more about these investment opportunities.


Who can apply, and for what?

 Through this inaugural round of the Innovation Fund, we will fund:

  • Ideas that are new or in early stages of development (i.e. we will not be funding the ongoing costs of an existing project)
  • Solutions designed to be implemented in Rwanda or in Uganda (or both)
  • Ideas put forward by an organisation, entrepreneur or group that is registered in some way in at least one of the two target countries
  • Entrepreneurs or organisations whose current income/turnover is between 10,000GBP to 250,000GBP.

Financial awards are expected to range between GBP4,000 – 10,000.

Whilst we recognise that early stage ideas might not have yet made it to market and/or developed a viable business plan, the Fund will encourage submissions from applicants seeking both grants or repayable finance. This will in turn further contribute insights into the most appropriate models and resources needed to support proofs of concept and bringing ideas to life. 

Submit your proposal by 11:59 pm (UK time), 17 October 2018. You will be asked to provide some information that will help assess the quality of the idea against our selection criteria: relevance to the call, innovation, potential impact and scalability, measurement, sustainability plans.

Any questions? Contact us at challengefund@challengefund.org

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