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Grand Challenges — Ultralow-Cost Diagnostics and Screening for Low-Income Countries

Grand Challenges — Breakthrough Innovations to Reduce the Cost of Severe Acute Malnutrition Treatment

Funds global teams developing system-level innovations that reduce the total cost of treating severe acute malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

ClosedGates FoundationGlobal

This grant is administered by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation under its Grand Challenges program. It funds innovations targeting the system-level cost of treating Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. SAM affects approximately 14 million children under age 5, with treatment success rates of only 50–60% under current protocols at a cost that systems cannot sustai

System-level innovations achieving a 20–30%+ reduction in total cost per child treated for SAM independent of RUTF unit price — through logistics optimization, protocol redesign, delivery model innovation, simplified diagnostics, digital decision-support, AI-enabled protocol optimization, or optimization of complicated SAM care pathways. Point-of-care diagnostics, mHealth tools, community health worker enablement, and supply chain technology are within scope.

CycleiHow often this grant runs — e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.No fixed schedule
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.17 weeks
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.18–36 months
Award typeiThe form of funding — grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Grant
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.0%
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.

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Last verified: 22 Jul 2026Source: gcgh.grandchallenges.org