Grand Challenges Africa — Accelerating Innovation in Vaginal Formulations for Women's Health
Funds African-context researchers and companies developing novel vaginal drug delivery technologies and formulations that safely deliver therapeutics while supporting vaginal health.
Eligibility · Open to African applicants only (South Africa via GC-SA portal; other African countries via GC-Africa portal)
⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.
This grant is administered by Grand Challenges Africa — a program of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the African Union Development Agency. It is part of a multi-partner launch of the vaginal formulations challenge, with this edition specifically covering African applicants. Applicants from South Africa apply via the Grand Challenges South Africa portal; applicants from all other African countries apply via Grand Challenges Africa.
Awards are expected in the range of $100,000 to $200,000 USD per project, with a grant duration of up to 24 months. This is the Africa-specific edition of a broader multi-geography vaginal formulations challenge run simultaneously with a global edition (hosted on the main gcgh.grandchallenges.org portal). Applicants should check both RFPs to determine which applies to their location.
Research institutes, nonprofit organizations, for-profit companies, international organizations, government agencies, and academic institutions are eligible. Only individuals applying through a legally recognized corporate entity are eligible — individuals applying as individuals are not eligible. No revenue, team-size, or minimum-age restrictions are stated.
The 2025 cycle closed December 16, 2025 at 17:00 East African Time (EAT). No next cycle date is published; the program is recorded as closed. Applications are submitted through the Grand Challenges Africa portal for non-South Africa African applicants, or the Grand Challenges South Africa portal for South Africa-based applicants.
Practical notes: Because this is an Africa-focused edition, proposals should address the needs of African populations, regulatory context, and healthcare settings. The multi-partner structure means eligibility requirements and funding levels vary by geography — verify which portal applies before applying.
Novel vaginal drug delivery platforms and formulations for the African context. Approaches include: drug delivery technologies for antiretrovirals, contraceptives, or anti-infective agents; formulation science for vaginal microenvironment compatibility; ring, film, gel, or other dosage forms; microbiome-aware formulations; platforms enabling combination products. Focus on safety, efficacy, and acceptability in Sub-Saharan African populations. Applications from South Africa go via the Grand Challenges South Africa portal; all other African countries via Grand Challenges Africa portal.
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