Organization: Grand Challenges Canada
Application deadline: March 31st, 2026
ABOUT
The Being Initiative, in partnership with Grand Challenges Canada, is inviting organizations to apply for funding to support innovative solutions that improve youth mental health and well-being. The initiative targets young people aged 10–24 in 12 priority countries—Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Vietnam.
The funding supports bold, locally driven interventions that focus on preventing mental health challenges and promoting well-being, particularly among underserved youth in urban and peri-urban areas where mental health services are often limited.
Funding Opportunities:
- Proof-of-Concept (POC) Funding:
- Up to $250,000 CAD
- This funding is intended for early-stage projects that aim to implement, test, and refine innovative solutions to address personal, social, or environmental factors affecting mental health and well-being. Projects must be able to demonstrate the potential for high-impact solutions for youth mental health in one of the 12 priority countries.
- Transition-to-Scale (TTS) Funding:
- Between $300,000 CAD and $1,500,000 CAD
- This funding will support tested approaches to mental health promotion and prevention that have demonstrated positive results. These approaches should have the potential to achieve high impact and be scalable. This funding is designed to help accelerate the growth of successful programs, enabling them to reach more youth across the country and potentially other regions.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Geographical Focus: Only organizations implementing projects in one or more of the 12 priority countries (Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Vietnam) are eligible.
- Organizational Structure: Applications are open to legally incorporated organizations (or the equivalent) based in any country, but preference will be given to:
- Youth-led organizations (where 50% or more of staff in leadership roles are aged 35 and under) based in one of the 12 priority countries.
- Organizations based in the priority countries.
- International organizations from low- and middle-income countries that partner with a local organization based in one of the 12 countries.
- Other eligible organizations based outside the priority countries.
- Target Population: Projects should focus on youth aged 10-24, with an emphasis on those in underserved, urban, or peri-urban settings.
- Focus Areas: Applications should address prevention and promotion of mental health and well-being, particularly early drivers of mental health issues.
Being Initiative Request for Proposals: Information Session and Additional Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): For more guidance on the application process, please review the FAQs document, last updated on April 7, 2025.
- Innovation Lookbook: Learn more about the types of innovations that are currently being funded through the initiative by checking out the Innovation Lookbook. This resource will help you understand the kinds of approaches that have received funding and how your proposal can complement these existing projects.
Being Initiative Request for Proposals: How to Apply
- Stage One – Screening Questionnaire: Applicants must complete an online screening questionnaire and submit a project summary outlining the key aspects of their proposed project.
- Stage Two – Full Project Application: Only organizations that pass the screening phase will be invited to submit a full project application.
How to Apply:
Fill the application form in the link below:
Grand Challenges Canada Fluxx Portal | Sign in
For more information:
Visit Grand Challenges Canada official website on the link below:
RFP: Being – Grand Challenges Canada
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