Grand Challenges for Development

Speeches Shim

Grand Challenges for Development mobilize governments, companies, and foundations around important issues. Through these programs, USAID and public and private partners bring in new voices to solve development problems. They source new solutions, test new ideas, and scale what works.

All Grand Challenges offer challenge grants, but many use additional tools depending on the problem they intend to solve. These can include prizes, hack-a-thons, capacity-building services, and more.

Together, the Grand Challenges partners have committed more than $508 million in grants and technical assistance to fund more than 450 innovations in 60 countries. Partners also help innovators attract customers, partners, and investors and get the support they need to grow.

Since 2011, USAID and its partners have launched ten Grand Challenges (listed chronologically):

To learn more about Grand Challenges for Development, please contact challenges@usaid.gov.