Gates Foundation Grand Challenges 2026: Up to US$500,000 for AI-Enabled Family Planning Solutions in Sub-Saharan Africa
The Gates Foundation invites applications for funding to deploy, test, and evaluate AI-enabled consumer engagement tools designed to advance family planning in sub-Saharan Africa. Selected projects can receive up to US$500,000 for a duration of up to 12 months.
Overview
The Gates Foundation Grand Challenges initiative supports organisations that deploy, test, and evaluate artificial intelligence-enabled, direct-to-consumer engagement tools. The goal is to improve contraceptive uptake, method continuation, and informed choice among women and girls of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa. Selected projects may receive up to US$500,000 for a maximum implementation period of 12 months.
Key focus areas include generating evidence on the impact and scale of AI tools, identifying features of effective engagement, building a shared evidence base for the wider field, and assessing cost, feasibility, and added value.
Eligibility
The funding opportunity is open globally to various entity types, provided proposed activities take place in sub-Saharan Africa. Eligible organisations include:
- Nonprofit organisations
- For-profit companies
- International organisations
- Government agencies
- Academic institutions
- Multi-stakeholder collaborations
Applicants must already have an operational consumer-engagement approach, an established user base or distribution relationship, and intervention cohorts in target geographies such as Nigeria, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Senegal, Niger, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, or Côte d’Ivoire. Individuals and organisations classified as individuals for United States tax purposes are ineligible.
Benefits
Selected projects will receive:
- Funding of up to US$500,000 per project.
- An implementation period of up to 12 months.
- The opportunity to generate field-wide learning and evidence on AI-driven reproductive health solutions.
How to Apply
Applicants must carefully review the request for proposals, rules, guidelines, and FAQs before applying. The application process requires:
- Completing an applicant profile and organisational information online.
- Uploading a compliant two-page proposal in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format.
- Submitting a separate budget table and a one-page narrative.
- Submitting all materials through the official application portal before the deadline.
Deadline
The application deadline is 25 August 2026 at 11:30 a.m. United States Pacific Time.