Funded Innovations
FIT aims to support testing of a range of innovative solutions to development challenges, and provide organizations with the opportunity to learn and grow as innovators. The selected solutions seek to advance gender equality and empower women and girls, by addressing challenges related to health, education, safety and technology. Learn more about the funded solutions here, and look for stories and lessons learned from the testing process on individual Innovators.
Project : A Platform Against Violence on Women Journalists in Sudan
Innovator : Alternatives
Region : Africa
Alternatives developed and tested a new digital database as a way to improve the safety of women journalists and protect women’s rights in Sudan. By collecting secure data on violence…
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Project : Remote Ultrasound Capacity Building for Antenatal Access
Innovator : Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief
Region : Africa
In partnership with the University of Saskatchewan, Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief (CPAR) designed and tested a capacity building program that aimed to increase access to obstetrical…
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Project : Kieni Fighters Resource Centre for Women and Girls
Innovator : KIDS Initiative
Region : Africa
KIDS Initiative tested a new holistic prevention program, the Kieni Fighter Resource Centre for Women and Girls, that addresses behavioural, biomedical, and structural risks of HIV/AIDS…
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Project : Midwifery Active Digitization Empowerment Initiative for Nigeria
Innovator : Canadian Network for International Surgery
Region : Africa
The MADE Initiative, a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial, was conducted at two Midwifery Schools in Benue State Nigeria in September and October of 2021. The purpose of a…
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Project : Inclusive E-Learning for Ugandan Youth
Innovator : Embrace International Foundation
Region : Africa
Embrace International Foundation is testing a new approach to self-directed e-learning through the use of Mobile Learning Labs, which consist of a portable plug-and-play server RACHEL (Remote…
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Project : Increasing Poultry Production in Zambia
Innovator : OVO Solar Technologies Inc.
Region : Africa
OVO tested the distribution of solar chicken egg incubators with related training as a means to help farmers in Zambia raise more chickens, diversify their incomes and improve their overall…
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Project : Preventing Cervial Cancer in India through Self-sampling (PCCIS)
Innovator : Ryerson University
Region : Asia
Ryerson tested the introduction of a self-sampling method, supported by a sexual health literacy intervention, to increase screening for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and cervical cancer among…
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Project : Girls Groundswell
Innovator : Canada SOS: Students Offering Support
Region : Latin America
Canada SOS tested an innovative approach to improving educational performance and retention among rural Mayan youth, especially girls, in Guatemala, using student-driven “learning…
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Project : Technology and Training for Quality and Equality
Innovator : Change for Children Association
Region : Latin America
Change for Children tested a new training program and digital resource database for teachers in remote Indigenous communities of Nicaragua. The offline, technology-enabled, linguistically and…
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Project : Women’s Empowerment via Menstrual Hygiene and Livelihood Integration
Innovator : Women's Global Health Innovations
Region : Africa
Women’s Global Health Innovations, in partnership with Village Health Teams (VHTs) tested an innovative menstrual health solution where VHTs from 5 Villages were trained to promote and…
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Project : It Takes a Village to Heal
Innovator : Make Music Matter
Region : Africa
Make Music Matter, in partnership with the Panzi Hospital and Foundation tested the expansion of their innovative ‘Healing in Harmony’ music therapy program, which historically…
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Project : Eradicating Child Marriage in Sierra Leone
Innovator : CAUSE Canada
Region : Africa
CAUSE Canada tested an innovative approach to eradicate child marriage by educating men seeking child brides about the negative consequences of child marriage for them, their families and…
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Project : Writing a Path out of Poverty: Testing a Cash Calculator with Extremely Poor Women in Northern Kenya
Innovator : My Oral Village
Region : Africa
My Oral Village conducted a field-test in Kenya of ‘4-Share,’ a cash calculator for Android smartphones and tablets. 4-Share translates cash into place value notation, and provides…
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Project : Farmer-led Tools, Dashboard Development, and the Future of Farming
Innovator : Coady International Institute
Region : Africa, Asia
Coady International Institute at St. Francis Xavier University is testing tools with women farmers to identify capacity building needs, such as accessing new technologies, credit,…
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Project : Women’s Empowerment, Agricultural Innovation, and Climate Change Adaptation
Innovator : Lestari Sustainable Development Consultants
Region : Asia
Lestari Sustainable Development Consultants tested the women-focused dissemination of newly developed drought-tolerant coffee varieties that increase climatic resilience. The dissemination…
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