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 : Holistic Gender-Based Violence Prevention & Response
Canadian SMO : Real Humanitarian
Local Partner(s) : Asociación SERniña, REALgirl Foundation
Theme : Social Justice & Human Rights
Region : Latin America
Real Humanitarian (formerly Canadian Humanitarian), and its local Guatemalan partner, Asociación SERniña/REALgirl, tested the impact and effectiveness of a holistic,…
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Project : Women for Innovation and Transformation
Canadian SMO : Union for Progress Inc.
Local Partner(s) : Initiatives for Peace and Human Rights (ipeace) and Umoja ni Nguyu (UnN)
Theme : Economy & Finance
Region : Africa
This innovation tested the integration of women in the traditionally male-dominated field of transport by introducing the E-tricycle as a means of transport. This product responds perfectly to…
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Project : Skills Training + Tools + Water = Food Security for Impoverished Women
Canadian SMO : Roll a Hippo Foundation
Local Partner(s) : Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust (HACT), Wana Johnson Development, and Social Enterprise SHKJ Products (Harvest Health)
Theme : Agriculture
Region : Africa
This innovation delivered a Food Security Training Course that provided a Survival Garden Kit (including a hippo water roller and gardening tools) to impoverished women in rural communities in…
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Project : Engaging Culture and Community – Addressing and Changing Harmful Gender Norms and Attitudes
Canadian SMO : St. Mary's Road United Church
Local Partner(s) : SCORE Against Poverty
Theme : Other
Region : Africa, Asia
This innovation testing implemented a community-designed program that redefines masculinity and associated norms in a positive, supportive way at the family level, through modeling intent,…
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Project : Entrepreneurship+ Digital Livelihoods+ Creative Arts: Socio-economic Empowerment of Women Refugees in Kenya (EDC-Kenya)
Canadian SMO : Humber Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning
Local Partner(s) : CAP - Youth Empowerment Institute
Theme : Livelihoods
Region : Africa
This innovation tested a solution to enhance women’s socio-economic empowerment and increase livelihood opportunities for refugees in Nairobi, Kenya. It did so by integrating digital…
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Project : Blended Learning Solution to Advance Gender Equality in Education in Uganda
Canadian SMO : CEED Concordia
Local Partner(s) : Faculty of Education, Kabale University and Action for Development (ACFODE)
Theme : Education
Region : Africa
This project tested an innovative cost-effective, decentralized, blended e-learning solution designed for the context of Uganda; sensitive to specific gender challenges in South-West Uganda.…
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Project : Edible Insect Farming for Improved Nutrition and Income in South Sudan
Canadian SMO : Veterinarians Without Borders
Local Partner(s) : Base Net
Theme : Livelihoods
Region : Africa
Testing this innovation solution involved looking at enhancing food security and livelihoods through female-led farming (i.e. rearing in a confined space at or near the homestead) of…
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Project : Increasing Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights through Media Development
Canadian SMO : Journalists for Human Rights
Local Partner(s) : La Maison de la Presse, Women in Law and Development in Africa (WILDAF), and PF-Mali Consortium
Theme : Health & Nutrition
Region : Africa
JHR proposed an innovation that will leverage a theme-driven approach to train, network and coordinate media, government officials and CSOs. This put Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights…
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Project : Radical Innovation of the Agroforestry Systems Business Model (conservation context)
Canadian SMO : Université de Sherbrooke
Local Partner(s) : Fondation pour l’Environnement et le Développement au Cameroun
Theme : Agriculture
Region : Africa
This innovative solution involved the adaptation of agroforestry business models for impoverished rural populations in Cameroon. It aimed to implement a business model that has been modified…
Learn MoreProject : Empowering Women in Rural India By Debunking Feminine Eye Health Myths
Canadian SMO : NorQuest College
Local Partner(s) : Operation Eyesight India and Rotary Eye & ENT Hospital (REEH)
Theme : Health & Nutrition
Region : Asia
In collaboration with Operation Eyesight India and the Rotary Eye & ENT Hospital (REEH), this innovative solution proposed to recruit, train, and equip eight local female community health…
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Project : A Hub and Spoke Model for Women’s Health based on POCUS and TeleGuidance for Novice Community Users
Canadian SMO : Canada International Scientific Exchange Program (CISEPO)
Local Partner(s) : United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) - Palestine, Green Land Society for Health and Development (GLSHD), Juzoor for Health and Social Development, Project Rozana, and Salanga
Theme : Health & Nutrition
Region : Middle East
This innovation aims to improve access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic, while supporting immediate workforce strengthening…
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Project : Safer Farming for Nepali Women
Canadian SMO : iDE Canada
Local Partner(s) : iDE Nepal and Dhikurpokhari Community Development Organization (DCDO)
Theme : Agriculture
Region : Asia
This innovative solution will empower women smallholders in Kaski, Nepal with increased choice about how they grow vegetables. iDE has trained these women to use integrated pest…
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Project : Sexually Transmitted Grades – A Danger for the Future of Girls and Women
Canadian SMO : Alitus Femina
Local Partner(s) : BURCASO
Theme : Education
Region : Africa
Alitus Femina is working to reduce Sexually Transmitted Grades (STGs) – sex in exchange for positive grades – a practice that adversely impacts women’s and girls’…
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Project : Lights + Camera + Action for Equality (LCAE)
Canadian SMO : Canada SOS: Students Offering Support
Local Partner(s) : Semillas de Innovacion y Desarrolo Sostenable (SIDS)
Theme : Social Justice & Human Rights
Region : Latin America
Canada SOS will test an innovative, transformative, and scalable approach to increase civic leadership and participation of Mayan communities in rural regions of Guatemala, with a focus on…
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Project : Freedom to Learn for Girls in Rural Malawi – Addressing the Menstruation Barrier
Canadian SMO : Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief
Local Partner(s) : Freedom from Fistula
Theme : Education
Region : Africa
Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief’s testing project examined the comparative effectiveness of menstrual cups and reusable menstrual pads in empowering girls and women in selected…
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