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 : Wi Lead by Sabi (We Lead by Example)
Canadian SMO : CAUSE Canada
Local Partner(s) : CAUSE Canada Sierra Leone Partnership
Theme : Social Justice & Human Rights
Region : Africa

CAUSE Canada tested an innovative solution that aimed to address discrimination at the intersection of gender and disability. Women with disabilities are at the center of this solution,…

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Project : Local Knowledge: Global Goals
Canadian SMO : Change for Children Association
Local Partner(s) : University of the Autonomous Regions of the Nicaraguan Caribbean Coast (URACCAN) and the Territorial Indigenous Government of the Miskito Indian Taisbaika Kum (GTI-MITK)
Theme : Climate Change and the Environment
Region : Latin America

Improving the sustainable management of the BOSAWAS Biosphere Reserve is essential to the survival of Indigenous peoples in the face of climate change. This innovative solution will test the…

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Project : Empowering Women Farmers in Tanzania with an Agricultural Technology Hub (ATH)
Canadian SMO : Emmanuel Relief and Rehabilitation International of Canada
Local Partner(s) : Emmanuel International Tanzania, Action for Women Organization (AWO)
Theme : Agriculture
Region : Africa

Emmanuel Relief and Rehabilitation International of Canada is testing a solution in Mwanza to improve the condition of women and the sustainability of farming innovation. Several women will be…

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Project : Combatting Menstrual Stigma Through Female-Centred Permaculture Gardens
Canadian SMO : Girls of Tomorrow Foundation
Local Partner(s) : St. Jude Family Projects
Theme : Other
Region : Africa

This innovative solution tested a Female-Centered Permaculture Garden as a unique and effective way of combatting menstrual stigma and increasing female empowerment. Local experts taught…

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Project : Technology Supported Education for At-Risk Girls in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Canadian SMO : Learning for Humanity Inc.
Local Partner(s) : Communauté Baptiste Au Centre de l’Afrique (CBCA)
Theme : Education
Region : Africa

This innovative solution tested technology-supported access to gender-sensitive, self-paced, digital learning materials to the most vulnerable girls for whom gender constraints are already…

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Project : Democracy Beyond Elections: Participatory Policy Through Design Thinking
Canadian SMO : Bhutan Canada Foundation
Local Partner(s) : Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy
Theme : Other
Region : Asia

This innovative solution used a Design Thinking methodology to engage and encourage collaboration among groups of marginalized women, vulnerable youth and People with Disabilities (PWD) and…

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Project : Blended Digital Learning for Teacher Professional Development
Canadian SMO : Wellspring Foundation for Education
Local Partner(s) : Wellspring Foundation for Education - Rwanda
Theme : Education
Region : Africa

Wellspring adapted its teacher training module on Inclusive Lesson Planning into a blended digital learning model. This project tested whether a digital approach can effectively support rural…

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Project : Improving Breastfeeding Rates in Somalia Through Low-Cost, Solar-Powered Electric Breast Pumps
Canadian SMO : LISS Technologies Inc.
Local Partner(s) : Noble Health Consultancy (NOHEC); Banadir Maternity and Children's Hospital and The School of Public Health and Research, Somali National University
Theme : Heath
Region : Africa

LISS Technologies tested its novel breast pump with mothers living in Somalia to identify whether electric breast pumps developed specifically for mothers living in low resource contexts, will…

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Project : Building Formal Financial and Health Numeracy Among Poor Women in Northern Pakistan
Canadian SMO : University of Alberta
Local Partner(s) : Aga Khan Rural Support Program Gilgit, Baltistan and Chitral, My Oral Village (MOVE), and University of Adelaide: Department of Health and Population Gilgit-Baltistan
Theme : Education/financial inclusion
Region : South Asia

Women's financial inclusion in Pakistan is very low, with a Labour Market Assessment revealing that only 17% of women participate in paid labour and 50% of women are entirely illiterate. The…

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