See below for the full list of winners from around the world:A community hub and women’s innovation centre, that offers a digital tool that connects survivors and persons at risk of gender-based violence via a secure and confidential messaging platform.
A portable diagnostic system that helps pregnant women with early detection, timely referral, and effective management of pre-eclampsia – a life-threatening hypertensive disorder causing up to 10 per cent of pregnancy-related deaths in Africa.
Key to progress
Initially, a panel of experts received 300 submissions from 61 countries. After 20 finalists pitched their innovative ideas to the panel, the eventual 10 winners then signed nine-month contracts with UNFPA and will be receiving an equity-free investment of ,000.
The challenge was financed by UNFPA’s Equalizer Accelerator Fund, and implemented in cooperation with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the International Trade Centre.
An AI-enhanced chatbot that provides adolescent girls with quality sexual and reproductive health information and services, helping to end the cycle of poverty generated by many teenage pregnancies.
Urukundo Life Skills Board Game is the first ever licensed low-tech educational game in Rwanda that disseminates information on sexual and reproductive health and rights.
UNFPA and its partners will also support the social enterprises with targeted mentorship, training opportunities, interactive workshops, and unique access to the global UN network.
GerHub reaches women and girls in remote areas with information and sexual and reproductive health services through mobile clinics and telemedicine.
Foundation Paniamor as developed a novel digital toolkit for adolescent girls to help prevent and respond to online violence.
Foundation Paniamor, Costa Rica
The winning ideas varied in function, but were united in ingenuity, said the agency. Examples of winning designs ranged from a portable diagnostic system for pre-eclampsia, to a board game that disseminates information on sexual and reproductive health and rights.
GerHub, Mongolia
The SafeYou app, is a unique digital solution that provides women and girls with security functions to protect them against violence, and offers tools for survivors.
The Global Pre-Eclampsia Initiative, Uganda
The challenge received further funding from the Governments of Luxembourg, Finland, and Denmark. Launched in 2021, UNFPA’s Fund provides equity-free investments in social enterprises that are led or co-led by women, and can show evidence of the impact they will have.
Hillspring Diagnostics, Nigeria
An immersive augmented reality experience that aims to stop gender-based violence by introducing users to simulations based on women’s real-life experiences.
Impact Innovations Institute, Armenia
Entrants were given the incentive of a cash prize which would allow them to expand their ideas from the test stage, to full production, for the potential benefit of millions around the world.
KızBaşına, Turkey
The 2022 challenge is awarding ten women-helmed organizations hailing from five different regions globally.
Tirando X Colombia, based in Colombia
A one-stop family health and wellbeing platform that provides access to family planning, reproductive health information, and services for young women and new mothers.
ToguMogu, Bangladesh
Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNFPA’s Executive Director said, in relation to the competition that “creative thinking and innovative solutions are key to accelerate progress for women and girls around the world.”
Urukundo Initiative, Rwanda
The funding will allow winning organizations to transition away from the pilot stage, and begin manufacturing at scale.
Women in Entrepreneurship and Technology (WETECH), Cameroon
A revolutionary method for detecting ectopic pregnancy, a condition which can have dangerous consequences including death of the mother and baby, if not diagnosed and treated in time.