RFP: Play Learn Thrive
Overview
Grand Challenges Canada, supported by The LEGO Foundation, offers targeted financial assistance to innovative projects aimed at improving early childhood development and education in emergency settings across Jordan, Lebanon, Kenya, and Uganda. The program is designed to support groundbreaking ideas as well as scale-up successful interventions, with funding amounts tailored to the project's maturity and scope.
These grants aim to address critical gaps in support for vulnerable children affected by crises, fostering scalable and sustainable solutions that can be adapted for broader use across the target regions. Both proof-of-concept and scaling projects are encouraged to develop evidence-based approaches, with an emphasis on innovation, impact, and long-term sustainability.
At a glance
Funding available
- Integrate new technologies
- Increasing community impact
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Minimum amount : 300,000 $
- Closing date : September 23, 2025
Eligible candidates
- All industries
- Canada
- Non-profit
- All revenue ranges
- All organization sizes
- All groups
- Research
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- All the groups
- 100% donations / grants
- Mixed revenue (50%+ earned)
- Provincial
Activities funded
- Development and testing of innovative educational tools for children affected by emergencies.
- Implementation of community-based support systems for children’s developmental needs.
- Scaling successful interventions across wider regions or populations.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Legally registered not-for-profit organizations operating in Jordan, Lebanon, Kenya, or Uganda.
- Organizations with active local presence implementing relevant programs.
Who is not eligible
- Organizations without legal registration in the eligible countries.
- For-profit companies or commercial enterprises.
- Applicants lacking active local operations or presence in the target regions.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Activities unrelated to children’s development or education in emergency contexts.
- Expenses for projects outside of the eligible countries or without active local presence.
- Non-initiatives not aligned with the program’s focus on scalable solutions.
- Activities not directly contributing to project objectives or deliverables.
Eligible geographic areas
Jordan, Lebanon, Kenya, UgandaSelection criteria
- Innovation and originality of proposed approach.
- Potential impact on children’s development and education in emergency contexts.
- Feasibility and clarity of project implementation plan.
- Potential for scalability and sustainability.
- Alignment with program goals and strategic priorities.
