Supporting locally-bred solutions
About Grand Challenges Malawi (GCM)
Grand Challenges Malawi is a research and innovation funding initiative launched in 2023 to solve urgent social, economic, scientific and humanitarian needs by boosting domestic investments in research and innovations. The initiative promotes Pan-African and international research and innovation collaboration to improve research quality and scaling-up of innovations.
We aim at supporting the most creative scientists in Malawi to collaborate with their partners locally, continentally and globally to implement research that fosters local innovations
Priority Areas
Health, Humanitarian and Climate Change Nexus
The priority area supports research and innovation that enhances health system preparedness and responsiveness while ensuring disease surveillance intelligence, data modelling, Artificial Intelligence (Al) and its applications.
Health and well-being
The priority area supports maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health while promoting disease treatment, diagnostic and mental health.
Energy Generation and Supply
The priority area supports efforts for Malawi’s just transition into renewable energy systems that promote, improve, address, and support energy efficiency and conservation which is essential for environmental sustainability.
Agricultural Productivity and Commercialisation
The priority area focuses on innovations that support agriculture production, processing, nutrition, commercialisation, diversification, mechanisation, inputs and Irrigation development, while promoting 4IR technologies for smart agriculture and food security.
Funding Opportunities
Upcoming Call (Not yet released)
Grand Challenges Malawi will announce a new funding opportunity through the “Grand Challenges – Nexa Programme” under the auspices of Science for Africa Foundation to be launched in mid-2026.
Researchers are encouraged to watch for the upcoming funding opportunity. Malawian researchers, particularly those specializing in health and climate sciences, will be encouraged to apply for the Nexa Programme call under the following priority areas:
For more details, download the documents below: