Background and Purpose
Women and young people with disabilities have a basic right to health, an adequate standard of living and freedom from gender-based violence. They often experience higher risks of violence, greater barriers to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and significant challenges in meeting their basic needs due to factors such as gender and disability. Technology has emerged as a key enabler to support people with disabilities in learning about their rights, resources and access to benefits. However, unequal access to technology due to digital accessibility, digital literacy, internet access and other factors remain barriers.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)), in collaboration with Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) and Global Network of Young People with Disabilities (GNYPWD), seeks innovative solutions to address these urgent challenges. We invite proposals for an Innovation Challenge that focuses specifically on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and young people with disabilities. The challenge aims to increase the capacity of young people with disabilities, improve the availability and accessibility of innovations tailored to their specific needs, and facilitate their access to financial resources and their participation in decision-making processes related to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information, commodities, services and essential gender-based violence (GBV) support.
In order to achieve these goals, the Innovation Challenge will select the most promising teams and organisations led by young innovators with disabilities from among those who applied as winners.
The winners will be awarded a combination of monetary and capacity-building support and potential opportunities to test their technology with UNFPA country offices. By taking advantage of these resources, these teams and organisations will be empowered to develop and scale innovative solutions that disrupt inequalities and promote the empowerment of women and girls, embracing the diversity of their experiences and identities.
Eligibility
- The innovation challenge is open to organisations (a non-profit or for-profit legal entity) and project teams affiliated with an organisation. The project team and preferably the organisation must have young people with disabilities on the team, with preference given to projects led by a team of young women with disabilities.
- Innovative solution: The proposed innovation must contribute to one of the following challenges: ending the unmet need for family planning, ending preventable maternal deaths or ending gender-based violence and harmful practices. Read more about the challenges.
- Maturity of the Innovative Solution: The organisation must have already tested a prototype and validated the proof of concept. The minimum viable product (MVP) is preferred, but not mandatory. The MVP must belong to the sending organisation, if available.
- Funds can only be distributed to legal entities in a UNFPA programme country. Therefore, the team must demonstrate its affiliation with a legal entity (non-profit or for-profit) in a UNFPA programme country at the time of application, including the formal agreement that this legal entity will administer funds for the team. Please note that the organisers of the Innovation Challenge are not responsible for the agreement between the legal entity and the applicant team. This legal entity will administer the funds for the team. Click here to see the UNFPA country offices.
Only one submission per applicant organisation is allowed. All submissions must be made in English only.
Order content
- Innovation
- Alignment with UNFPA priorities and thematic areas
- Technical capacity, including experience with digital accessibility and the technologies the candidate proposes to use
- Plan to scale the impact and sustain the project
- Cost-effectiveness
- Team diversity, including gender
- Maturation stage of the solution (if any)
Timeline
- 1 June: Call for proposals launched
- 15 June 11:59 EST: Deadline for written applications
- 15th to 26th of June: Pitch calls on a rolling basis
- 30th June: Announcement of winners
- 1st of July: Projects start
- 1st December: Projects end
To submit your proposal, please complete the application form here. If you want the application in an alternative format, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at info@gnypwd.org latest by 10th June. If you have any questions or require further information, do not hesitate to contact us at info@gnypwd.org.
Frequently asked questions
1 What is the AccessAbility innovation challenge?
The AccessAbility Innovation Challenge is a call for proposals by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in collaboration with the Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) and the Global Network of Young Persons with Disabilities (GNYPWD). The aim is to invite teams and organisations led by young innovators with disabilities to develop innovative solutions addressing the challenges faced by women and young persons with disabilities, especially in the area of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
2) Who is eligible to apply for this challenge?
Any organisation with representation of young people with disabilities, that can demonstrate their affiliation with a legal entity (non-profit or for-profit) in a UNFPA programme country, working on a solution contributing to one of the following challenges: ending unmet need for family planning, ending preventable maternal deaths, or ending gender-based violence and harmful practices can apply for this challenge.
3) What are the selection criteria for this challenge?
The selection criteria include innovation, alignment with UNFPA's priorities and thematic areas, technical capacity, plan to scale impact, sustain the project, project budget, team diversity, gender balance, the current maturity of the solution (if any).
4. What is the timeline for this challenge?
The call for proposals is launched on 1st June 2023. The deadline for written applications is 15th June 11:59 PM EST. Winners will be announced on 30th June and the projects start from 1st July and end on 1st December.
5. How can I apply for this challenge?
You need to fill in the enrolment. If you need the application in an alternative format, contact us at info@gnypwd.org before 10 June.
6. What information should be included in the written request?
Follow the instructions in the application. At a high level, the application includes questions to understand the problem you are working on, its alignment with UNFPA's mandate, solution, sustainability, scalability, impact, etc.
7. What if I have more questions or need additional information?
You can contact us at info@gnypwd.org if you have any further questions or need additional information.
8. Can I request a project extension?
No, project extensions are not permitted. The duration of the project is 5 months, from 1st July to 1st December, and all resources must be used.
About the organisers:
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA): UNFPA is the sexual and reproductive health agency of the United Nations. Our mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe and the potential of every young person is realised. UNFPA guarantees rights and choices for all. UNFPA promotes gender equality and empowers women, girls and young people to take control of their bodies and their futures. We work with partners in more than 150 countries to provide access to a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services. Our goal is to end the unmet need for family planning, preventable maternal death and gender-based violence and harmful practices, including child marriage and female genital mutilation by 2030.
Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub): The GDI Hub is a research and practice centre that drives disability innovation for a fairer world. Disability innovation is part of a larger movement for disability justice, which must disrupt current ideas and practices to create new possibilities. Operating in 41 countries, we work with over 70 partners, delivering projects in a £50 million portfolio. The GDI Hub has reached 23 million people since its launch in 2016, developing bold approaches, building innovative partnerships and creating ecosystems to accelerate change.
Global Network for Young People with Disabilities (GNYPWD): GNYPWD was founded after the 2020 Conference of States Parties (COSP) to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), with the aim of providing an advocacy space that ensures the inclusive participation and leadership of young people with disabilities in youth and disability rights agendas within and outside the UN system. The network is made up of 500+ members from 80 countries and is focused on empowering and providing young people with opportunities to defend their rights at local, national and international levels.
Alternative formats:
- Innovation Challenge (Docs version)
- Innovation Challenge (PDF version)
- Innovation Challenge (audio version)
