New Innovation Challenge to address the sexual, reproductive health needs of adolescent girls

In partnership with Every Woman Every Child, Positive Action for Girls and Women has announced the launch of the Empowering Girls in Emergency Settings (EmGEmS) Challenge Prize to address the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of adolescent girls in emergency settings where girls are particularly vulnerable to violence, rape, lack of privacy and often forego education as well as access to health services.

The EmGEmS Challenge Prize is seeking innovations (either conceptual or proven) that help girls meet their sexual and reproductive rights and health while leveraging their own agency and enabling them to gain confidence, learn and be empowered. This could entail technological, service or activity-based innovations.

The EmGEmS Challenge Prize will award a prize of $100,000 to a programme that supports adolescent girls in being empowered and educated when it comes to their sexual and reproductive health needs and rights by building self esteem and confidence through technological, service or activity-based innovations.

“The Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2016-2030) has recognized the urgent health needs of populations in emergency settings, and of driving a focused strategy for adolescents. Through this prize we hope to bring attention to the specific needs of adolescent girls in emergency settings, who suffer indescribable risks on a physical, mental and emotional level. We are grateful to partner with Positive Action on this community challenge aimed at empowering girls and advancing their health outcomes,” Natalie Africa, Senior Director for Private Sector Engagement, Every Woman Every Child said.

Community Challenges is the newest component of the Positive Action programmes launched in late 2015. It aims to work with and support global partners and community-based organisations, to bring innovative thinking and problem solving to specific hard to tackle challenges in international development.

Speaking on the same Dominique Kemps, Director, Positive Action for Girls and Women, ViiV Healthcare said, “No person or organization has a monopoly on innovation or solutions that can deliver a real difference. Through the provision of the Positive Action Community Challenges we are committed to accelerating the scale and impact of community-led interventions to address specific bottlenecks that remain in the fight against HIV which include improving sexual and reproductive health for young women.”

The grant will support implementation of ideas and programmes focused on SRH services for adolescent girls in emergency settings as key intervention to address HIV epidemic. Click here to enter the website for prize submission.