The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation today named the proposal submitted by ICAP at Columbia University as one of the Top 100 in its 100&Change competition for a single $100 million grant to help solve one of the world’s most critical social challenges.
ICAP’s novel project would enable Rwanda to become the first country in the world to eliminate Hepatitis C, a deadly disease that causes immeasurable death and disability. ICAP partnered with the Ministry of Health in Rwanda and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) to put forth this ambitious proposal. ICAP brings its vast experience and expertise in scaling up and evaluating programs, together with the leadership and deep commitment of the Rwandan Ministry of Health and the collaboration of CHAI in securing the necessary drugs and laboratory tests and ensuring efficient use of resources. If successful, this historic achievement would prove that hepatitis C can be eliminated on a large scale and inspire other countries to follow Rwanda’s lead.
The Top 100 represent the top 21 percent of competition submissions. The proposals were rigorously vetted, undergoing MacArthur’s initial administrative review, a Peer-to-Peer review, an evaluation by an external panel of judges, and a technical review by specialists whose expertise was matched to the project.
Each proposal was evaluated using four criteria: impactful, evidence-based, feasible, and durable. MacArthur’s Board of Directors will select up to 10 finalists from among these high-scoring proposals this spring.
“This project maps perfectly to the ethos of the proposed partners—achieving what many believed impossible to achieve. Our government’s deep political will, matched with a strong policy framework, our collective mobilization and implementation expertise and experience, and our evaluation know-how position us for success,” said Diane Gashumba, MD, MMed, Rwandan Minister of Health.
“With more than 15 years of experience collaborating with health ministries across the globe, including in Rwanda, to tackle major public health threats, we have unmatched ability to get this done,” said Wafaa El-Sadr, MD, MPH, MPA, 2008 MacArthur Fellow and global director of ICAP at Columbia University. “This project, successfully completed, will not only save countless lives in Rwanda, it will serve as a beacon for others, as they endeavor to tackle not only hepatitis C but other major health threats that affect millions of people around the world.”
“MacArthur seeks to generate increased recognition, exposure, and support for the high-impact ideas designated as the Top 100,” said Cecilia Conrad, CEO of Lever for Change and MacArthur Managing Director, 100&Change. “Based on our experience in the first round of 100&Change, we know the competition will produce multiple compelling and fundable ideas. We are committed to matching philanthropists with powerful solutions and problem solvers to accelerate social change.”
Since the inaugural competition, other funders and philanthropists have committed an additional $419 million to date to support bold solutions by 100&Change applicants. Building on the success of 100&Change, MacArthur created Lever for Change to unlock significant philanthropic capital by helping donors find and fund vetted, high-impact opportunities through the design and management of customized competitions. In addition to 100&Change, Lever for Change is managing the Chicago Prize, the Economic Opportunity Challenge, and the Larsen Lam ICONIQ Impact Award.
Bold Solutions Network Launches
The Bold Solutions Network launched today, featuring ICAP as one of the Top 100 from 100&Change. The searchable online collection of submissions contains a project overview, 90-second video, and two-page factsheet for each proposal. Visitors can sort by subject, location, Sustainable Development Goal, or beneficiary population to view proposals based on area of interest.
The Bold Solutions Network will showcase the highest-rated proposals that emerge from the competitions Lever for Change manages. Proposals in the Bold Solutions Network undergo extensive evaluation and due diligence to ensure each solution promises real and measurable progress to accelerate social change.
The Bold Solutions Network was designed to provide an innovative approach to identifying the most effective, enduring solutions aligned with donors’ philanthropic goals and to help top applicants gain visibility and funding from a wide array of funders. Organizations that are part of the network will have continued access to a variety of technical support and learning opportunities focused on strengthening their proposals and increasing the impact of their work.
More About 100&Change
100&Change is a distinctive competition that is open to organizations and collaborations working in any field, anywhere in the world. Proposals must identify a problem and offer a solution that promises significant and durable change.
The second round of the competition had a promising start: 3,690 competition registrants submitted 755 proposals. Of those, 475 passed an initial administrative review. 100&Change was designed to be fair, open, and transparent. The identity of the judges and the methodology used to assess initial proposals are public. Applicants received comments and feedback from the peers, judges, and technical reviewers. Key issues in the competition are discussed in a blog on MacArthur’s website.
In the inaugural round of 100&Change, Sesame Workshop and International Rescue Committee were awarded $100 million to educate young children displaced by conflict and persecution in the Syrian response region and to challenge the global system of humanitarian aid to focus more on building a foundation for future success for millions of young children.
This news was also mentioned in the Columbia University weekly news quiz on February 21, and the Earth Institute’s press release announcing their three Top 100 proposals.
A global health leader since 2003, ICAP was founded at Columbia University with one overarching goal: to improve the health of families and communities. Together with its partners—ministries of health, large multilaterals, health care providers, and patients—ICAP strives for a world where health is available to all. To date, ICAP has addressed major public health challenges and the needs of local health systems through 6,000 sites across more than 30 countries.
Media contact:
Hugh Siegel
hs3000@cumc.columbia.edu
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Office: 212-305-6533
