Good Start Challenge 2025 (Up To €200,000 Funding)

Reach us on

Applications are open for Good Start Challenge 2025. The Van Leer Foundation is thrilled to invite applications for the Good Start Challenge to advance innovative solutions that improve the wellbeing of parents and caregivers of young children in disadvantaged circumstances in Indonesia, the Philippines, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Senegal, Mexico, Colombia and Brazil.

The Challenge offers a unique opportunity for innovators to take their solutions to the next level with the support of local and international partners. With an initial grant and access to a portfolio of capacity building support, innovators will develop, test and refine their innovation, and progress to the chance to win a final award of.

Participating innovators will gain access to local community networks of parents and caregivers, as well as global and regional experts, funders and policymakers all committed to supporting parents. They are interested in supporting the following:

Single parents
Adolescent parents
Parents affected by displacement and migration
Parents in financially vulnerable situations

Good Start Challenge Categories

Latin America: They are looking for teams that can advance innovative solutions to improve the wellbeing of parents and other caregivers of young children (aged 0-6) in disadvantaged circumstances in Brazil, Colombia and/or Mexico.
Southeast Asia: They are looking for teams that can advance innovative solutions to improve the wellbeing of parents and other caregivers of young children (aged 0-6) in disadvantaged circumstances in Indonesia and/or the Philippines.
Sub-Saharan Africa: They are looking for teams that can advance innovative solutions to improve the wellbeing of parents and other caregivers of young children (aged 0-6) in disadvantaged circumstances in Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal and/or Uganda.

Benefits

A full package of support from experts to help you:

Create robust business and sustainability plans:
- Understand different ways to scale a solution and create a feasible scaling strategy
- Develop an evidence base and integrate strong monitoring, evaluation and learning
Access to a powerful network of partners:
- Work with organisations that can provide invaluable real-world insights, feedback, and testing opportunities with parents and caregivers
- Meet and connect with influential leaders from government agencies, philanthropies and investors to support implementation at scale after the Challenge
Global recognition of your work and ideas:
- Media coverage and exposure at regional events to showcase your solution
- Opportunities to present your solution to funders, government partners, innovation hubs and experts.

Good Start Challenge Prize Information

You will receive a €50,000 grant to develop and test your innovation, with the chance to win a €200,000 grant.

Eligibility Criteria

Latin America:
- Proposed solutions must be tailored specifically for and implemented to the benefit of caregivers of children aged 0-6 in one or more of the following target countries: Brazil, Mexico and/or Colombia.
- You must be established as a legally registered organisation to enter.
- This can include: Non-profit organisation (including charities or other foundations); Private company/enterprise; Educational or research institutions.
Southeast Asia:
- Proposed solutions must be tailored specifically for and implemented to the benefit of parents or caregivers of young children aged 0-6 in disadvantaged circumstances in one or more of the following target countries: Indonesia and/or the Philippines.
- You must be established as a legally registered organisation to enter.
- This can include: Non-profit organisations (including charities or other foundations); Private company/enterprises; Educational or research institutions.
Sub-Saharan Africa:
- Proposed solutions must be focused on improving the wellbeing of parents and other caregivers of young children aged 0-6 that are displaced or at risk of displacement in the following target countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal, and/or Uganda.
- You must be established as a legally registered organisation to enter.
- If you are proposing solutions in Senegal, the Challenge is open to:
  - Non-profit organisations (including charities or other foundations); Private company/enterprises; Educational or research institutions.
- If you are proposing solutions in Uganda, Kenya, and/or Ethiopia, the Challenge is open to:
  - Non-profit organisations (including charities or other foundations); Educational or research institutions; “Social Enterprises”.