Amref Health Africa Among Top 100 Proposals for Macarthur $100 Million Grant

Kenya, Nairobi, February 20^th, 2020 — The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation unveiled today that Amref Health Africa was one of the highest-scoring proposals, designated as 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.

Amref Health Africa’s proposed project will implement a proven, sustainable sanitation model called the Financial Inclusion Improves Sanitation & Health (FINISH) which addresses the achievement of SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation for all). The FINISH Mondial is a proven partnership model that comprises Amref Health Africa, WASTE and Aqua for All. It is aimed at mobilising communities, governments, financiers and businesses to construct improved toilets across Africa and Asia, with a mission to achieve sanitation for all.

70% of people in Sub-Saharan Africa do not have access to a safe toilet, and as a result, inadequate sanitation and hygiene contributes to  at least 289,000 diarrhoeal deaths among children under 5. The World Health Organisation predicts that there will be thousands of additional deaths every year due to the changing climate, largely linked to preventable diseases associated with inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

The partnership will reduce diarrheal disease transmission by at least 5%; reduce medical expenditures related to diarrhea; promote the privacy and dignity of women and girls; generate tonnes of agricultural compost and create jobs. The proposed model is explained in this video.

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 these high-scoring proposals this spring.

“Our vision is to facilitate the building of over five million improved toilets serving over 25 million beneficiaries and bringing down diarrhea cases. Through this, 2.2 million tons of compost for Agriculture will be generated and create over 273,000 job opportunities for unemployed youth within sub-Saharan Africa. Each dollar invested in the FINISH model is going to unlock four dollars in co- investment in sanitation,” said Dr. Githiji Gitahi, Amref Health Africa Global Chief Executive Officer.

“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 Amref Health Africa 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. 

About Amref Health Africa

Amref Health Africa, headquartered in Kenya, is the largest Africa based International Non-Governmental Organisation (INGO) currently running programs in over 35 countries in Africa with lessons learnt over 60 years of engagement with governments, communities and partners to increase sustainable health access in Africa. Amref Health Africa also incorporates programme development, fundraising, partnership, advocacy, monitoring and evaluation, and has offices in Europe and North America as well as subsidiaries; Amref Flying Doctors ; Amref Enterprises and the Amref International University.

About FINISH

FINISH works with a multistakeholder approach which involves the entire value chain. By mobilising the supply side of sanitation while integrating financial resources into the value chain, the programme raises awareness on and creates a demand for sanitation services amongst end-users. FINISH ensures that: people are aware of the need for a safe and durable toilet; people want to buy one and can afford it; local people can build one. www.finishmondial.org.

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For more information contact:                  

Elizabeth (Lizz) Ntonjira
Head of Global Corporate Communications
Elizabeth.Ntonjira@amref.org

Amref Health Africa Headquarters.