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Purpose

The purpose of this open call is to engage youth (18 to 35 years old) around the world to celebrate their social innovations in health and support them in further research and measuring the impact of their ideas. 

Social Innovation in Health is defined as a community-engaged process that links social change and health improvement, drawing on the diverse strengths of local individuals and institutions. Social innovation argues that having local beneficiaries drive the development of a health programme results in more sustainable and accountable services (Halpaap et al, Lancet Global Health, 2020).

The Social Entrepreneurship to Spur Health (SESH) team, as part of the Social Innovation in Health Initiative (SIHI), are interested in novel ideas and new solutions by youth innovators around the world to address health issues. These include youth-led innovations in health that target youth, or youth-led innovations that target the wider communities that youth are embedded in. 

Exceptional ideas will be recognized by the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) and will receive seed research funding for pilot implementation at selected sites. In addition, selected finalists will receive mentorship and support for research, as well as opportunities to network and partner with global experts. These exceptional submissions will also receive local and international recognition.

Finalists will be expected to work with SESH and the SIHI network, in collaboration with TDR, to further develop, pilot and evaluate their innovations following the results of the open call.

This open call has a strong focus on building capacity for research among selected finalists and winners. Therefore, submission themes or focuses may include, but are not limited to the following: Innovations focused on addressing specific health topics: 

• Addressing the increasing incidence or spread of infectious diseases 
• Management of issues that are relevant to youth (including those at the interface of infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases such as obesity and mental health conditions) 
• Addressing the impact of epidemics/pandemics on community and/or population health

Innovations in changing processes, systems, and developing people-centered approaches to health: 

• Engaging and empowering community members (especially youth) to participate in health-enhancing activities 
• Developing innovations to target structures (e.g. healthcare institutions, policies, health systems, organizational practices) to improve patient and community health
• De-implementation as an innovation (e.g. cessation of a programme or intervention that doesn’t work, or remains a barrier to achieving better health outcomes)

Innovations in campaigning or messaging for health: 

• Innovative campaigns or messaging (e.g., health campaigns, songs, edutainment) to enhance health-related behaviors or perceptions 
• Developing platforms for sharing of health knowledge and other health promotion efforts to enhance health 

The final deadline for contributions is June 30, 2022 11:59pm (Geneva Time). SESH (Social Entrepreneurship to Spur Health) Global and SIHI with support from TDR are the main organizers of the open call. Guidelines for contributions are described below. 

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