Grand Challenges Canada,
Grand Challenges Canada, with significant support from The LEGO Foundation, has unveiled a new funding opportunity titled “Play, Learn, Thrive.”
This initiative aims to address critical gaps in Early Childhood Development in Emergencies (ECDiE) and Education in Emergencies (EiE), to create robust support systems for children aged 0 to 12 years in complex crisis settings.
The project has a specific focus on Jordan, Lebanon, Kenya, and Uganda.
The program recognizes that children’s holistic development — encompassing their physical, intellectual, psychological, cultural, and social well-being — is intrinsically linked to the capacity of their caregivers, educators, and the broader community.
The urgency of this initiative is underscored by global figures: nearly 450 million children currently live in conflict zones and over 220 million face educational disruptions due to emergencies.
For vulnerable populations, particularly refugee children, access to vital early education and developmental support is severely limited compared to global averages.
These children not only miss out on critical developmental opportunities but also face long-term consequences for their future well-being and potential, highlighting an urgent need for innovative, creative solutions.
Two Funding Streams for Impact
With a substantial grant of USD 10 million from The LEGO Foundation for its “Inclusive Learning in Crisis Settings” initiative, Grand Challenges Canada is offering grants in two categories through this Request for Proposals (RFP):
Proof of Concept (POC):
This stream provides funding of up to CAD 250,000 over a maximum of 24 months.
POC grants are designed to support early-stage innovations, allowing innovators to test and refine bold ideas.
The goal is to strengthen the pipeline of tested ECDiE and EiE innovations focused on children from birth to 12 years of age.
Transition to Scale (TTS):
This category offers grants ranging from $300,000 to CAD 1,500,000 per project over a maximum of 24 months.
TTS funding is intended for more mature innovations that have already achieved proof of concept and are ready for wider implementation and expanded impact.
This RFP specifically targets projects that will be implemented in at least one of four priority countries: Jordan, Lebanon, Kenya, and Uganda.
These nations host a large number of refugee and displaced children and their families, making them crucial focal points for interventions.
Holistic Development Through Play-Based Approaches
The “Play, Learn, Thrive” initiative emphasizes solutions that integrate play-based learning.
This approach is designed to foster joyful learning, active engagement, and social interaction, helping children in crises thrive and build foundations for creativity and lifelong learning.
The program particularly seeks innovations that support children who are often left behind, including those with protection risks, refugees, displaced children, girls, children with disabilities, and those with mental health challenges.
Proposed solutions should focus on strengthening children’s education and/or development, or enhancing the capacities of their support networks.
These networks include educators, caregivers, community care providers, and other influential figures.
The recognition of the interconnectedness between a child’s development and their supportive environment is central to the program’s philosophy.
Eligibility and Application Process
To be eligible for funding, applying organizations must meet several key criteria:
- They must be legally incorporated not-for-profit organizations.
- They must have an active presence and directly implement programming in at least one of the four priority countries (Jordan, Lebanon, Kenya, or Uganda).
- They must be legally registered to do business in the country of implementation.
The application process for Transition to Scale (TTS) grants is a two-stage process.
- Applicants first complete a screening questionnaire and project summary.
- Only those applications that successfully pass this initial stage will be invited to submit a full project application.
- Applications for TTS grants are accepted on a rolling basis between January 21, 2025, and November 27, 2025.
- Specific deadlines for submission are August 21, 2025, and November 27, 2025.
Interested organizations must submit their applications via Grand Challenges Canada’s Fluxx platform.
New users are advised to register for an account at least seven business days before their desired submission deadline.
The Broader Impact of Early Childhood Development in Emergencies
Investing in early childhood development in emergency settings is widely recognized as vital.
Research indicates that the first eight years of a child’s life are a unique “window of opportunity” where the brain makes critical connections.
Disaster situations can cause immediate and lasting damage to a child’s development, with severe, prolonged adversity early in life potentially altering brain development and impacting health, learning, and behavior throughout a child’s life.
Conversely, robust early childhood development programs can build resilience and provide a context for development to continue as normally as possible, even amidst chaos.
Experts highlight that investments in the early years can yield substantial returns, estimated at 8 to 19 times the initial investment.
By integrating ECD interventions across all humanitarian sectors—including health, nutrition, and protection—organizations can ensure children not only survive but also develop to their full potential, contributing to the recovery and resilience of their communities.
The “Play, Learn, Thrive” initiative aims to catalyze such impactful, sustainable solutions in some of the world’s most challenging environments.
For more information and to apply, visit the official Grand Challenges Canada website.
