Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Biological E. Limited novel oral polio vaccine, nOPV2, was recently granted World Health Organization pre-qualification, marking a crucial step towards eradicating polio. As the second supplier of this vaccine, Biological E will ensure there's an adequate supply of polio vaccines worldwide to protect millions of children from the devastating effects of polio.

What happens when the data doesn’t tell the full story? Microcredit involves small frequent loans typically given to a group of women and has been regarded as a “silver bullet” for ending poverty since its inception in the 1970s. So when Rohini Pande’s team reviewed a study claiming that small, frequent loans didn’t reduce poverty, they questioned if the data was telling the full story. Instead, they asked how to better design financial systems with women’s economic power in mind. Read more: https://gates.ly/3SBFUgO

For AI to reach its full potential as a powerful tool for good, we need to harness the skills, creativity, and insights of innovators with the deepest understanding of the challenges their communities face.       Last year, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation launched a Grand Challenges global call for proposals to do just that. We received more than 1,300 proposals and selected nearly 50 projects led by innovators from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) who are leveraging large language models to advance global health and development solutions.      Today, almost one year later, the Grand Challenges network of partners announced a new cohort of 50 researchers from around the world who are exploring ways to harness the power of AI for good. From health systems strengthening to support for frontline workers to public health and policy making, these inspiring innovators and their teams will work to advance bold solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges.    You can read more about the selected projects here: https://lnkd.in/gyTqk2c2

Flexible, small loans and financial literacy programs are helping women across Africa: Start and grow businesses 🌱 Invest in their households 📈 Achieve financial security 💵 In the latest video in our series Greater than the Sum, meet Peace, a Ugandan mother and entrepreneur, and explore how these programs give women the access to the capital they need to unlock their economic potential: https://gates.ly/4d18XCH

One team. One dream. United for a polio-free world. Sports legends from across the globe are joining Team End Polio—and the historic effort to end this devastating disease for good. We've made huge strides against polio, reducing wild polio cases by over 99%. But children are still being paralyzed by the virus, especially in the world’s most vulnerable places. With ongoing public and private support, we can end polio for good. As with any challenge, we are stronger when we work together as a team. Follow Team End Polio at teamendpolio.org.

What can kangaroos teach us about saving the lives of small and sick premature babies? A lot. Traditionally, sick and small newborns are separated from their mothers. But as Dr. Mittal explains: by following the kangaroo's example that a mother and baby should always be together, we can save hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gkYmWni3

$1 trillion. Addressing the women's health gap would boost the global economy by $1 trillion by 2040. In a new piece for Fortune, Wendo Aszed of Dandelion Africa shares how investing in women’s health—including family planning methods—has the power to transform to transform lives, economies, and entire societies: https://lnkd.in/gZ68TEmn

Imagine a powerful innovation that can cut infant mortality by a quarter. For premature infants, this life-saving approach is a mother’s touch.🦘 Prolonged skin-to-skin contact between an infant and their mother or caregiver is known as immediate Kangaroo Mother Care (iKMC). New research proves that when small and sick premature babies receive iKMC immediately after birth, it decreases child mortality by a quarter. Learn more about the new standard of care for preemie babies: https://lnkd.in/gkYmWni3

Throughout much of the world, small and sick premature babies are separated from their mothers until they are medically stabilized.    But Dr. Sugandha Arya wanted to know: Is it really better for these babies to be separated? And what would happen if they aren’t?    Dr. Arya’s question led her to support a study that revealed immediate Kangaroo Mother Care (iKMC)—immediate skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby—reduces mortality in small and sick preemie babies by 25%.   The lesson: keeping babies close to their mothers is not just comforting, it’s life-saving.