Grand Challenges Africa funds Africa-led, science-based innovations that deliver practical, scalable solutions to pressing health and development challenges, prioritizing impact and robust products over new academic research. It exists to catalyze African scientific talent and partnerships to solve local problems with global relevance, building on the Grand Challenges family's mission to serve those most in need.

- Africa-led: Principal Investigator or lead organization must be African, with the innovation developed in Africa. - Focus on impact and scale: Proposals must demonstrate potential for real-world application, scalability, and sustainability, not just academic novelty. - Science-based: Solutions must be grounded in robust scientific research, but the emphasis is on translating research into products or solutions. - Partnership and collaboration: Encourages diverse partnerships (for-profit, NGO, academic, health research, foundations, civil society) to strengthen implementation. - Alignment with Grand Challenges themes: Must address a specific health or development challenge, often aligned with SDGs. - Innovation and robustness: The solution must be innovative and technically sound, with a clear pathway to deployment. - Eligibility: Open to African researchers and innovators; may require affiliation with an African institution or organization (though independent researchers may be considered if they have a strong track record).

Past cohorts include African researchers and innovators from universities, research institutes, and startups. Examples from the page include a drone surveying oilseed crops project for farming data, and a quote from Prof. Iruka Okeke (University of Ibadan, Nigeria) highlighting community building. Winners typically have a concrete product or solution, often with a prototype or pilot, and a clear plan for scaling. They span sectors like health, agriculture, and technology, with a strong emphasis on local relevance and potential for broad impact.

The ideal applicant is an African scientist or innovator with a proven track record of translating research into a tangible product or solution. They have a clear, scalable business or implementation model, strong partnerships, and a deep understanding of the local context. The solution is robust, evidence-based, and directly addresses a critical challenge, with a realistic plan for deployment and impact measurement.