ICMR–Gates Foundation Grand Challenge 2026 – Development of Aspirational Nutrient-Dense Food Products for Adolescent Girls & Women of Reproductive Age (WRA) to Prevent Anaemia
ICMR–Gates Foundation Grand Challenge 2026 Background & Rationale: Adolescence and reproductive years are critical windows for nutritional investment, with heightened needs for iron and folate. In India, nearly 50% of adolescent girls and WRA suffer from anaemia despite long-standing supplementation programs. Persistent challenges include:
- Low adherence due to side effects and stigma around “medicines”
- Poor awareness and limited agency among adolescent girls
- Supply chain inefficiencies and inconsistent counselling
- Limited alignment with adolescent aspirations, preferences, and lifestyles
Traditional supplementation programs face issues of intra-household sharing, poor targeting, and low acceptability, reducing their effectiveness. Evidence from behavioural science shows that food choices are driven by taste, convenience, and social norms, creating an opportunity to reimagine nutrition delivery through aspirational, desirable food products.
The Challenge – ICMR–Gates Foundation Grand Challenge 2026
ICMR and the Gates Foundation invite innovative proposals to develop, prototype, and evaluate nutrient-dense food products tailored for adolescent girls and WRA.
Proposals should aim to deliver:
Nutritional efficacy (especially iron delivery)
High consumer acceptability & desirability
Scalability across diverse Indian contexts
Daily consumability embedded in routine diets
Guidance for Applicants
- Focus on adolescent girls and/or WRA as target groups.
- Address taste, convenience, and social aspirations in product design.
- Ensure affordability and potential for large-scale adoption.
- Consider behavioural insights and SBCC strategies for uptake.“
Eligibility Checklist
Applicant type:
- Indian NGOs, academic institutions, research organizations, startups, or private sector entities.
Focus area:
- Development of nutrient-dense food products for adolescent girls and women of reproductive age (WRA).
Innovation criteria:
- Product must be aspirational, affordable, and nutritionally effective (especially iron).
Scalability:
- Potential for adoption across diverse Indian contexts.
Daily consumability:
- Must fit into routine diets and align with taste, convenience, and social aspirations.
Execution readiness:
- Proposal should outline prototyping, testing, and pathways to scale.
Required Documents
- Cover letter with applicant details and summary of innovation.
Detailed proposal including:
- Background and rationale
- Objectives and target group(s)
- Product concept/design
- Nutritional efficacy plan (iron/folate delivery strategy)
- Consumer acceptability testing plan
- Scalability and affordability strategy
Implementation roadmap
- Budget & financial plan (with justification).
- Team profile (CVs of key investigators/partners).
- Institutional approvals (if applicable).
- Partnership letters/MoUs (if collaborating with other organizations).
Submission deadline: 3 July 2026
Official call document: Download here
Apply by 3 July 2026 for the ICMR–Gates Foundation Grand Challenge to develop aspirational nutrient-dense food products preventing anaemia in women & girls.
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