Overview This Request for Proposals is launched by multiple partners across diverse regions, funding levels, and topic areas. Applicants must carefully review which Grand Challenges portal applies to their geographic location: South Africa: Grand Challenges South Africa portal Other African countries: Grand Challenges Africa portal Brazil: Grand Challenges Brazil portal India: Grand Challenges India portal Other regions: Gates Foundation Grand Challenges portal Background Despite the clear advantages of local vaginal drug delivery, including discreet use, high local efficacy, broad absorptive surface, reduced systemic effects, and lower API dosage requirements, innovation in vaginal formulations remains limited. Key barriers include: Limited mechanistic biological data from LMIC high-burden settings Misconceptions about acceptability among women and partners Insufficient user-centered design approaches This RFP aims to catalyse innovative, safe, and user-preferred vaginal drug delivery technologies, integrating biological insights with high-quality end-user research. The Challenge The initiative invites proposals that develop vaginal formulations capable of: Optimal drug delivery Supporting a healthy vaginal microenvironment Offering additional user-desired benefits (e.g., odor control, enhanced pleasure) Innovations may be at any stage of development but must align with at least one of the two core objectives below. Objective 1: Define Characteristics of an Ideal Vaginal Product Applicants may propose qualitative or mixed-methods studies that explore: Features that make vaginal products highly desirable, not just acceptable Ancillary benefits uniquely suited to vaginal delivery Cultural, regional, and demographic preferences Common barriers preventing widespread use Prioritisation frameworks to identify universally appealing design features The goal is to shift vaginal products from “tolerable” to “desirable” through deep end-user insight. Objective 2: Leverage Biology for Vaginally Administered Products Proposals may include innovations that: Utilise vaginal biology (mucus, microbiome, epithelial cells) to enhance drug delivery Develop novel formulation components that promote: A healthy or optimal vaginal microbiome Improved mucosal health Scalable, low-cost manufacturing pathways Assess the biological impact of new formulations on: Microbiome composition Mucins, glycans, lectins Vaginal epithelial cells and cytokines Funding Details Award Amount: USD $100,000–$200,000 Project Duration: Up to 24 months Exploratory, high-risk, lower-budget projects are strongly encouraged and prioritised Indirect costs must not exceed 10–15% of the total award Eligibility Open to: Research institutes Universities and academic institutions Nonprofits and for-profit companies International organisations Government agencies Applicants must apply through a legally recognised corporate entity and comply with the Global Access Clause. The RFP strongly encourages applications that: Are women-led Involve LMIC-based institutions Build on complementary studies, projects, or trials Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in research teams Generate biological or end-user data from LMIC settings We Are Looking For Proposals That: Focus on vaginal delivery approaches that: Do not require post-use retrieval Support extended or slow-release formulations Use rigorous qualitative approaches that go beyond standard acceptability studies Include clear, peer-review-supported scientific rationale Provide feasibility evidence or limit scope when lacking preliminary data Clearly define and justify the target end-user group (e.g., adolescents, postpartum women) Align with project duration and budget limits Propose scalable, LMIC-appropriate innovations Integrate quantitative and qualitative data to produce actionable insights We Will Not Fund Proposals That: Assess existing vaginally inserted products (e.g., menstrual cups, OTC probiotics) Focus on therapies for specific health conditions (e.g., STIs), unless formulation-focused Lack translational relevance or scalability Rely solely on basic science without end-use considerations Depend only on interviews/focus groups without rigorous mixed-methods designs Use traditional acceptability questionnaires without deeper analysis Lack alignment with the RFP objectives Exceed the allowable budget or project duration Are linked to the tobacco industry, including e-cigarette and vaping companies Application Resources Applicants should review: Rules & Guidelines Application Instructions Frequently Asked Questions Budget Guidelines VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram , WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and Telegram Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the funding organization. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.