New Jersey based Johnson & Johnson has joined forces with the DREAMS Innovation Challenge in pursuit of “breakthrough innovations to reduce HIV infections in adolescent girls and young women in 10 sub-Saharan African countries.” The competition is supported by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, Janssen Pharmaceutical, NV, and ViiV Healthcare. It aims to give young women the chance to live the Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-Free, Mentored, and Safe lives they deserve.
Eighty-five million dollars in prize money will be distributed to winners in six Challenge Focus Areas outlined on the DREAMS challenge website. Winning proposals must be prepared for immediate implementation in at least one of the identified DREAMS countries and show impact within two years with long-term potential. The challenge is part of the DREAMS partnership’s large goal of decreasing HIV rates in adolescent girls and young women by 25 percent in 2016 and 40 percent in 2017. Currently, AIDS is the leading cause of death for young women in developing countries.
The DREAMS Partnership expects to announce the winners in mid-July followed by implementation in early fall 2016. Challenge awards will range from $100,000 to $40 million. Solutions are sought for Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Interested parties must submit a proposal here by March 28, 2016 at at 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Selected finalists will be invited to submit a formal application.
