Descrição

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation invites proposals for innovative approaches capable of achieving at least a 30% reduction in the ex-factory unit cost of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) and GiveWell have also expressed interest in potentially funding projects submitted through this call.

Webinar: 30 March 2026, 7:00-8:00 AM Pacific Time (registration required)

Background

Global resources for the treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) are flat or declining, while the burden of wasting remains high. This Grand Challenge seeks innovations that can substantially increase the number of children treated for SAM per dollar of spend by reducing the cost of RUTF. The challenge is explicitly designed as an idea-sourcing and proof-of-concept mechanism.

The Challenge

Proposed innovations must achieve at least a 30% reduction in the ex-factory unit cost of RUTF, calculated relative to the applicant’s own current ex-factory production baseline or a clearly justified comparator. The call focuses specifically on physical composition, ingredients, manufacturing, packaging, and factory-level production economics. Clinical trials and delivery-only approaches are out of scope.

All formulations must present a plausible pathway to meet the Codex Guidelines for Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (CXG 95 2022).

Solutions must provide a validated pathway to the required cost reduction; include a transparent cost model with clear assumptions and sensitivity analysis; demonstrate proof-of-concept feasibility; present a credible pathway to normative and regulatory acceptance; and show a clear scalability pathway with durable cost reductions at scale.

Focus Areas

1. Protein Diversification and Dairy Replacement (Highest Priority) Milk powder is the largest cost driver in standard RUTF. Sought solutions include optimised dairy-based protein systems, partial dairy reduction using complementary proteins, dairy-free high-quality protein blends, and protein quality optimisation technologies. Required deliverables include prototype formulations, PDCAAS of 0.9 or above with amino acid profiles and digestibility data, stability testing, sensory data, cost comparison models, and a regulatory roadmap.

2. Lipid Optimization and Stabilization Sought solutions include stable regional oils or blends, processing or antioxidant systems enabling use of less refined oils, and encapsulation innovations to reduce oxidation. Required deliverables include fatty acid profile characterisation, oxidation stability data targeting 24-month shelf life, sensory assessment, and quantified cost impact.

3. Packaging Materials Science Sought solutions include low-cost multilayer laminates, recyclable alternatives to foil sachets, and packaging designs improving efficiency or reducing waste. Required deliverables include packaging prototypes and performance testing, demonstrated 24-month shelf life in Zone IVb, and unit cost comparison.

4. Production and Supply Innovations Sought solutions include continuous processing, process intensification, automation, modular LMIC-appropriate equipment, and input sourcing innovations. Required deliverables include proof-of-concept feasibility evidence and cost comparisons.

Cross-Cutting Requirements

All funded projects must address clinical safety and nutritional adequacy in compliance with Codex RUTF Guidelines (CXG 95-2022), including energy density of 520-550 kcal/100g, protein at 10-12% energy, lipids at 45-60% energy, and PDCAAS of 0.9 or above. Projects must also address LMIC applicability and equity; intellectual property and global access through nonexclusive or affordable licensing; data sharing and transparency; environmental considerations; and responsible use of AI and digital technologies.

Funding

Option A: Awards of up to USD 500,000 with a grant term of up to 18 months.

Option B: Awards of up to USD 1,500,000 with a grant term of up to 36 months.

Indirect costs should not exceed 10-15% of the total award.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include universities and research institutes, RUTF manufacturers and food processors, ingredient and packaging suppliers, engineering and technology firms, NGOs with strong technical capacity, and for-profit entities subject to global access requirements. Consortia led by or including LMIC-based organisations are strongly encouraged. Individuals and organisations classified as individuals for US tax purposes are not eligible.

Not funded: proposals focused solely on policy advocacy, standalone training, subsidising routine operations, purely market studies, price negotiation without technological innovation, clinical trials only, or delivery models without product innovation.

How to Apply

Before applying, applicants should review the Gates Foundation terms and conditions, Rules and Guidelines,Application Instructions, and FAQs available on the challenge page. A webinar will be held on 30 March 2026 at 7:00-8:00 AM Pacific Time; applicants are encouraged to register and submit questions in advance. The webinar recording will be available on the challenge page after the session.