Management Sciences for Health and the Consortium for Building Inclusive Societies Among Top 100 Proposals for MacArthur $100 Million Grant

High-scoring 100&Change Applications Featured in Bold Solutions Network

Arlington, VA—February 19, 2020—The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation today named the One Billion Voices Project, submitted by Management Sciences for Health (MSH) in partnership with the Consortium for Building Inclusive Societies (CBIS), as one of the Top 100 in its 100&Change competition. The prize is a single $100 million grant to help solve one of the world’s most critical social challenges.

The One Billion Voices project seeks to support Disabled People Organizations (DPOs) in three countries across three regions as models for global scale-up through a proven combination of leadership and organizational development, rights-based policy knowledge, and catalytic funding. By taking action to advance disabled people’s rights and opportunities, strengthening and expanding advocacy networks, and partnering with governments to build inclusive societies, disabled people themselves—organized and empowered—will lead in driving transformative change. Watch a video about the project here.

“Our selection is important recognition that disability rights are essential to solving the world’s most critical social challenges,” said international disability rights advocate and CBIS member Judith Heumann. “Our consortium members bring first-hand experience and proven expertise in advancing the rights of disabled people, who are the world’s largest minority and routinely face discrimination, marginalization, poverty, and abuse. Together, we will break down barriers and build more inclusive and equitable societies.”

The Top 100 represent the top 21% of competition submissions. The proposals were rigorously vetted, undergoing MacArthur’s initial administrative review, a Peer-to-Peer review, an evaluation by an external panel of judges, and a technical review by specialists whose expertise was matched to each project.

Each proposal was evaluated using four criteria: impactful, evidence-based, feasible, and durable. MacArthur’s Board of Directors will select up to 10 finalists from these high-scoring proposals this spring.

“Now is the time to invest in DPOs, equipping them with the skills, resources, and networks they need to mobilize one billion voices for inclusion, participation, and equity,” said Marian W. Wentworth, MSH President and CEO. “MSH’s long track record in leadership and governance training, and our decades of advocacy and systems building expertise, will propel a powerful movement that transforms lives and builds a more just and healthier world for us all.”

“MacArthur seeks to generate increased recognition, exposure, and support for the high-impact ideas designated as the Top 100,” said Cecilia Conrad, CEO of Lever for Change, a MacArthur non-profit affiliate and social change accelerator, and MacArthur Managing Director, 100&Change. “Based on our experience in the first round of 100&Change, we know the competition will produce multiple compelling and fundable ideas. We are committed to matching philanthropists with powerful solutions and problem solvers to accelerate social change.”

Since the inaugural competition, other funders and philanthropists have committed an additional $419 million to date to support bold solutions by 100&Change applicants. Building on the success of 100&Change, MacArthur created Lever for Change to unlock significant philanthropic capital by helping donors find and fund vetted, high-impact opportunities through the design and management of customized competitions. In addition to 100&Change, Lever for Change is managing the Chicago Prize, the Economic Opportunity Challenge, and the Larsen Lam ICONIQ Impact Award.

Bold Solutions Network Launches

The Bold Solutions Network, an online repository of the 100&Change proposals, launched today. Featuring MSH as one of the Top 100, the searchable online collection of submissions contains a project overview, 90-second video, and two-page factsheet for each proposal. Visitors can sort by subject, location, Sustainable Development Goal, or beneficiary population to view proposals based on area of interest.

The Bold Solutions Network will eventually showcase the highest-rated proposals from all Lever for Change competitions. Proposals in the Bold Solutions Network undergo extensive evaluation and due diligence to ensure that each solution promises real and measurable progress to accelerate social change.  

The Bold Solutions Network was designed to provide an innovative approach to identifying the most effective, enduring solutions aligned with donors’ philanthropic goals and to help top applicants gain visibility and funding from a wide array of funders. Organizations that are part of the network will have continued access to a variety of technical support and learning opportunities focused on strengthening their proposals and increasing the impact of their work.

One Billion Voices: Leaders with Disabilities Building Inclusive Societies

About the Consortium for Building Inclusive Societies

The Consortium for Building Inclusive Societies (CBIS) is a community of disability rights organizations and activists with unmatched international and domestic expertise and experience advancing disability rights through capacity development, policy leadership, independent living, and advocacy for disability inclusion. Together, CBIS and MSH have relationships with more than 600 DPOs across 120 countries. CBIS members include Abilis Foundation; Access Living; Center on Disability Studies; University of Hawaii; the Center for Inclusive Policy; the Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund; Disability Rights International; the Ethiopian Center for Disability and Development; Mobility International USA; the National Council on Independent Living; Trickle Up; the US International Council on Disabilities; Women Enabled International; Judith Heumann; Gerard Quinn; and Iain Levine. For more information, visit https://globalcbis.org/wp/2019/.

About MSH

Management Sciences for Health (MSH) works shoulder-to-shoulder with countries and communities to save lives and improve the health of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people by building strong, resilient, sustainable health systems. Together, we seek to achieve universal health coverage—equitable, affordable access to high-quality health services for all who need them—even in fragile, post-crisis settings. For more than 45 years in 150 countries, MSH has partnered with governments, civil society, the private sector, and thousands of health workers on locally led solutions that expand access to medicines and services; improve quality of care; help prevent and control epidemics; support inspiring leadership and transparent governance; and foster informed, empowered, and healthier communities. For more information, visit www.msh.org.

About 100&Change

100&Change is a distinctive competition that is open to organizations and collaborations working in any field, anywhere in the world. Proposals must identify a problem and offer a solution that promises significant and durable change.

The second round of the competition had a promising start: 3,690 competition registrants submitted 755 proposals. Of those, 475 passed an initial administrative review. 100&Changewas designed to be fair, open, and transparent. The identity of the judges and the methodology used to assess initial proposals are public. Applicants received comments and feedback from the peers, judges, and technical reviewers. Key issues in the competition are discussed in a blog on The MacArthur Foundation’s website.

In the inaugural round of 100&Change, Sesame Workshop and International Rescue Committee were awarded $100 million to educate young children displaced by conflict and persecution in the Syrian response region and to challenge the global system of humanitarian aid to focus more on building a foundation for future success for millions of young children.

Media Contact

Jordan Coriza (MSH)
617-250-9107
jcoriza@msh.org