Open Call: Urban Dengue Control Innovation Challenge

The Urban Dengue Control Innovation Challenge is inviting eligible organizations to pilot and validate innovative bio-enabled and digitally-powered solutions that improve sustainable urban dengue control in Sri Lanka. The initiative seeks scalable technologies and integrated vector management approaches that can reduce dengue transmission and support nationwide implementation.

About the Urban Dengue Control Innovation Challenge

The Urban Dengue Control Innovation Challenge aims to identify innovative technologies and approaches that address the growing burden of dengue in Sri Lanka.

Despite significant investments in conventional mosquito control methods—including larviciding, insecticide spraying, and community clean-up campaigns—dengue remains endemic across many urban areas. Challenges such as increasing insecticide resistance, climate change, rapid urbanization, and densely populated communities have created an urgent need for more effective and sustainable solutions.

The challenge supports pilot projects that demonstrate innovative, evidence-based interventions capable of improving urban dengue prevention and control.

Programme Objectives

The challenge aims to:

• Reduce the burden of urban dengue in Sri Lanka.
• Support innovative bio-enabled and digitally-powered technologies.
• Improve integrated vector management.
• Generate evidence through real-world pilot projects.
• Validate scalable dengue control solutions.
• Promote sustainable and cost-effective interventions.
• Strengthen collaboration between innovators and public health stakeholders.
• Enable citywide and nationwide adoption of successful solutions.

Priority Focus Areas

Projects should contribute to one or more of the following areas:

• Urban dengue control
• Bio-enabled technologies
• Digitally-powered solutions
• Integrated vector management
• Mosquito surveillance
• Disease prevention
• Public health innovation
• Cost-effective interventions
• Field validation
• Evidence generation
• Climate-resilient vector control
• Scalable public health technologies
• Sustainable disease control

Why the Challenge Is Needed

Sri Lanka continues to experience a high incidence of dengue despite long-standing vector control programmes.

Current challenges include:

• Persistent dengue transmission.
• Increasing insecticide resistance.
• Climate-related changes affecting mosquito populations.
• High population density in urban areas.
• Limitations of conventional vector control methods.
• Need for innovative and scalable public health solutions.

The challenge encourages organizations to develop technologies that complement existing dengue prevention strategies while improving long-term effectiveness.

Funding Information

• Maximum grant amount: USD 450,000 per pilot project.
• Co-financing requirement: Applicants must provide 10% of the total project cost.
• Funding supports pilot implementation and field validation of innovative solutions.

Programme Benefits

Selected organizations will receive:

• Grant funding of up to USD 450,000.
• Opportunity to pilot solutions in Sri Lanka.
• Field validation in real-world urban environments.
• Collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
• Engagement with national and international stakeholders.
• Increased visibility among governments and development partners across Asia and the Pacific.
• Opportunities to demonstrate measurable public health impact.
• Potential for future scaling and wider adoption.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

• For-profit companies
• Not-for-profit organizations
• Civil society organizations (CSOs)
• Research institutions
• Government-owned enterprises that are legally and financially autonomous from the government in the implementation country

Additional Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be legally established organizations.
• Be financially autonomous where applicable.
• Have team members who are 18 years of age or older.
• Be capable of implementing pilot projects.
• Meet the challenge’s application requirements.

Individuals are not eligible to apply.

Expected Project Outcomes

Successful projects are expected to:

• Demonstrate innovative dengue control technologies.
• Improve mosquito surveillance and management.
• Reduce dengue transmission in urban settings.
• Generate evidence supporting large-scale implementation.
• Strengthen integrated vector management practices.
• Produce scalable and sustainable public health solutions.
• Support policy decisions for wider adoption.

Why This Challenge Matters

Dengue remains one of the most significant public health challenges in Sri Lanka and many countries across Asia.

This challenge helps:

• Accelerate innovation in disease prevention.
• Reduce dependence on conventional insecticide-based approaches.
• Encourage climate-resilient public health technologies.
• Improve urban health outcomes.
• Generate evidence for national dengue control programmes.
• Strengthen partnerships between innovators, governments, and development agencies.

How the Challenge Works

Selected organizations will:

1. Receive grant funding.
2. Implement pilot projects in Sri Lanka.
3. Test innovative dengue control solutions under real-world conditions.
4. Collect evidence on effectiveness.
5. Collaborate with ADB and key stakeholders.
6. Validate the scalability of their technology.
7. Share results to support broader adoption.

How to Apply

Applicants should follow these steps:

1. Confirm organizational eligibility.
2. Develop an innovative dengue control solution aligned with the challenge objectives.
3. Prepare a detailed pilot project proposal.
4. Demonstrate the project’s scalability and innovation.
5. Secure the required 10% co-financing.
6. Register through the official challenge application system.
7. Submit the completed application before the deadline.

Application Tips

• Clearly explain how your solution improves existing dengue control methods.
• Demonstrate scientific and technical innovation.
• Include a realistic implementation and validation plan.
• Show how the project can be scaled beyond the pilot phase.
• Present measurable indicators for public health impact.
• Include strong partnerships where appropriate.
• Clearly identify the co-financing contribution.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Failing to provide the required 10% co-financing.
• Submitting solutions that lack innovation.
• Providing weak evidence of scalability.
• Ignoring field validation requirements.
• Presenting unrealistic implementation plans.
• Applying as an individual rather than an eligible organization.
• Submitting incomplete application documents.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who can apply for the Urban Dengue Control Innovation Challenge?

Eligible organizations include for-profit companies, non-profit organizations, civil society organizations, research institutions, and legally and financially autonomous government-owned enterprises.

How much funding is available?

Selected pilot projects may receive grants of up to USD 450,000.

Is co-financing required?

Yes. Applicants must contribute 10% of the total project cost.

What types of solutions are eligible?

Projects should focus on innovative bio-enabled technologies, digitally-powered solutions, integrated vector management, and other scalable approaches for sustainable urban dengue control.

Can individuals apply?

No. Only eligible organizations may submit applications.

What additional benefits do selected organizations receive?

Participants can validate their solutions in Sri Lanka, collaborate with the Asian Development Bank and public health stakeholders, gain international visibility, and support wider adoption of successful technologies.

What is the overall goal of the challenge?

The challenge aims to identify, test, and scale innovative dengue control solutions that improve public health outcomes and strengthen sustainable urban vector management in Sri Lanka.

Conclusion

The Urban Dengue Control Innovation Challenge offers a valuable opportunity for organizations developing innovative public health technologies to demonstrate their solutions in Sri Lanka. With grants of up to USD 450,000, collaboration with the Asian Development Bank, and opportunities for large-scale adoption, the programme supports evidence-based innovations that can transform urban dengue prevention and contribute to healthier, more resilient cities.