GHAYIB 2026
Apply
Commission Jeunes — 9th Forum Galien Africa

Global Health Africa Young Innovator Boost

Boosting young health innovators and researchers

Equitably integrating mental health into Primary Health Care in Africa

ApplyThe 2026 edition

Applications close in

Deadline: October 7, 2026 at 11:59 PM UTC

Deadline: October 7, 2026 at 11:59 PM UTC

The 2026 edition in brief

Why mental health, why Primary Health Care, why now.

The burden of mental health disorders is rising fast across Africa, while specialist services remain scarce and concentrated in capital cities. Integrating mental health into Primary Health Care is the realistic path to universal access.

GHAYIB 2026 identifies, funds and supports the young people building that integration: technological innovators on one side, researchers producing evidence on the other.

Read the full page

Two tracks, one standard

Pick the one that matches your work. The scoring grid is shared; its wording adapts to your discipline.

4 finalist places

Technological Innovations track

Startups, AI platforms, tele-counselling and connected medical devices serving Primary Health Care.

I am an innovator
2 finalist places

Scientific Research track

Young researchers producing evidence — epidemiological, clinical, operational — to guide mental health policy.

I am a researcher

Prizes and assessment

A 10,000 USD prize pool and post-forum support that differs by rank.

1st prize

5,000 USD

Exclusive mentoring and access to the Galien Africa network

2nd prize

3,000 USD

Introductions to investors

3rd prize

2,000 USD

Coaching and visibility

Official scoring grid

Official GHAYIB 2026 scoring grid
CriterionInnovations trackResearch track
Disruptivity / RigorOriginality of the solution, relevant use of technology and AIMethodological rigor, protocol, data validity
Mental health impactImproves access to primary health care, reduces inequalitiesValue of the evidence for public policy
Viability / ApplicabilityBusiness model, scalability, deployment potentialPotential to translate results into clinical practice
Team and expertiseComplementary profiles, execution capabilityInstitutional anchoring, academic rigor
Pitch qualityStorytelling clarity, concision, quality of the Q&AAbility to popularize complex scientific data
Ethics and sustainabilityData protection, compliance, social impactBioethics committee compliance, integrity

Official timeline

Eight milestones, from the opening of the call to the awards.

  1. Sep 7

    Call for applications opens

  2. Oct 7

    Applications close

    Current stage

  3. Oct 8 – Oct 20

    Technical committee evaluation

  4. Oct 25

    Public announcement of the 6 finalists

  5. Dec 7

    Speed Mentoring (closed session, Dakar)

  6. Dec 8

    Final pitches and jury deliberation

  7. Dec 8 – Dec 11

    9th Forum Galien Africa, Dakar

  8. Dec 11

    Awards at the closing ceremony

Mentors and jury

The jury and the mentor network who support and assess the projects.

Pr Pape Salif Sow
Chair of the jury

Pr Pape Salif Sow

Professor of infectious diseases — Chair of the GHAYIB 2026 jury

Senegal

Professor of infectious diseases at Université Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar, he headed the infectious and tropical diseases department of Fann University Hospital from 2002 to 2012. The author of more than 150 scientific publications, he led global health programmes at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation before joining Gilead Sciences, where he directs access-to-treatment programmes for Africa.

The 2026 jury is chaired by Professor Pape Salif Sow. It brings together international experts, globally recognised scientists and leading figures from Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

2025 laureates

The projects distinguished at the GAYIB 2025 edition in Dakar.

  • 1st prizeGAYIB 2025

    ANTOUKIT

    Amoun Antoinette Mawena

    Benin

    OAPI-patented cervical cancer screening kit

  • 2nd prizeGAYIB 2025

    Telemedan

    Abakar Mahamat

    Chad

    Solar-powered autonomous telemedicine kiosks with AI diagnosis

  • 3rd prizeGAYIB 2025

    MpoxAI

    Oluwatobi Adewumi

    Nigeria

    AI web application for rapid mpox detection

See all laureates

Frequently asked questions

Young innovators and young researchers whose project contributes to integrating mental health into Primary Health Care in Africa. Detailed conditions are set out in the competition rules.

See all questions

Your project belongs here

One account, one application, and the chance to present your work to the jury of the 9th Forum Galien Africa.

Apply