Sentinel Awarded $100 Million to Prevent Pandemics – MacArthur Foundation

Report on the 100&Change Initiative and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

The MacArthur Foundation’s 100&Change competition has awarded a significant grant to the Sentinel initiative, a project dedicated to enhancing early detection and containment of infectious diseases. This investment directly supports the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). The initiative’s focus on empowering local communities and fostering Africa-led solutions also aligns with SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). This report details the Sentinel project, the broader scope of the 100&Change competition, and its collective impact on the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Sentinel Initiative: Strengthening Global Health Security (SDG 3)

The Sentinel initiative has been selected as the recipient of the 100&Change award, enabling a substantial scaling of its operations. The project’s core mission is to revolutionize the global approach to managing infectious disease outbreaks, a critical component of SDG 3, Target 3.d, which calls for strengthening the capacity of all countries for early warning, risk reduction, and management of national and global health risks.

Key Objectives and Alignment with SDGs

• Capacity Building: Sentinel has already trained over 3,000 public health workers across 53 African nations. The new funding will strengthen existing frameworks in Nigeria and Sierra Leone and facilitate expansion into three additional African countries. This contributes to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by creating skilled employment in the public health sector.
• Empowering Local Leadership: The initiative is championed as an Africa-led solution to global health challenges. This approach is fundamental to achieving SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by ensuring that solutions are developed and implemented by those most affected, fostering trust and collaboration.
• Fostering Partnerships: As stated by co-director Pardis Sabeti, the project demonstrates the power of combining science, innovation, and solidarity. This collaborative model is a prime example of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) in action, uniting diverse stakeholders to protect global health.

The 100&Change Competition: A Catalyst for Sustainable Development

The 100&Change competition is a global platform designed to identify and fund ambitious solutions to critical world problems. Its structure and outcomes demonstrate a strong commitment to advancing the entire spectrum of Sustainable Development Goals.

Competition Framework and Impact

1. Open and Transparent Process: The competition is open to organizations in any field, worldwide. The third round received 869 applications, which were assessed through a fair and public methodology, promoting accountability in line with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).
2. Bold Solutions Network: The five finalists and other top-ranking organizations join the Lever for Change’s Bold Solutions Network. This network facilitates further funding opportunities, acting as a multiplier for impact and reinforcing SDG 17 by connecting vetted, high-impact projects with potential funders.
3. Diverse Finalists Addressing Multiple SDGs: The 2025 finalists represent a wide range of development challenges:
   • Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project: Addresses SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).
   • Pratham USA: Focuses on SDG 4 (Quality Education).
   • Texas Children’s Hospital: Contributes to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
   • The Wikimedia Foundation: Supports SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) through knowledge sharing.

Historical Impact on the 2030 Agenda

Previous rounds of the 100&Change competition have also funded projects with a profound impact on specific SDGs.

Past Award Recipients

• 2017 Award: Sesame Workshop and the International Rescue Committee received funding to support early childhood education for children displaced by the Syrian conflict. This project directly advanced SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by providing critical services to a vulnerable population.
• 2021 Award: Community Solutions was awarded $100 million for its “Built for Zero” initiative to end homelessness in 75 U.S. communities. This work is a direct contribution to SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article’s central theme is the Sentinel project, which aims to “change how communities approach early detection and containment of infectious disease outbreaks globally.” This directly addresses the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article describes a multi-stakeholder collaboration. The MacArthur Foundation provides a transformative investment to Sentinel, which is a collaboration itself between the Broad Institute and Redeemer’s University. This initiative is part of the larger 100&Change competition, which involves Lever for Change’s Bold Solutions Network, creating a platform for various organizations to secure funding and expand their impact.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The project has a strong focus on Africa, with the article quoting Christian Happi: “This investment affirms that solutions to global health challenges can be led from Africa.” By strengthening public health systems in 53 African countries, particularly Nigeria and Sierra Leone, the initiative aims to reduce the inequality in healthcare capacity between nations.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 3.3: “By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.” The Sentinel project’s mission to enable “early detection and containment of infectious disease outbreaks” is a direct strategy to combat and ultimately end the spread of communicable diseases.
• Target 3.d: “Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.” The article explicitly states that Sentinel’s approach involves training public health workers and aims to “strengthen its existing framework in Nigeria and Sierra Leone, while also extending its geographic reach across three other African countries.” This is a clear effort to build capacity for managing health risks.
• Target 17.16: “Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources…” The partnership between the MacArthur Foundation (financial resources) and Sentinel (knowledge, expertise) to tackle a global health issue in Africa is a prime example of this target in action.
• Target 10.b: “Encourage official development assistance and financial flows… to States where the need is greatest, in particular… African countries…” The “$100 million” award from the MacArthur Foundation to the Sentinel project, which is focused on strengthening health systems in Africa, represents a significant financial flow directed to a region with critical needs.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Implied Indicator for Target 3.d: The article provides quantifiable data that can serve as an indicator for strengthening health capacity. It states, “More than 3,000 public health workers from 53 of 54 countries in Africa have already been trained.” The number of trained health workers is a direct measure of enhanced capacity.
• Implied Indicator for Target 3.d: Another measure of progress is the geographic expansion of the strengthened health framework. The article mentions the goal to “extend its geographic reach across three other African countries over the next five years.” The number of countries with implemented systems serves as a clear indicator.
• Implied Indicator for Targets 10.b and 17.16: The article explicitly mentions the financial resource mobilized for this partnership. The “$100 million” investment from the MacArthur Foundation is a direct indicator of the financial commitment to the project, aligning with the measurement of resource flows to developing nations and for partnerships.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: macfound.org