Start-up GOAL 3 wins European award of 150,000 euros

GOAL 3, a Dutch social enterprise in health technology, took home the second place prize on Tuesday, March 19 at the European Humanitarian Forum in Brussels.

The European Prize for Humanitarian Innovation (InnovAid) award is given to innovative humanitarian organisations, social enterprises, and companies developing technology to help vulnerable people affected by humanitarian emergencies. 

GOAL 3, named after Sustainable Development Goal 3, founded in 2019, developed the IMPALA system to address the enormous human resource gaps in low- and middle-income countries. The IMPALA system provides an innovative and cost-effective solution that enables healthcare workers in overcrowded health settings to monitor and prioritise patient care, supporting a transition from reactive to proactive care – saving thousands of lives. The IMPALA system is used primarily in childcare settings and is one of the solutions that helped to bring child mortality to an all-time low in 2022 as published by the UNICEF report last week. They are currently operating in Rwanda, Malawi, and Tanzania with ambitions to expand across the continent. 

“We are extremely honoured to receive this award,” said GOAL 3 CEO Niek Versteegde. “We have an ambitious goal, to improve access to high-quality healthcare for 100 million people by 2030. This award is an important step in making that happen.”

The three finalists were judged by an independent panel of judges who judged on 4 criteria:

• Innovation
• Quality and sustainability
• Affordability and Cost-effectiveness
• Engagement with end users

And the judges found that GOAL 3’s innovation excelled in all categories.

Based on early results, GOAL 3’s affordable patient monitoring system could be among the most cost-effective solutions for saving lives in the world, with pilot results showing a 59% reduction in child mortality compared to the same period a year before implementation. 

GOAL 3 will use the prize to expand the IMPALA system and aims to collaborate with NGOs, funders, and local organisations to improve accessibility and support health workers even better. If you would like to further support the implementation of the IMPALA system you can reach out to GOAL 3 via their website.

About GOAL 3:

GOAL 3 is a social enterprise, founded in 2019 and named after sustainable development goal 3. GOAL 3 developed the IMPALA system, an innovative and cost-effective solution that enables healthcare workers in overcrowded health settings to monitor and prioritise patient care – saving thousands of lives. GOAL 3 aims to improve access to high quality of care for 100 million people by empowering 1 million health workers by 2030. You can learn more about them on their LinkedIn Page or their website.

About the European Prize for Humanitarian Innovation:

The European Prize for Humanitarian Innovation (InnovAid) is awarded to organisations, social enterprises, and companies leveraging technology to assist vulnerable populations affected by humanitarian crises. The award aims to recognize and support innovative solutions that have a tangible impact on humanitarian aid efforts.