Global Crowdsourcing Initiative (with a cash prize!) to support polio eradication efforts in Pakistan

The Polio Eradication Initiative is looking for innovative ways to detect, control and respond to anti-vaccination propaganda on social media.

Community-based vaccinator administers polio drops to a child in Lahore, Punjab ©NEOC/Pakistan
Community-based vaccinator administers polio drops to a child in Lahore, Punjab ©NEOC/Pakistan

Pakistan and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) are facing a new challenge, driven by technological advancement and an increasing number of people using social media to seek and share news. Rumors and misinformation about polio vaccination and the program spread like wildfire on social media, including in Pakistan where the number of people with access to internet and smartphones have significantly increased over the past years, and continues to increase.

The polio eradication team in Pakistan, have partnered with Rotary, Spencer Trask & Co. and WHO and are looking for innovative ideas to help quickly detect, control and/or respond to the spread of anti-vaccination propaganda on social media in an urban population. These organizations have engaged crowdsourcing pioneer InnoCentive to oversee this challenge and award $10,000 to each of the top three solutions (some restrictions apply).

More information on how to join in this collective effort.

Related resources


Related News

   07/08/2024
7 August 2024
   30/07/2024
Athletes from around the world unite for a polio-free future
   12/06/2024
Our sincerest condolences for the loss
   06/06/2024
Advocating for a Polio-Free Future for Every Child
   31/05/2024
Countries convening at this week’s World Health Assembly discuss a range of public health topics – but why does this matter for polio?
   14/05/2024
After a thorough evaluation, an independent Polio Outbreak Response Assessment Team (OBRA), has concluded that there is no evidence of ongoing wild polio transmission in Mozambique and Malawi