How to enter

Required Registration Email: To enter the competition, participants must register by sending a registration email to TraffickingChallenge@hhs.gov. The registration email must be sent by the Official Representative and include a subject line stating “Registration - HHS Innovation Challenge to Prevent Human Trafficking Among Women and Girls.” In this email, you must identify only one Official Representative for each competition registration. The Official Representative must provide a name and email address and, by sending in the registration, affirms on behalf of the participant (individual, team, or legal entity), that they have read and consent to be governed by the competition rules.

Questions concerning this competition should be sent by email to TraffickingChallenge@hhs.gov.

Submit your entry through the Challenge.gov submission portal:

Submissions for Phase 1 of this competition are due by 02/01/2024. The identified Official Representative (individual, team or legal entity) may apply for Phase 1 of this competition by submitting an application through Challenge.gov:

• Create a Challenge.Gov Account.
• Log in to Challenge.Gov.
• Click the orange Apply for this Challenge button in the overview section at the top of the Challenge page.
• Applications must be in English and must not use HHS or other government logos or official seals in the submissions and must not otherwise give an appearance of Federal government endorsement.
• Title: Enter the title of your submission
• Brief Description: Provide a brief 2 sentence summary of your proposal.
• Long description: Write "See Attached proposal"
• Attach your proposal as a PDF. Proposals must be no longer than 5 pages in length. Your proposal must include:

1. A one-paragraph executive summary that clearly states how the program demonstrates an understanding of human trafficking and trauma-informed approaches that prevent human trafficking and/or improve health outcomes related to human trafficking among women and girls. The executive summary may include quantitative and/or qualitative research on human trafficking.
2. A description of the ability of the program to address variations that increase the risk of women and girls being exposed to human trafficking.
3. A description of the ability of the program to apply evidence-based interventions that use life-changing strategies, concepts, models, and evaluative processes to prevent human trafficking and/or improve health outcomes related to human trafficking among women and girls.
4. A description of how the program is innovative at preventing human trafficking and/or improving health outcomes related to human trafficking among women and girls.

To load a file to the submission:

• Step 1: Drag your file or click the "Choose from folder" link to load a file from your computer (Allowed file types: .pdf, .txt, .csv, .jpg, .png or .tiff)
• Step 2: Optional step - Rename your file.
• Step 3: Click the blue "Attach File" button to attach your file to the submission.
• Step 4: Complete this step for all files.

Uploaded files:

• Must be PDF submissions with font size no smaller than 11-point Arial.
• Must be in English.
• Must not use HHS or other government logos or official seals in the submissions and must not otherwise give an appearance of Federal government endorsement.

Optional: to Submit an external URL: Add your submission URL to the "external URL" field. 
To complete your submission:

• Check the box for Acknowledgement of Rules, Terms & Conditions to confirm you have read all content on the Rules tab for this Challenge.
• Click the Review and Submit button at the bottom of the page.
• Click the Submit button to enter.

Open until 02/01/26

Submit your entry by emailing TraffickingChallenge@HHS.gov:

Submissions for Phase 2 of this competition are due by 02/01/2026. The identified Phase 1 Official Representative (individual, team or legal entity) may apply for Phase 2 of this competition by submitting an application to TraffickingChalleng@HHS.gov. Applications must be in English and must not use HHS or other government logos or official seals in the submissions and must not otherwise give an appearance of Federal government endorsement. Be sure to include the following in your submission:

• Title: Title of your submission
• Brief Description: A brief 2-sentence summary of your proposal.
• Long description: Your attached proposal as a PDF. Proposals must be no longer than 5 pages in length. Your proposal must include:

1. A description that demonstrates that the program successfully replicated and/or expanded: (1) in another geographic area or a wider geographic area; (2) in another setting; and/or (3) by increasing the size and/or reach of the program.

2. A sustainability plan describing the capacity to improve knowledge gaps and access to resources and solutions beyond the challenge timeline. Attached files:

• Must be PDF submissions with font size no smaller than 11-point Arial.
• Must be in English.
• Must not use HHS or other government logos or official seals in the submissions and must not otherwise give an appearance of Federal government endorsement.