WASHINGTON, D.C. - The following is the text of a joint press release by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Government of Norway, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada, and The World Bank.

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The 19 nominees for award with the most promising solutions that address the causes of maternal and newborn deaths in rural areas of the developing world, were announced at the Saving Lives at Birth Development Exchange. The nominees will now enter into final negotiations before awards can be issued.

In March, the Saving Lives at Birth: A Grand Challenge for Development partnership submitted a call to the global community for new technologies, new service delivery models and new ways to stimulate demand for healthcare services at the time of birth. The call elicited more than 600 submissions from around the world.

From July 26-28, the 77 finalists travelled to Washington, D.C. to compete in the final stage of this competition, display their ideas to the public in an open market place and establish connections with a community of innovators dedicated to a single cause: ensuring every mother delivers safely and every newborn has a healthy start to life.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton joined the Saving Lives at Birth partners-USAID, the Government of Norway, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada, and The World Bank-to congratulate the nominees for award.

To learn more about and vote for these finalists' innovations, visit www.savinglivesatbirth.net.