SCWO COLAB: CULTIVATING SOLUTIONS

An annual collaborative ideation programme that brings SCWO Member Organisations together to translate research findings into community-led solutions. 

SCWO's research helps us better understand the issues affecting women in Singapore and identify where more can be done. 

SCWO CoLab takes the next step — bringing SCWO Member Organisations together to turn those insights into ideas for action. 

Through a facilitated collaborative process, participating organisations will explore challenges identified through the research, exchange perspectives and develop practical, community-led solutions that can be taken forward. 

Creating Better Pathways for Women Returning to Work

Women seeking to return to the workforce can face multiple barriers—from caregiving responsibilities and changing skills needs, to confidence, workplace practices and navigating available support. 

Building on SCWO's 2026 research into women's return-to-work journeys, the inaugural 2026/27 Challenge invites SCWO Member Organisations to develop solutions that respond to the needs and gaps identified through the research. 

Ideas could address areas such as skills and career readiness, caregiving support, confidence and peer networks, employer engagement, alternative career pathways, or other opportunities identified through the research. 

You don't need to have the solution fully worked out. That's what SCWO CoLab is for. 

SCWO CoLab is open to SCWO Member Organisations interested in developing practical responses to the annual challenge. 

SCWO Member Organisations may collaborate with one another and with relevant partners. Each SCWO Member Organisation may lead or participate as a collaborator in one submission only. 

Have an idea? Bring it to SCWO CoLab. 

You don't need a fully developed proposal to take part. Tell us about the problem you want to address, your initial idea and the difference you think it could make.

Your submission should briefly cover:

• What problem or gap have you identified?
• Who is affected?
• What is your initial idea?
• Who might you collaborate with?
• What difference could the solution make?

Submissions close 18 November 2026. 

As part of SCWO CoLab, successful applicants can take part in the Singapore Government Partnerships Office's Citizens' Circle to further develop their ideas and collaborate with other partners. Promising community-led ideas may subsequently explore support through the SG Partnerships Fund, subject to prevailing eligibility and assessment criteria. This creates opportunities for these ideas to move from research and ideation towards implementation through citizen-government partnerships.