Call for Applications: DIV Offers Up to $1.5 Million for Global Development Innovations
Innovators, social entrepreneurs, researchers, non-profit organisations, companies and government partners with solutions to pressing development challenges can apply for funding through the Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) programme.
The initiative, associated with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), supports promising innovations with the potential to improve lives at scale. DIV uses an evidence-driven funding model, providing different levels of support depending on how advanced and well-tested an innovation is.
Funding of up to $1.5 million
Under Stage 2 – Test and Position for Scale, successful applicants can receive up to $1.5 million to conduct impact evaluations, undertake additional market testing or expand an innovation that has already demonstrated promising results during pilot testing.
DIV also offers:
- Stage 1: Up to $200,000 to pilot early-stage innovations and test their feasibility, demand and potential social impact.
- Stage 2: Up to $1.5 million to test and prepare promising solutions for wider adoption.
- Stage 3: Up to $15 million to help transition proven solutions to scale.
- Evidence Generation: Up to $1.5 million for evaluating widely used approaches where stronger evidence of impact and cost-effectiveness is needed.
Who can apply?
DIV accepts applications from a broad range of innovators, including social entrepreneurs, non-governmental organisations, private companies, government partners and researchers.
Applications can come from organisations working across sectors and countries where USAID operates. DIV says applicants are assessed competitively based on factors including evidence of impact, cost-effectiveness, scalability and financial sustainability.
What does DIV look for?
Applicants should demonstrate that their proposed solution can address a significant development challenge and has the potential to deliver measurable results.
The programme particularly focuses on three principles:
Rigorous evidence: Solutions should demonstrate measurable outcomes or present a credible plan for generating evidence of impact.
Cost-effectiveness: DIV seeks innovations capable of delivering greater impact for every dollar invested compared with existing alternatives.
Potential to scale: Funded solutions should have a realistic pathway to reach large numbers of people and become financially sustainable without depending indefinitely on DIV funding.
Applications accepted year-round
Unlike many competitive funding opportunities with a single annual deadline, DIV has historically accepted applications throughout the year, allowing innovators to submit proposals when their solutions are ready for consideration.
The programme has backed innovations across multiple countries and sectors, using a venture-capital-inspired approach to provide smaller grants for testing ideas and larger investments for solutions that have demonstrated strong evidence and potential for scale.
Interested applicants are encouraged to review the official DIV requirements and application process before submitting their proposals.
Apply through the official Development Innovation Ventures portal
