The Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) Fund is inviting applications from organisations developing innovative solutions that can improve the lives of people living in poverty.
The fund supports projects with the potential to create measurable development impact and expand their reach to larger populations.
It uses a staged funding approach, meaning that organisations can apply for financial support depending on how developed their solution is and how much evidence they have collected.
DIV supports innovations across different sectors, including agriculture, education, healthcare, technology, climate resilience, financial inclusion, livelihoods and economic development.
Applications are accepted throughout the year, making this a continuing funding opportunity for eligible organisations.
What Does the Grant Cover?
DIV provides funding through three main stages.
Funding Stage
Maximum Funding
Stage 1 – Piloting
Up to US$300,000
Stage 2 – Testing and Positioning for Scale
Up to US$1,000,000
Stage 3 – Transitioning to Scale
Up to US$4,000,000
Stage 1 – Piloting
Supports organisations testing an innovation in real-world conditions. Projects should already have a working prototype and be ready to test their solution with actual users or communities.
Stage 2 – Testing and Positioning for Scale
Supports organisations that have already conducted successful pilots and want to measure their impact, assess cost-effectiveness and prepare for expansion.
Stage 3 – Transitioning to Scale
Supports proven innovations that have demonstrated measurable impact and are ready for wider implementation.
Funding may support:
Testing new development solutions.
Improving access to education and healthcare.
Expanding agricultural and livelihood innovations.
Evaluating the effectiveness of development programmes.
Developing cost-effective service delivery models.
Expanding successful community-based interventions.
Preparing innovative solutions for national or international scale.
The actual grant amount depends on the project, its evidence and the activities proposed.
Who Can Apply?
DIV accepts applications from different types of organisations, including:
Nonprofit organisations.
Non-governmental organisations.
Social enterprises.
Startups and eligible businesses.
Universities.
Research institutions.
Technical assistance providers supporting government innovation.
Partnerships and consortia.
Projects must address challenges in low-, lower-middle- or upper-middle-income countries.
Applicants should demonstrate:
A clear development problem.
An innovative solution.
A credible Theory of Change.
Evidence of potential or demonstrated impact.
Cost-effectiveness.
A realistic pathway to expansion.
An experienced team capable of implementing the project.
DIV does not fund individuals without an eligible legally established organisation.
It also does not generally support projects that are still only ideas or have not been tested in a real-world setting.
How to Apply
Visit the official DIV application website.
Download and review the Request for Proposals.
Identify the appropriate funding stage.
Assess whether your project has sufficient evidence for that stage.
Prepare the innovation description and Theory of Change.
Develop a project budget and implementation plan.
Submit the initial application through the official online portal.
Respond to additional requests if your application progresses to due diligence.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.
Important Information
Maximum grant: Up to US$4 million.
Stage 1: Up to US$300,000.
Stage 2: Up to US$1 million.
Stage 3: Up to US$4 million.
Application deadline: Rolling throughout the year.
Eligible applicants: Nonprofits, NGOs and other eligible organisations.
Target countries: Low- and middle-income countries.
Funding approach: Milestone-based grants.
Main selection criteria: Impact, cost-effectiveness and potential for sustainable scale.
DIV expects projects to demonstrate the potential to reach large populations. Its guidance describes scale as typically improving the lives of at least one million people over ten years, although exceptional cases may be considered.
The fund does not prescribe one standard project duration for every award. Applicants should propose a realistic timeline that matches their project and milestones.
Official Application and Information Links
Source Attribution: Based on the official DIV Fund application instructions, Request for Proposals and applicant eligibility information