DIV Fund Open Call

Overview The DIV Fund is a global, evidence-based innovation fund supporting solutions that can improve the lives of people living in poverty in low- and middle-income countries. It accepts applications throughout the year and funds eligible organisations across sectors, including work in African countries. Funding stages Stage 1, Pilot: up to US$200,000 for innovations that are beyond the prototype stage and ready for real-world testing. Stage 2, Test and Position for Scale: generally up to US$500,000, with exceptionally compelling cases considered up to US$750,000. Stage 3, Scale: up to US$1.5 million for innovations with strong evidence and a credible pathway to large-scale impact. Awards may run for up to five years and are structured around agreed milestones. What DIV assesses Applications are assessed on evidence of impact, cost-effectiveness and the potential for durable scale. Applicants need a credible theory of change and must explain how their innovation could outperform existing alternatives. DIV generally looks for solutions capable of improving at least one million lives within ten years. Who can apply Eligible applicants include nonprofit organisations, social enterprises, businesses, universities, research institutions, technical-assistance providers supporting government innovation and partnerships involving these organisations. Individuals and direct government applicants are not eligible. Application timing Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. Read the official Request for Proposals before using the application link.

Applicants must be legally recognised organisations working on an innovation intended to improve development outcomes in an eligible low- or middle-income country. Stage 1 proposals must already be beyond the idea or laboratory-only prototype stage and ready for real-world testing. Higher-stage applications require progressively stronger evidence of impact, cost-effectiveness and a credible pathway to scale. DIV generally does not fund idea-stage concepts, basic scientific research without field testing, infrastructure with limited scalability, standalone monitoring platforms, incubators, accelerators, boot camps or other intermediaries whose impact is indirect. Proposals should directly benefit people living in poverty and explain a viable public, commercial, philanthropic or hybrid pathway to scale.