Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) Fund 2026: Rolling Grants of Up to US$1.5 Million for Global Development Innovations 🌍💡

Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) Fund 2026: Rolling Grants of Up to US$1.5 Million for Global Development Innovations 🌍💡. Applications are now open for the Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) Fund 2026, an evidence-driven global development fund supporting innovative solutions with the potential to improve the lives of millions of people living in poverty.

The DIV Fund accepts applications:

🔄 ON A ROLLING BASIS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

meaning there is currently:

✅ NO SINGLE FIXED ANNUAL DEADLINE.

Eligible organisations can apply for funding ranging from:

💰 UP TO US$200,000 — STAGE 1

to:

🚀 UP TO US$1.5 MILLION — STAGE 3.

The programme supports innovations across sectors including:

🌾 AGRICULTURE

🏥 HEALTH

📚 EDUCATION

🌱 CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT

💧 WATER & SANITATION

💼 LIVELIHOODS

💰 FINANCIAL INCLUSION

🤖 TECHNOLOGY

and:

🌍 GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT.

The DIV Fund officially opened its Request for Proposals in April 2026 and confirms that applications are reviewed continuously on a rolling basis.

⚠️ Important Accuracy Note

The current DIV Fund should not be confused with an active USAID Development Innovation Ventures funding call.

The new DIV Fund formally launched in:

📅 FEBRUARY 2026

as an independent evidence-driven innovation fund.

It builds on the funding model originally developed through:

USAID DEVELOPMENT INNOVATION VENTURES

and is led by members of the team behind the former USAID programme.

The current funding levels are:

STAGE 1 — UP TO US$200,000

STAGE 2 — NORMALLY UP TO US$500,000

and:

STAGE 3 — UP TO US$1.5 MILLION.

In especially compelling Stage 2 cases, the Fund may consider awards of up to:

US$750,000.

Applicants should therefore avoid using outdated USAID DIV funding ceilings when describing the current independent DIV Fund.

🌍 DIV Fund 2026: Quick Overview

Detail	Information
Fund	DIV Fund
Origin	Builds on former USAID Development Innovation Ventures model
Programme Type	Evidence-Based Innovation Grants
Geographic Focus	Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Stage 1	Up to US$200,000
Stage 2	Up to US$500,000
Exceptional Stage 2	Up to US$750,000
Stage 3	Up to US$1.5 Million
Maximum Award Period	Up to 5 Years
Application Deadline	Rolling
Eligible Sectors	Open Across Sectors
Eligible Applicants	NGOs, Startups, Social Enterprises, Universities, Research Institutions, Businesses & Partnerships
Individuals	Not Eligible Directly
Prototype Stage	Must Be Post-Prototype
Core Criteria	Impact, Cost-Effectiveness & Scale
Application Method	Online
Status	Applications Open

The Fund supports innovations addressing challenges in low-income, lower-middle-income and upper-middle-income countries under World Bank income classifications.

🏛️ About the DIV Fund

The DIV Fund describes itself as a:

DISCOVERY ENGINE FOR GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT.

Its objective is to identify, test and scale solutions that can improve people’s lives:

MORE EFFECTIVELY

and:

MORE COST-EFFECTIVELY

than existing approaches.

The Fund uses a tiered financing model that links grant size to the strength of evidence supporting the innovation.

Early-stage innovations receive smaller amounts to test whether they work.

More mature innovations can receive larger grants to:

GENERATE RIGOROUS EVIDENCE

EXPAND DELIVERY

and:

MOVE TOWARD LARGE-SCALE ADOPTION.

Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) Fund 2026: Rolling Grants of Up to US$1.5 Million for Global Development Innovations 🌍💡

💰 DIV Fund Funding Stages

The Fund currently offers:

1️⃣ Stage 1 — Pilot

Funding:

💵 UP TO US$200,000

Stage 1 is designed for innovations that are:

POST-PROTOTYPE

and ready to be tested in a real-world environment.

Applicants may use Stage 1 funding to test:

USER DEMAND

IMPLEMENTATION FEASIBILITY

IMPACT POTENTIAL

FINANCIAL VIABILITY

and:

THE BASIC DELIVERY MODEL.

The Fund generally expects Stage 1 pilots to reach at least:

HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

⚠️ Stage 1 Is Not for Ideas Still in the Lab

The DIV Fund explicitly states that it does not support:

❌ PURE IDEAS

❌ LAB-ONLY PROTOTYPES

or:

❌ SOLUTIONS THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN TESTED WITH REAL USERS.

Innovations must already have:

SOME REAL-WORLD IMPLEMENTATION EXPERIENCE.

2️⃣ Stage 2 — Testing & Positioning for Scale

Standard funding:

💰 UP TO US$500,000

and in rare particularly compelling cases:

💰 UP TO US$750,000.

Stage 2 is aimed at innovations that have already completed:

SUCCESSFUL PILOT TESTING

and are ready to generate stronger evidence.

Funding may support:

📊 IMPACT EVALUATIONS

🧪 RIGOROUS TESTING

📈 MARKET TESTING

🌍 OPERATIONAL EXPANSION

and:

🚀 PREPARATION FOR SCALE.

For solutions expected to scale through governments or philanthropy, Stage 2 may support rigorous evaluations such as:

RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIALS

or:

STRONG QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS.

3️⃣ Stage 3 — Transition to Scale

Funding:

🚀 UP TO US$1.5 MILLION.

Stage 3 is intended for solutions that have already demonstrated either:

✅ RIGOROUS EVIDENCE OF IMPACT

or:

✅ COMMERCIAL MARKET VIABILITY

and are ready to expand substantially.

Stage 3 activities may include:

EXPANDING INTO NEW GEOGRAPHIES

ADAPTING THE SOLUTION TO NEW CONTEXTS

SUPPORTING GOVERNMENT SCALE-UP

ACCELERATING MARKET EXPANSION

and:

TESTING WHETHER IMPACT CAN BE REPLICATED ELSEWHERE.

By the end of a Stage 3 award, the Fund expects the innovation to have a credible route toward:

DURABLE AND FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE SCALE.

Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) Fund 2026: Rolling Grants of Up to US$1.5 Million for Global Development Innovations 🌍💡

⏳ How Long Can DIV Funding Last?

Award periods can run for:

📅 UP TO FIVE YEARS.

Applicants should propose a timeline that matches the:

PROJECT STAGE

EVIDENCE PLAN

and:

SCALING STRATEGY.

🎯 What Does the DIV Fund Look For?

The Fund evaluates applications around three core principles.

1. Evidence of Impact

Applicants need a credible:

THEORY OF CHANGE

explaining how their innovation improves meaningful development outcomes.

Examples of outcomes include:

🏥 BETTER HEALTH

💰 HIGHER INCOMES

📚 IMPROVED LEARNING

🌱 REDUCED EMISSIONS

and:

🛡️ IMPROVED WELL-BEING.

Stronger applications provide stronger evidence showing that the innovation itself caused or is likely to cause the improvements claimed.

2. Cost-Effectiveness

The DIV Fund places major emphasis on:

IMPACT PER DOLLAR SPENT.

Applicants should show that their innovation can achieve better results relative to:

EXISTING SOLUTIONS

or:

AVAILABLE ALTERNATIVES.

The Fund considers:

UNIT COSTS

IMPACT

COST AT SCALE

and:

VALUE FOR MONEY.

3. Potential for Durable Scale

The Fund normally considers scale to mean the potential to improve the lives of approximately:

🌍 ONE MILLION PEOPLE OVER TEN YEARS.

Exceptionally high-impact innovations affecting somewhat smaller populations may also be considered.

🚀 Different Pathways to Scale

Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) Fund 2026: Rolling Grants of Up to US$1.5 Million for Global Development Innovations 🌍💡

The Fund accepts several different growth models.

🏛️ Public Pathway

The innovation may eventually be financed or adopted by:

GOVERNMENTS

DONORS

or:

PHILANTHROPIC ORGANISATIONS.

💼 Commercial Pathway

The solution may grow through:

CUSTOMER PAYMENTS

REVENUE

PRIVATE INVESTMENT

or:

MARKET DEMAND.

🤝 Hybrid Pathway

Some innovations may combine:

COMMERCIAL REVENUE

with:

PUBLIC OR PHILANTHROPIC FUNDING.

👥 Who Can Apply?

The DIV Fund accepts applications from a wide range of legally established organisations.

These include:

✅ NONPROFIT ORGANISATIONS

✅ NGOs

✅ SOCIAL ENTERPRISES

✅ STARTUPS

✅ PRIVATE-SECTOR BUSINESSES

✅ UNIVERSITIES

✅ RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS

✅ TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS

and:

✅ PARTNERSHIPS OR CONSORTIA.

❌ Can Individuals Apply?

No.

The Fund states that it cannot directly fund:

INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT A LEGALLY INCORPORATED ENTITY.

Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) Fund 2026: Rolling Grants of Up to US$1.5 Million for Global Development Innovations 🌍💡

🏛️ Can Government Agencies Apply?

Government agencies are not listed as direct standard applicants.

However, the Fund may support organisations providing technical assistance to government innovation and encourages partnerships with governments where relevant.

🌍 Where Can Projects Be Implemented?

Projects must address challenges in:

LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES

LOWER-MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES

or:

UPPER-MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES.

Projects implemented exclusively in:

❌ HIGH-INCOME COUNTRIES

are not eligible.

🌍 Can African Organisations Apply?

Yes.

African NGOs, startups, social enterprises, universities and research institutions can apply where their work addresses development challenges in eligible low- and middle-income countries.

The Fund is:

SECTOR-AGNOSTIC

and:

GEOGRAPHICALLY OPEN ACROSS ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES.

🇿🇼 Can Zimbabwean Organisations Apply?

Potentially:

✅ YES.

A legally established Zimbabwean:

NGO

STARTUP

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

UNIVERSITY

RESEARCH INSTITUTION

or:

BUSINESS

may potentially apply if the proposed innovation meets the Fund’s eligibility and evidence requirements.

The organisation should demonstrate:

REAL-WORLD TESTING

CLEAR DEVELOPMENT IMPACT

COST-EFFECTIVENESS

and:

A PLAUSIBLE PATH TO LARGE-SCALE IMPACT.

🌱 What Sectors Are Eligible?

The DIV Fund deliberately operates across:

ALL SECTORS.

Potential areas include:

🌾 Agriculture & Food Security

🏥 Health

📚 Education

💧 Water & Sanitation

🌱 Climate & Environment

💼 Employment & Livelihoods

💰 Financial Inclusion

🚺 Gender & Social Inclusion

🏛️ Governance

🤖 Digital Technology

⚡ Energy

and:

🚚 Service Delivery.

💡 What Counts as an Innovation?

The Fund uses a broad definition.

An innovation can be:

A PRODUCT

A SERVICE

A POLICY

A PROGRAMME

A BUSINESS MODEL

A DELIVERY MODEL

or:

A NEW WAY OF IMPLEMENTING AN EXISTING SOLUTION.

It does not have to be a new technological invention.

For example, an eligible innovation could be:

A MORE EFFECTIVE HEALTH DELIVERY SYSTEM

A NEW AGRICULTURAL SERVICE MODEL

A BEHAVIOURAL INTERVENTION

Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) Fund 2026: Rolling Grants of Up to US$1.5 Million for Global Development Innovations 🌍💡

or:

A LOW-COST EDUCATION DELIVERY APPROACH.

📊 Evidence Generation Opportunities

The Fund may also support rigorous evaluations of:

WIDELY USED DEVELOPMENT APPROACHES

that currently lack strong causal evidence showing whether they work.

These proposals are generally considered within:

STAGE 2.

Evidence-generation proposals should show that the study could influence future:

POLICY

FUNDING

ADOPTION

or:

SCALE-UP DECISIONS.

💵 Is Co-Funding Required?

No.

The Fund says:

CO-FUNDING IS NOT REQUIRED.

However, it may strengthen an application where other organisations, governments or investors are also willing to support the innovation.

📄 What Should Applicants Prepare?

The first application is submitted through the DIV Fund’s:

ONLINE APPLICATION PORTAL.

Applicants should be prepared to describe:

✅ The Development Problem

Explain clearly what problem is being addressed.

✅ The Innovation

Describe how the solution works and what makes it different or more effective.

✅ Theory of Change

Show how activities are expected to produce measurable outcomes.

✅ Existing Evidence

Provide evidence from previous pilots, research or implementation.

✅ Cost Structure

Explain the costs of delivering the intervention.

✅ Scale Strategy

Describe how the innovation could eventually reach large numbers of people.

✅ Financial Sustainability

Explain who will pay for the solution over the long term.

✅ Project Activities

Describe what DIV funding will make possible.

📑 What Happens After the Initial Application?

The application process begins with:

AN INITIAL ONLINE APPLICATION.

If the proposal advances, the DIV Fund may request more detailed materials such as:

STUDY DESIGNS

DETAILED PROJECT BUDGETS

PARTNERSHIP LETTERS

and:

OTHER DUE-DILIGENCE DOCUMENTS.

📝 How to Apply for the DIV Fund 2026

Step 1 — Read the Request for Proposals

Review the full RFP before applying.

Step 2 — Choose the Correct Funding Stage

Select:

STAGE 1 — PILOT

STAGE 2 — TEST

or:

STAGE 3 — SCALE.

Applicants do not have to begin at Stage 1.

However, applicants requesting a higher stage must demonstrate that they already meet the expectations of the earlier stages.

Step 3 — Confirm Your Innovation Is Post-Prototype

The solution should already have some:

REAL-WORLD TESTING.

Step 4 — Build Your Evidence Case

Explain:

WHY THE SOLUTION SHOULD WORK

and:

WHAT EVIDENCE ALREADY SUPPORTS IT.

Step 5 — Calculate Cost-Effectiveness

Compare your expected costs and benefits against realistic alternatives.

Step 6 — Develop a Scale Strategy

Explain who could eventually:

PAY FOR

ADOPT

IMPLEMENT

or:

DISTRIBUTE

the innovation.

Step 7 — Explain Why DIV Funding Is Catalytic

Applicants should explain why they need DIV funding:

NOW

and what results could be achieved that would otherwise not be possible.

Step 8 — Submit Through the Online Portal

Applications must be submitted through the official DIV Fund application system.

📅 What Is the Deadline?

There is currently:

🚨 NO FIXED DEADLINE.

Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) Fund 2026: Rolling Grants of Up to US$1.5 Million for Global Development Innovations 🌍💡

The Fund explicitly states:

🔄 APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ON A ROLLING BASIS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

Applicants therefore do not need to wait for an annual call.

📋 Application Checklist

Before applying, confirm:

✅ Legally Established Organisation

Required.

✅ Project Benefits an Eligible LMIC

Required.

✅ Innovation Is Post-Prototype

Essential.

✅ Real-World Testing Already Exists

Required.

✅ Credible Theory of Change

Required.

✅ Measurable Development Impact

Important.

✅ Evidence of Cost-Effectiveness

Important.

✅ Potential for Large-Scale Impact

Essential.

✅ Sustainable Financing Pathway

Important.

✅ Appropriate Funding Stage Selected

Required.

✅ Application Submitted Online

Required.

✅ Deadline

Rolling.

🎯 How to Strengthen Your DIV Fund Application

📊 Use Evidence, Not Claims

Avoid saying:

“Our programme transforms lives.”

Instead, show:

WHAT CHANGED

FOR WHOM

BY HOW MUCH

and:

COMPARED WITH WHAT.

💰 Demonstrate Cost-Effectiveness

Explain why your innovation creates more impact per dollar than alternatives.

🚀 Show Real Scale Potential

The DIV Fund looks for solutions capable of reaching:

VERY LARGE POPULATIONS.

A strong application should show:

WHO WILL ADOPT THE SOLUTION

WHO WILL FINANCE IT

and:

HOW DISTRIBUTION WILL WORK.

🤝 Build Partnerships Early

For later-stage applications, partnerships can significantly strengthen credibility.

These may include:

GOVERNMENTS

DISTRIBUTORS

INVESTORS

NGOs

or:

LARGE CUSTOMERS.

🌍 Show Why the Innovation Matters for People Living in Poverty

The Fund gives greater priority to solutions expected to generate meaningful benefits for:

LOWER-INCOME

and:

VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.

⚠️ Common Application Mistakes

Avoid:

• Calling the current fund a USAID grant programme
• Applying as an individual
• Applying with only an idea
• Submitting an untested laboratory prototype
• Choosing Stage 3 without sufficient evidence
• Failing to calculate costs
• Ignoring cost-effectiveness
• Failing to identify a pathway to scale
• Assuming Stage 1 provides US$1.5 million
• Requesting more funding than necessary
• Failing to explain why DIV funding is catalytic
• Focusing exclusively on technology rather than development outcomes

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Is the DIV Fund accepting applications in 2026?

Yes.

Applications are open and reviewed:

ON A ROLLING BASIS.

Is there a deadline?

No fixed annual deadline is currently listed.

How much can applicants receive?

Funding ranges by stage:

STAGE 1 — UP TO US$200,000

STAGE 2 — UP TO US$500,000

and:

STAGE 3 — UP TO US$1.5 MILLION.

Can Stage 2 exceed US$500,000?

In rare and especially compelling cases, Stage 2 awards may reach:

US$750,000.

How long can a grant last?

Up to:

FIVE YEARS.

Can NGOs apply?

Yes.

Can startups apply?

Yes.

Can social enterprises apply?

Yes.

Can universities apply?

Yes.

Can research institutions apply?

Yes.

Can individuals apply?

No.

Applicants need a legally incorporated entity.

Are African organisations eligible?

Yes, provided the proposed work addresses challenges in eligible low- or middle-income countries.

Can Zimbabwean organisations apply?

Potentially yes, provided all organisational and project requirements are met.

Does the project need to involve technology?

No.

Innovation may include products, services, policies, programmes or delivery models.

Can a completely new idea receive Stage 1 funding?

No.

The Fund requires solutions to be:

POST-PROTOTYPE

and already tested with real users.

Is co-financing mandatory?

No.

What is the maximum funding available?

💰 US$1.5 MILLION

under Stage 3.

🚀 Final Thoughts

Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) Fund 2026: Rolling Grants of Up to US$1.5 Million for Global Development Innovations 🌍💡

Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) Fund 2026: Rolling Grants of Up to US$1.5 Million for Global Development Innovations 🌍💡. The Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) Fund 2026 offers a significant funding opportunity for organisations developing innovative, evidence-driven solutions to global development challenges.

The Fund provides:

💰 UP TO US$200,000 FOR PILOTING

💰 UP TO US$500,000 FOR TESTING

and:

🚀 UP TO US$1.5 MILLION FOR SCALING.

Its approach is built around three central questions:

📊 DOES THE INNOVATION WORK?

💰 IS IT COST-EFFECTIVE?

and:

🌍 CAN IT REACH LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE SUSTAINABLY?

Applications are accepted across sectors and from multiple types of organisations working in eligible low- and middle-income countries.

Most importantly:

🔄 THE DIV FUND ACCEPTS APPLICATIONS ON A ROLLING BASIS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

Organisations with a post-prototype innovation, real-world evidence and a credible path toward large-scale impact can therefore prepare and submit an application without waiting for a fixed annual deadline.

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🔑 Key Details

Fund: DIV Fund
Programme: Development Innovation Funding
Launch: 2026
Geography: Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Stage 1: Up to US$200,000
Stage 2: Up to US$500,000
Exceptional Stage 2: Up to US$750,000
Stage 3: Up to US$1.5 Million
Maximum Duration: Up to 5 Years
Applicants: NGOs, Nonprofits, Startups, Social Enterprises, Businesses, Universities, Research Institutions & Partnerships
Individuals: Not Eligible Directly
Innovation Stage: Post-Prototype or Later
Sectors: Open Across Sectors
Core Criteria: Evidence, Cost-Effectiveness & Durable Scale
Application Deadline: Rolling
Status: Applications Open

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