💵 The Fund for Innovation in Development (FID) 2026: Grants for Innovative Development Projects 🌍
💵 The Fund for Innovation in Development (FID) 2026: Grants for Innovative Development Projects 🌍. The Fund for Innovation in Development (FID) provides grant funding to innovative projects designed to reduce poverty and inequality.
Unlike many traditional grant programmes, FID supports projects at different stages of development — from preparing a pilot or impact evaluation to testing an innovation, rigorously evaluating its impact, scaling a proven solution and helping public institutions integrate evidence-based innovations into policy.
The FID call for projects is open throughout the year, meaning eligible organizations can submit proposals at any time rather than waiting for one annual deadline.
🌍 QUICK OVERVIEW
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Fund | Fund for Innovation in Development (FID) |
| Established | 2021 |
| Chair | Esther Duflo |
| Main objective | Reduce poverty and inequality |
| Geographic focus | Low- and middle-income countries |
| Sectors | Open to all sectors |
| Eligible applicants | Legally constituted organizations and collectives |
| Individuals | Not eligible |
| International/multilateral organizations | Not eligible |
| Application deadline | No fixed annual deadline |
| Applications | Open year-round |
| Maximum funding | Up to €4 million |
| Funding model | Stage-based grants |
| Application languages | English or French |
| Evaluation focus | Impact, cost-effectiveness and scalability |
FID was created in 2021 and is chaired by economist and Nobel Prize co-recipient Esther Duflo. Its approach combines innovation with rigorous research and impact evaluation.
💡 WHAT IS THE FUND FOR INNOVATION IN DEVELOPMENT?
FID is a development-finance mechanism designed to identify, test and scale innovative solutions that can have a meaningful and lasting impact on poverty and inequality.
The fund recognizes that promising development ideas often require different types of support depending on how mature they are.
A new idea may need resources to prepare for a pilot. A tested intervention may require funding for rigorous impact evaluation. A proven solution may need substantially larger financing to reach more people.
FID therefore uses a tiered funding model that matches funding to the maturity of the innovation.
💰 FID GRANTS: UP TO €4 MILLION
One of the most attractive features of FID is the range of funding available.
💵 Preparation for a Pilot — Up to €50,000
This grant supports organizations preparing to test an innovative solution in real-world conditions.
Funding can help teams develop the necessary pilot proposal and prepare for implementation.
💵 Preparation for an Impact Evaluation — Up to €50,000
This stage supports preparation for a rigorous impact evaluation.
The funding is intended to help eligible organizations develop the methodology and plans required for a subsequent impact-evaluation project.
💵 Pilot — Up to €200,000
The Pilot stage supports innovations that have already undergone an initial prototyping phase and are ready to be tested under real-world conditions.
The objective is to determine whether the innovation can work effectively outside a controlled development environment.
💵 Impact Evaluation — Up to €1.5 Million
This stage supports rigorous evaluation of an innovation that has already been piloted.
FID emphasizes impact evaluations using a counterfactual approach to determine whether the intervention actually produces the intended results.
💵 Scale Up — Up to €4 Million
The Scale Up stage provides the largest FID grants.
It is designed for innovations whose impact has already been demonstrated and which are ready to expand to a much larger population.
Funding can support implementation, monitoring, evaluation, learning and capacity building needed for large-scale deployment.
💵 Innovation and Public Policy — Up to €500,000
This funding supports public entities that want to adapt a specific innovation for integration into public policy and eventual large-scale deployment.
💵 Evidence and Public Policy — Up to €500,000
This stage helps public-sector entities strengthen the systems, capacity and resources needed to incorporate impact evidence into policy decision-making.
🌍 WHO CAN APPLY?
💵 The Fund for Innovation in Development (FID) 2026: Grants for Innovative Development Projects 🌍
FID accepts applications from a broad range of legally constituted organizations.
Eligible applicants can include:
- NGOs
- Nonprofit organizations
- Public institutions
- Universities
- Research institutes
- Development organizations
- Companies and social enterprises
- Other legally constituted organizations
- Organizations applying individually
- Organizations applying as part of a consortium
FID specifically states that individuals cannot apply.
International and multilateral public institutions, including UN organizations, international financial institutions and CGIAR organizations, are also not eligible to apply directly.
🌎 WHERE MUST PROJECTS BE IMPLEMENTED?
Projects must be implemented in countries eligible for Official Development Assistance (ODA) under the applicable OECD list.
This means organizations from many countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and other developing regions may potentially develop projects suitable for FID funding.
Importantly, the applicant organization does not necessarily have to be registered in the country where the project is implemented, except for the specific requirements applying to preparation grants.
🎯 WHAT TYPES OF PROJECTS DOES FID FUND?
FID does not restrict applications to a single sector.
Innovative projects can be submitted across different areas provided they address development challenges and demonstrate strong potential for impact.
FID’s portfolio includes projects in areas such as:
🏥 Health
Examples include innovations designed to improve healthcare delivery, diagnostics and health outcomes.
🎓 Education
Projects can address learning outcomes, teacher support, educational access and innovative approaches to improving education.
🌱 Climate
FID supports innovations addressing environmental and climate-related development challenges.
👩 Gender Equality
Projects can address inequalities affecting women and girls and develop innovative approaches to improving gender equality.
🌾 Agriculture
Innovations supporting farmers, food systems and agricultural productivity can also be relevant.
⚖️ Democracy and Governance
FID’s portfolio includes innovative approaches addressing governance and public-policy challenges.
The fund emphasizes that applications are assessed on their merits and against its evaluation criteria rather than simply being selected because they fall into a particular sector.
🔬 WHAT DOES FID LOOK FOR?
FID’s selection approach is highly focused on evidence and potential impact.
Three particularly important considerations are:
1. 📊 Impact
Applicants need to demonstrate that their innovation has the potential to create meaningful positive change.
The stronger the evidence supporting the proposed solution, the more compelling the application.
2. 💰 Cost-Effectiveness
Applicants must demonstrate that their innovation can deliver better results at lower cost or more efficiently than existing alternatives for addressing the targeted development problem.
3. 📈 Scalability and Financial Sustainability
FID wants to understand whether a successful innovation can eventually reach a large number of people in a sustainable way.
Applicants should therefore explain:
- How the solution could expand
- What resources scaling would require
- Which partners would be needed
- How future financing could be mobilized
- How the innovation could continue beyond the grant
🧪 WHY IMPACT EVALUATION MATTERS
💵 The Fund for Innovation in Development (FID) 2026: Grants for Innovative Development Projects 🌍
One of the defining characteristics of FID is its emphasis on rigorous evidence.
The fund does not simply ask whether a project sounds promising. It seeks evidence about whether an innovation actually produces the desired results.
For impact-evaluation funding, FID expects rigorous approaches involving a counterfactual.
This evidence can help determine whether observed improvements can genuinely be attributed to the innovation rather than other external factors.
📈 FROM INNOVATION TO SCALE
FID’s model can be understood as a development pathway:
💡 Idea
A promising innovative solution is identified.
⬇️
🧪 Pilot
The innovation is tested in real-world conditions.
⬇️
🔬 Impact Evaluation
Researchers rigorously assess whether the intervention works.
⬇️
📈 Scale Up
A proven innovation is expanded to reach more people.
⬇️
🏛️ Public Policy
Evidence can support wider adoption through public institutions.
This approach allows FID to support innovations throughout their development journey while maintaining a strong focus on evidence.
📅 APPLICATION DEADLINE
🚨 NO FIXED ANNUAL DEADLINE
One of the major advantages of FID is that its call for projects remains open throughout the year.
Eligible organizations can submit applications at any time and can work collaboratively on their application before submission.
This means organizations do not need to wait for a traditional annual grant deadline.
However, applicants should allow substantial time to develop a strong proposal because FID’s review process is competitive.
📝 HOW TO APPLY
Organizations interested in FID funding should follow these steps:
Step 1: Identify Your Innovation
Clearly define the development problem and explain how your proposed solution addresses it differently from existing approaches.
Step 2: Determine the Funding Stage
Use FID’s decision tree to determine whether your project is best suited to:
- Preparation
- Pilot
- Impact Evaluation
- Scale Up
- Innovation and Public Policy
- Evidence and Public Policy
Step 3: Review the Application Guide
Read the official Call for Projects Guide carefully before preparing your application.
Step 4: Prepare Your Documents
Depending on the funding stage, applicants may need:
- Project description
- Theory of change
- Budget
- Implementation plan
- Impact-evaluation methodology
- Evidence of previous results
- Scaling strategy
- Information about the organization
- Information about project partners
Step 5: Submit Online
Applications are submitted through FID’s online application platform.
The application process can be completed in English or French depending on the relevant funding stage.
⏳ HOW LONG DOES FID TAKE TO RESPOND?
FID states that it aims to notify applicants of its decision within approximately three months of receiving an application.
Because FID receives a high volume of proposals, the organization does not generally provide individual feedback during the evaluation process.
Applicants should therefore make sure their proposals are complete, clearly structured and supported by evidence before submitting them.
📊 FID IN NUMBERS
Since its launch, FID has received thousands of applications and funded innovative projects across multiple countries and sectors.
The official FID website currently reports:
- 6,600 applications received
- 116 innovative projects funded
- €48.5 million committed since 2021
In March 2026, FID reported that it was receiving around 150 projects for review each month, illustrating the competitiveness of the funding programme.
🤝 NEW FUNDING PARTNERSHIP IN 2026
FID continues to expand its financing partnerships.
In May 2026, FID announced a new partnership with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
Under the partnership, SDC committed €10 million to FID over 2026–2028 to support high-impact innovative solutions in low- and middle-income countries.
This partnership strengthens FID’s ability to support evidence-based innovations aimed at improving living conditions for vulnerable populations.
⚠️ IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
💵 The Fund for Innovation in Development (FID) 2026: Grants for Innovative Development Projects 🌍
FID funding is competitive.
Receiving funding at one stage does not automatically guarantee that an organization will receive funding at a later stage.
Each subsequent application is assessed independently against the relevant selection criteria.
Organizations should also understand that FID does not finance emergency humanitarian aid or infrastructure projects as such.
The central focus is innovative solutions with the potential to generate lasting impact on poverty and inequality.
❓ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is the Fund for Innovation in Development open in 2026?
Yes. FID’s call for projects is open throughout the year, with no fixed annual application deadline.
How much funding can FID provide?
Funding varies according to the stage of the project. Grants range from up to €50,000 for preparation stages to up to €4 million for scaling proven innovations.
Can NGOs apply?
Yes. Legally constituted NGOs and other eligible organizations can apply, provided they meet FID’s criteria.
Can individuals apply?
No. FID does not accept applications from individuals.
Can universities apply?
Yes. Universities and research institutes are among the types of organizations that can apply, subject to the eligibility requirements.
Does FID fund all sectors?
FID does not impose a sectoral restriction. Innovative projects across sectors can be considered if they meet the fund’s evaluation criteria.
Which countries are eligible?
Projects must be implemented in countries eligible for Official Development Assistance under the relevant OECD list, with certain country-specific exclusions.
Is there a deadline?
No fixed annual deadline applies. The call remains open throughout the year.
Does FID fund scaling projects?
Yes. FID can provide up to €4 million for scaling innovations whose impact has already been demonstrated.
Does FID fund infrastructure projects?
FID does not finance infrastructure projects as such. Its focus is on innovative solutions capable of producing measurable development impact.
Can an organization receive funding more than once?
An organization can potentially apply for later stages, but receiving funding at one stage does not automatically guarantee funding at another stage. Each application is independently evaluated.
🔗 APPLY NOW
Organizations with an innovative solution aimed at reducing poverty or inequality can submit a project through the official FID call for projects.
Because applications are accepted throughout the year, eligible organizations can begin preparing their proposal whenever their project is ready.
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🌟 FINAL THOUGHTS
💵 The Fund for Innovation in Development (FID) 2026: Grants for Innovative Development Projects 🌍
💵 The Fund for Innovation in Development (FID) 2026: Grants for Innovative Development Projects 🌍. The Fund for Innovation in Development (FID) is a particularly interesting funding opportunity for organizations that have more than a conventional development project — they have an innovative solution that can be tested, evaluated and potentially scaled.
With grants ranging from up to €50,000 for preparation to up to €4 million for scaling proven innovations, FID offers funding matched to different stages of development.
Its emphasis on rigorous evidence, cost-effectiveness and scalability makes the programme especially relevant to NGOs, universities, research institutes, social enterprises and public institutions developing solutions that could generate measurable improvements in low- and middle-income countries.
The fact that the call remains open throughout the year also gives organizations time to carefully develop their proposals rather than rushing to meet a single annual deadline.
If your organization has an innovative solution addressing poverty, inequality, health, education, climate, gender equality, agriculture, governance or another development challenge, the FID programme may be worth exploring.
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