The Fund for Innovation in Development (FID) is inviting legally registered organisations to apply for grants supporting innovative solutions to poverty and inequality in low- and middle-income countries.

The funding programme supports initiatives across several sectors, including agriculture, education, healthcare, climate, digital technology and livelihoods. It provides financial support at different stages of innovation, from testing solutions in real-world settings to evaluating their impact and expanding successful projects.

Applications are accepted throughout the year, with no fixed deadline. Organisations can apply directly for the funding category that corresponds to their project’s development stage.

How much funding is available?

FID provides grants according to the maturity of an innovation and the evidence available to demonstrate its potential impact.

The available funding categories include:

• Pilot Stage – Up to €200,000: Supports innovations that have completed initial prototyping and are ready for testing under real-world conditions.
• Impact Evaluation Stage – Up to €1.5 million: Provides funding for innovations that have undergone pilot testing and require rigorous assessments to establish their impact.
• Scale-Up Stage – Up to €4 million: Supports proven innovations that are ready to expand their reach and benefit more people.
• Innovation and Public Policy Stage – Up to €500,000: Available to public entities seeking to incorporate innovations into public policy while generating evidence to support wider adoption.
• Evidence and Public Policy Stage – Up to €500,000: Supports public entities working to strengthen the use of impact evidence in policy decisions and improve systems for evidence-based policymaking.

FID also provides preparation grants of up to €50,000. However, these grants are currently undergoing a redesign, with the next application window expected to open in 2027.

The stated funding limits represent maximum grant amounts rather than guaranteed awards. Applicants must justify their requested funding based on the proposed activities, project budget and development stage.

What types of projects does FID support?

FID considers innovative projects across different sectors, provided they demonstrate credible potential to improve the lives of people experiencing poverty or vulnerability.

Eligible areas of interest include:

• Agriculture and food systems: Technologies and business models that increase smallholder productivity, minimise post-harvest losses and strengthen food security.
• Education: Initiatives designed to improve learning outcomes, expand access to education or make education services more effective.
• Healthcare: Innovations that increase access to essential health services or deliver improved outcomes at lower costs.
• Climate and environmental sustainability: Solutions that help vulnerable communities manage climate-related risks and improve environmental outcomes.
• Digital technology: Tools that make essential services more accessible, affordable and effective.
• Livelihoods and financial inclusion: Initiatives that create better income opportunities and improve access to services for underserved populations.
• Governance and public policy: Innovations that strengthen public service delivery and help government institutions make evidence-based decisions.

The fund does not support projects solely because they incorporate new technology. Applicants must demonstrate the development challenge their proposed innovation addresses, explain how the solution is expected to work and establish why it could produce better results than existing alternatives.

FID also excludes emergency humanitarian assistance and standalone infrastructure projects from its funding scope.

Who can apply?

Applications are open to legally established organisations, including:

• Non-governmental organisations and associations.
• Social enterprises and private companies.
• Universities and research institutions.
• Foundations and cooperatives.
• Public institutions and government entities.
• Eligible organisations applying through a consortium.

Organisations can be registered in different countries, but proposed projects must be implemented in countries eligible for official development assistance under the relevant OECD framework, subject to FID’s geographical restrictions.

Individuals applying in their personal capacity are not eligible. International and multilateral public institutions, including United Nations organisations and international financial institutions, are also excluded.

Nigerian organisations can apply if their proposed projects satisfy the programme’s geographical, organisational and funding-stage requirements.

What does FID look for in applications?

FID evaluates proposals using three major criteria, with the level of evidence required depending on the funding category.

1. Potential impact

Applicants must clearly identify the problem their innovation intends to address and explain how the proposed activities will produce the expected outcomes.

Proposals should include a well-defined theory of change, supported by relevant evidence where available. Organisations seeking funding for more advanced projects must provide stronger evidence of the results already achieved.

2. Cost-effectiveness

Proposed innovations should demonstrate the potential to achieve better development outcomes or deliver existing results at a lower cost than alternative approaches.

Applicants must explain the project’s major expenses, the expected results associated with those costs and how its cost-effectiveness could change as the innovation expands.

3. Potential to scale

FID also considers whether an innovation can reach a larger population while maintaining financial and operational sustainability.

Applicants should outline the resources, partnerships, funding arrangements and operational capacity needed to expand their solutions. They must also identify potential risks that could affect successful implementation.

What documents are required?

Before submitting an application, organisations should prepare the relevant information and supporting documents for their preferred funding category.

These include:

• A project proposal outlining the problem, proposed innovation and planned activities.
• A theory of change explaining how the project is expected to achieve its intended outcomes.
• A project budget prepared using FID’s required budget template.
• Information about the applicant organisation and project team.
• Available evidence supporting the innovation and its expected impact.
• Monitoring, evaluation or research plans, where required by the funding stage.

Projects seeking impact evaluation or scale-up funding must demonstrate evidence appropriate to their respective stages. Organisations applying for scale-up grants must already have established the innovation’s impact and cost-effectiveness.

To support applicants, FID provides an application form, budget template, call-for-proposals guide and decision tool to help organisations determine the most suitable funding category for their projects.

How to apply for FID grants

Interested organisations can submit their applications through the fund’s online application platform by following these steps:

1. Visit the FID online application platform.
2. Read the call-for-proposals guide and frequently asked questions to understand the eligibility requirements.
3. Use the fund’s decision tool to determine the appropriate funding stage for the proposed project.
4. Download and review the application form and budget template.
5. Prepare the project proposal, budget and relevant supporting evidence.
6. Complete and submit the application through the online platform.

Applications can be submitted in English or French. Since the funding call remains open throughout the year, eligible organisations can apply whenever their proposals are ready.

Application details

• Funding organisation: Fund for Innovation in Development (FID)
• Application deadline: No fixed deadline; applications are accepted year-round.
• Funding amount: Up to €200,000 for pilot projects, €1.5 million for impact evaluations and €4 million for scale-up projects. Public policy funding is available up to €500,000.
• Application language: English or French.
• Application link: https://fundinnovation.wiin.io/en/applications/application

For technical difficulties with the application platform, applicants can contact FID through contact@fundinnovation.dev.

Organisations are encouraged to consult the published application guidelines before contacting the fund about eligibility, as FID does not provide individual eligibility assessments before applications are submitted.

SOURCE:Fund for Innovation in Development (FID)