DIV looks for compelling new development solutions in a quarterly competition, rigorously tests them, and helps scale those that are proven successful to reach millions of beneficiaries around the world.
Competing ideas
DIV is interested in innovations that are expected to lead to transformative (as opposed to incremental) improvements that could ultimately scale across multiple developing countries and, ideally, multiple sectors in these countries. DIV recognizes that development breakthroughs can come from anywhere—a lab in a university, a local organization or a passionate entrepreneur. Solutions range from new technologies and new service-delivery practices to novel or more cost-effective variations on existing practices. Innovations are expected to eventually scale up through the private sector, the public sector, or a combination of the two in order to reach sustainability without DIV support.
Innovating in stages
Drawing inspiration from product development enterprises, DIV invests in ideas across different stages of their development from proof-of-concept to widespread use. Applicants can apply to any stage:
Stage 1: establishes proof of concept and viability of innovation
Stage 2: evaluates solution at scale with rigorous impact testing (stage 1 criteria previously met with DIV or other support sources)
Stage 3: transitions program to widespread adoption (criteria of stages 1 and 2 previously met with DIV or other support sources)
For more details on how DIV works, please see Our Model in Detail.
Focused funding opportunities
Virtually any organization with a solution for a development challenge in any sector or country in which USAID operates is eligible to apply.
Together with DIV’s partners from USAID, the U.K. Department for International Development, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the program has also identified target sectors and regions for additional funding support: the Humanitarian Sector; the Water, Sanitation & Hygiene sector; Latin America & the Caribbean region; and Haiti. If your idea fits these areas within DIV, please see their pages for more information:
Applicant next steps:
Additional resources:
Last updated: April 15, 2013
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