Apply Now for DIV Fund 2026, Offering Up to $1.5 Million to Scale High-Impact Innovations

Innovators, social enterprises, nonprofits, researchers and startups working to solve pressing development challenges now have an opportunity to secure significant funding as applications open for the Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) Fund 2026, with grants of up to US$1.5 million available to support solutions capable of improving millions of lives across low- and middle-income countries.

The DIV Fund is an evidence driven funding program that backs innovative ideas with the potential to generate measurable social impact. Rather than funding projects based solely on ambition, the program focuses on identifying solutions that have demonstrated effectiveness and can be tested, strengthened and eventually scaled to reach larger populations.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, giving eligible organisations the flexibility to apply when their innovations are ready for consideration.

Supporting Innovations That Solve Real Problems

Around the world, innovators are developing creative solutions to challenges in education, healthcare, agriculture, climate resilience, financial inclusion, water and sanitation, and economic development. Yet many promising ideas struggle to move beyond the pilot stage because of limited access to funding.

The DIV Fund seeks to bridge that gap by investing in innovations that have the potential to deliver measurable impact while demonstrating value for money.

Unlike many grant programmes that focus primarily on early-stage ideas, DIV supports organisations at different stages of growth, helping them generate evidence, validate results and expand solutions that have proven effective.

Who Can Apply?

The funding opportunity is open to a broad range of organisations working on innovative development solutions.

Eligible applicants include:

• Startups
• Nonprofit organisations
• Social enterprises
• Research institutions
• Universities
• Private companies
• Other mission-driven organisations with evidence based innovations

The programme welcomes applications from organisations developing practical solutions capable of addressing significant development challenges in low- and middle-income countries.

Funding Available Across Three Stages

One of the distinguishing features of the DIV Fund is its staged funding model.

Rather than offering one standard grant amount, the programme provides funding that reflects the maturity of each innovation.

Early-stage innovators can receive funding to pilot new ideas and generate initial evidence of impact.

Organisations with promising results can access additional funding to test whether their solutions can be expanded successfully.

For innovations that have already demonstrated strong evidence of effectiveness and cost-efficiency, the programme offers grants of up to US$1.5 million to support large-scale implementation and sustainable growth.

This approach allows promising innovations to grow responsibly while ensuring that funding is directed toward interventions capable of producing meaningful and measurable results.

Why Evidence Matters

One of the defining principles of the DIV Fund is its emphasis on evidence.

Many development projects begin with good intentions, but not all deliver lasting results.

The programme therefore prioritises innovations that can demonstrate measurable outcomes, cost-effectiveness and the potential to improve lives at scale.

Applicants are encouraged to show not only that their innovation works, but also that it can continue delivering impact as it reaches more communities.

This evidence-based approach helps ensure that development funding supports solutions capable of producing sustainable change rather than short-term outputs.

A Significant Opportunity for African Innovators

For startups, nonprofits and social enterprises across Africa, access to growth capital remains one of the biggest barriers to scaling impactful solutions.

Many organisations develop innovative responses to local challenges but lack the financial resources needed to expand operations, strengthen evidence or reach additional communities.

The DIV Fund offers more than financial support.

By backing organizations committed to measurable impact, the program encourages innovators to strengthen monitoring systems, improve implementation strategies and build solutions that can attract further investment.

For African innovators working in sectors such as agriculture, education, healthcare, climate adaptation, digital inclusion, financial services and livelihoods, the fund presents an opportunity to transform local innovations into solutions capable of benefiting millions of people.

Why This Matters

Development challenges continue to evolve, requiring new ideas, stronger partnerships and innovative approaches.

Governments alone cannot address every challenge associated with poverty, healthcare, education, food security or climate resilience.

Increasingly, startups, researchers, nonprofits and social enterprises are playing an important role in designing practical, scalable solutions.

Funding programmes like DIV recognise that innovation is not limited to technology.

Innovative business models, community-based approaches, service delivery improvements and evidence-driven policy solutions can all contribute to sustainable development when supported with the right resources.

As global attention shifts toward achieving measurable impact, funding initiatives that reward evidence and scalability are becoming increasingly important within the international development ecosystem.

What Applicants Should Consider

Organisations planning to apply should ensure that their proposals clearly explain the problem being addressed, how their innovation works and the evidence supporting its effectiveness.

Applicants should also demonstrate how additional funding will help strengthen, test or scale their innovation while improving outcomes for the communities they serve.

Projects that combine innovation with measurable social impact, financial sustainability and a clear pathway to growth are likely to be well positioned within the programme’s evidence-based framework.

Looking Ahead

The opening of applications for the DIV Fund 2026 presents an important opportunity for organisations committed to solving some of the world’s most pressing development challenges.

For African startups, nonprofits, researchers and social enterprises, the programme represents more than access to funding. It offers an opportunity to validate innovative ideas, strengthen evidence and scale solutions capable of creating lasting social impact.

As countries work toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, investments in evidence-based innovation will remain essential to improving lives, strengthening communities and accelerating sustainable development.

Organisations interested in the program are encouraged to review the eligibility requirements and application guidance before submitting their proposals. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Click HERE to Apply

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