Global Innovation Fund
Independent international fund investing grants and risk capital in innovations that improve lives of people in developing countries across health, education, and economic inclusion.
Overview
The Global Innovation Fund (GIF) is an independent non-profit investment fund backed by the UK's FCDO (formerly DFID), USAID, the Swedish government, AusAID, and the Omidyar Network. GIF invests in proven innovations - scalable, cost-effective solutions to development challenges - through a staged investment approach covering pilot, transition (growth), and scale-up phases. GIF invests through grants, loans, and equity, with investment sizes ranging from $50,000 seed grants to $15 million scale-up investments. Focus areas include health, education, financial inclusion, agriculture, energy access, and workforce development primarily for low- and middle-income countries.
What You Can Find Here
- Pilot-stage grants ($50,000-$250,000) for testing innovative solutions to development problems
- Transition-stage grants ($250,000-$2 million) for growing proven pilot solutions
- Scale-stage grants and risk capital ($2-15 million) for scaling high-impact proven solutions
- Open calls and targeted solicitations across GIF's focus areas
- GIF Innovation Labs - sector-specific deep dives with higher funding for breakthrough solutions
- Technical assistance and networking alongside financial investment
Who Should Use This
- Social enterprises, NGOs, and for-profit companies with innovative solutions benefiting people in developing countries
- Researchers and development practitioners testing new approaches to persistent development challenges
- Startups using technology to improve access to health, education, finance, or livelihood in LMICs
- Organisations with proven pilots seeking risk capital to grow to greater impact
- Development sector organisations with evidence of cost-effective impact seeking scale-up support
How to Get Started
- Step 1: Visit globalinnovation.fund to read about GIF's investment approach and focus areas
- Step 2: Review the GIF investment criteria - innovations must address development challenges, be evidence-based, cost-effective, and have scale potential
- Step 3: Complete an initial Expression of Interest (EoI) via the GIF online submission system
- Step 4: Shortlisted EoIs are invited to submit a full application with detailed evidence of impact and scaling plans
- Step 5: GIF conducts due diligence on shortlisted applications before making investment decisions
Things to Check Before Applying
- GIF is highly selective - it invests in innovations with strong evidence of impact and clear potential to reach millions at lower cost
- GIF is stage-agnostic but each application is assessed against the appropriate stage criteria (pilot, transition, or scale)
- For-profit companies can apply as well as nonprofits - GIF is organisation-type agnostic
- GIF invests globally but most investments benefit people in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia
- GIF processing from initial EoI to investment decision can take 6-12 months
Frequently Asked Questions
Does GIF give grants or loans?
GIF provides a range of instruments including grants, loans, and equity, matched to the stage and type of innovation. Early pilot-stage investments are usually grants. Growth and scale investments may use loans or equity.
Can for-profit companies apply to GIF?
Yes. GIF is agnostic about legal structure - nonprofits, social enterprises, and for-profit companies can all apply as long as the innovation genuinely benefits people in developing countries.
What is GIF's main investment criterion?
GIF looks for innovations that are: (1) addressing a development challenge, (2) supported by evidence of effectiveness, (3) cost-effective at scale, and (4) have a credible path to widespread adoption.
What is the smallest GIF investment?
GIF pilot-stage grants can be as small as $50,000, though most are in the $100,000-$250,000 range for initial testing of innovative approaches.
Where does GIF invest geographically?
GIF invests globally with a focus on low- and middle-income countries. The majority of GIF-backed innovations work in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
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