Global Innovation Fund

The Global Innovation Fund, or GIF, is social impact-first investment vehicle that works with mission-aligned development agencies, philanthropy, and other funders to find and fund evidence-based innovations with the potential to positively impact the lives of millions of the world’s poorest people. We play a distinct role alongside existing development assistance by taking smart risks public agencies cannot using a range of financial instruments to achieve our mission. We help guide entrepreneurs through their journey to scale using a venture-style staged funding approach where more speculative ideas receive smaller amount of support and increased funding follows successful testing and achievement of proof points.

At GIF, we believe that innovation, by which we mean any solution that has potential to address an important development problem more effectively than existing approaches, can come from anyone, anywhere.

This means that we accept applications working in any sector in any developing country.

Any type of organisation may apply. This includes social enterprises, for-profit companies, non-profit organisations, government agencies, international organisations, and research institutions in any country. It is recommended that individual innovators, entrepreneurs, or researchers apply through an affiliated organisation.

An open application window does not mean, however, that all development projects are a good fit for GIF. We seek out innovations we believe have the greatest potential to improve the lives of millions of people living in poverty and only select those innovations which: 

1. Are focussed on the poor.

2. Are novel approaches which are not commonplace.

3. Can improve upon alternatives solutions.

4. Are backed by evidence of potential impact.

5. Can be widely applied in many different settings.

6. Have the potential to scale to reach millions of people.

7. Are led by strong and dynamic teams.

8. Are ready for investment.

9. Will generate new knowledge on what works.

10. Have a clear role for GIF.

GIF accepts applications on a rolling basis – our window is always open with no deadlines or rounds of funding.