The USAID Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) programme funds breakthrough solutions to the world’s toughest development challenges. It offers staged grants of up to $1.5 million to organizations and entrepreneurs working on scalable, evidence-based approaches to ending extreme poverty, improving health, expanding education, and more — anywhere in the world.
DIV accepts applications on a rolling basis — there is no fixed deadline. If you have a development innovation ready for testing or scaling, you can apply now for free.
Quick Facts
| Opportunity Type | Grant |
| Host Organization | USAID (US Agency for International Development) |
| Location | Global (applicants and projects worldwide) |
| Format / Mode | Remote / In-Person (at project location) |
| Duration | Varies by stage and project |
| Stipend / Salary / Funding | Up to $200,000 (Stage 1) or up to $1.5M (Stage 2) |
| Application Fee | Free |
| Nationality | Open globally (organizations and individuals) |
| Degree Required | Not specified |
| Age | Not specified |
| Work Experience | Not specified |
| Fields / Areas | International development: health, education, agriculture, economic growth, governance, and more |
| Start Date | Rolling (no fixed cycle) |
What Is USAID DIV?
Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) is USAID’s open innovation programme. It uses a tiered, evidence-based model to fund global development solutions: start small to test an idea, scale what works, and transition the most proven approaches to widespread adoption. The programme is modelled on venture capital principles applied to global development — it bets on the most promising ideas and scales the winners.
Since its launch in 2010, DIV has funded over 200 innovations across more than 40 countries, including breakthroughs in health technology, agricultural tools, financial access, education delivery, and climate adaptation. Past grantees have included social enterprises, NGOs, academic researchers, and early-stage startups.
Who Can Apply?
DIV is open to applicants from anywhere in the world — individuals, organisations, social enterprises, startups, universities, NGOs, and research institutions. There are no nationality or sector restrictions. What matters is the quality and scalability of your development innovation.
The programme looks for solutions that have strong potential for cost-effectiveness, that can be rigorously evaluated, and that can ultimately scale to reach hundreds of thousands or millions of people. Applications at any stage — pilot, proof of concept, or scale-up — are welcome.
What Do You Get?
DIV awards are structured in tiers based on the maturity and evidence base of your innovation:
- Stage 1: Up to $200,000 to test an idea or pilot a new approach
- Stage 2: Up to $1.5 million to build evidence and refine for scale
- Stage 3 and beyond: Larger grants for transitioning proven innovations to scale (amounts vary)
The application is free. Awards are competitive and based on innovation, evidence, and scale potential.
What Will You Do?
As a DIV grantee, you will design and implement a development intervention, collect rigorous evidence on its effectiveness, and work toward scaling solutions that improve the lives of people in low- and middle-income countries. DIV provides not just funding but also technical assistance and connections to USAID’s global network of missions and partners.
Fields and Areas
DIV funds development innovations across a wide range of sectors: global health, maternal and child health, agriculture and food security, clean energy and climate, education, financial inclusion, water and sanitation, governance, and economic empowerment. Any sector relevant to USAID’s development mandate is eligible.
How to Apply
- Visit the official DIV application portal at div.fund/apply.
- Review the DIV funding criteria, stage definitions, and applicant guidance on the website.
- Submit a concept note describing your innovation, the problem it addresses, your evidence strategy, and scale potential.
- Shortlisted applicants are invited to submit a full application. The process is rolling — there is no fixed deadline.
⏰ Important Deadline
DIV accepts applications on a rolling basis with no fixed deadline. Applications are reviewed as received. Submit your concept note as soon as your innovation is ready to articulate.
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