[UOS] Fund for Innovation in Development

Created in 2021 and chaired by Esther Duflo, co-recipient of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Economics, FID is an innovative development financing mechanism. At the heart of its approach: synergies between innovation and research teams to pilot, test and evaluate the impact of projects using rigorous scientific methods. FID’s ambition is to contribute, in the long term, to the transformation of public policies by supporting the scaling up of proven innovations in the fight against poverty and inequality.

The call for proposals is open all year round to all types of teams for solutions targeting low- and middle-income countries. FID particularly supports, but is not limited to, initiatives related to education, health, gender equality and climate as well as those from the 19 priority countries for French development policy.

To know more about FID, its events, and funded innovations, you can visit the FID website.

Eligibility

FID accepts applications from nearly any type of applicant, independently or in partnership with others, including: research institutes and institutions of higher education; governments or public agencies; non-governmental organizations; and private, for-profit companies.
Individuals applying independently and public international and multilateral institutions are ineligible for funding.
FID accepts applications for funding from innovators and researchers of all nationalities living in all geographies, but specifically encourages applications from organizations based in all low and middle-income countries eligible for official development assistance (list established by the OECD), with special emphasis on the countries, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, that are recognized as priority countries for French aid.
FID accepts applications in French or English.
When receiving an application, FID ensures its consistency with FID's mandate and selection criteria: For example: Is the application complete? How does the proposed innovation address the identified challenge? Does it fit the requested funding stage?

Funding stages

FID provides five types of grants. Applicants should apply for the type of grant that best reflects the current development of their innovation. There is no need to start with a Stage 1 Grant in order to be eligible to apply for a Stage 2 Grant.

Stage 0 : Prepare grants | up to €50,000

Prepare grants can be used to support the development of promising proposals for applicants to other stages of funding.

FID will prioritize Prepare grants proposal from applicants from the countries that are identified as a priority for French aid.

Stage 1 : Pilot | up to €200,000

Stage 1 grants support innovations that are early in development and are ready to be piloted in the real world to refine the basic model and establish the viability of the innovation at small scale.

Stage 2 : Test and Position to Scale | up to €1,500,000

Stage 2 grants support further testing or impact evaluations of innovations already piloted.

Stage 3 : Transition to Scale | up to €4,000,000

Stage 3 grants support the scale-up of rigorously tested solutions with a validated impact and cost-effectiveness.

Transforming Public Policy | up to €500,000

There are two types of TPP projects:

Institutionalizing specific, mature evidence-based innovations with demonstrated cost-effectiveness and scalability into public policies at large scale.

Strengthening the capacity of low- and middle-income governments to design, test, pilot, and/or scale evidence-based innovations.

More details in the FID Call for Proposals.

Evaluation criteria

Applications are reviewed according to a selection rubric of 3 main criteria:

Evidence of Impact: A credible theory of change that draws upon existing evidence and an appropriate evaluation methodology to assess the development impacts of the innovation.
Cost and Potential for Cost-effectiveness: A credible demonstration and stage-appropriate assessment that the innovation can achieve better, lower cost, or more efficient results than alternative solutions to solve the problem, at a lower cost or more efficiently. This demonstration will be based on a detailed explanation of the costs of the innovation and an analysis of expected changes to these costs over time and at scale.
Scale and Financial Sustainability: An assessment of the innovation’s potential for scaling-up over time without an ongoing support from FID.

For each of these criteria, requirements may vary depending on the funding stage.

Application process

Innovation proposals can be submitted at any point throughout the year. FID reviews applications as they are received. The application review process includes four core steps:

Initial online application: Exclusively through FID’s online portal. Once your application is received, FID staff will review it in compliance with the 3 criteria. No application will be accepted outside this online process.
Shortlisting: If your application passes the initial screening, you will be invited to the next stage of application, the "Collaborative Review". The FID team will request additional information and documentation from project stakeholders; and interact with specific external experts.
Selection: If your application advances from the "Collaborative Review," it will be screened by a “Review Committee” of qualified external experts. They will give FID's final recommendations about the funding decision.
Decision: If approved by the "Review Committee", the project is admitted to the due diligence stage in order to ensure that the application meets compliance requirements. The decision to award funds is confirmed based on the recommendation of the Review Committee and the conclusions of the compliance review.

More information

See the frequently asked questions or have a look at the complete application form (Word format) to prepare your application in advance.

In case of difficulties with the online application, you can contact FID at contact@fundinnovation.dev.

FID organises Q&A sessions on the call for proposals, the review and selection of the applications that take place every 2-3 months online (dates and registration links at the bottom of the FID website, presentation of the Q&A session of January 2024 in attachment)

UGent contact: Tom Broeks - Partnerships Global South

15 januari 2024 12:37