Who can apply
- Research institutes and higher-education institutions
- Governments and public agencies
- Non-governmental organisations
- Private and for-profit companies
- Organisations applying independently or through a consortium
- Applicants of any nationality, provided the project is implemented in an eligible country
- Individuals applying alone and international or multilateral organisations are not eligible
- Applications may be submitted in English or French
Focus areas
- Poverty and inequality reduction
- Education
- Health
- Climate change
- Gender equality
- Public-service innovation
- Evidence generation and impact evaluation
- Cost-effective development solutions
- Scaling proven innovations
- Support for marginalised and displaced populations
Requirements
- Completed online application in English or French
- Clear description of the development problem and proposed innovation
- Selection of the appropriate FID funding stage
- Documented theory of change supported by available evidence
- Monitoring, evaluation or impact-evaluation approach appropriate to the funding stage
- Explanation of expected cost-effectiveness compared with existing alternatives
- Realistic project budget using the official FID budget template
- Clear pathway to scale and long-term financial sustainability
- Implementation plan with capable team members and defined partner roles
- Additional supporting documents if requested during the review process
Application steps
- Read the official Call for Proposals Guide carefully.
- Use the FID decision tree to identify the funding stage matching the innovation’s maturity.
- Create an account on the official online application portal.
- Complete the application, explaining the innovation, evidence, cost-effectiveness, implementation plan and pathway to scale.
- Complete and attach the official budget template and any stage-specific supporting information.
- Submit the application at any time and respond to follow-up questions or requests for additional documents.
Global Grants Hub strategic note
FID is not designed for an ordinary community project presented only as a list of activities. Competitive applicants must demonstrate a genuinely innovative solution, a credible theory of change, potential for measurable impact, stronger cost-effectiveness than existing approaches and a realistic pathway to scale. Applicants should choose the funding stage honestly: higher stages require stronger prior piloting, evidence and partnerships. Even early-stage applicants should show that the innovation has moved beyond a general idea and is ready for structured testing or preparation toward a defined funding stage.