The DIV Portfolio

Watch an Overview of DIV

DIV Factsheet

Development Innovation Ventures (DIV), part of the U.S. Global Development Lab, is USAID’s open competition supporting breakthrough solutions to the world's most intractable development challenges—interventions that could change millions of lives at a fraction of the usual cost.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: DIV application window has closed, effective on Friday, July 28 2017, 11:59pm ET.  Applications are not being accepted at this time until further notice. Please visit www.usaid.gov/div and www.divportfolio.org and follow @GlobalDevLab on Twitter for further updates. For other potential funding opportunities, visit the Global Innovation Exchange at www.globalinnovationexchange.org.

DIV seeks to bring in new ideas for solving problems facing millions around the world - delivering more impact, for less money, with greater potential for sustainable scale. Inspired by the venture capital experience, DIV uses a tiered, evidence-based funding model to test ideas, gather evidence of what works, find failures quickly and cheaply, without long-term commitments, and continue to support only proven solutions. 

DIV is relentlessly focused on three elements of an innovation: rigorous evidence of impact, cost-effectiveness, and pathway to scale through the private or public sectors. We accept proposals, across three stages, year-round from any type of organization, in any sector and country in which USAID works: 

• Stage 1: Proof of Concept / Initial Testing ($25k-150k, up to 3 years)
• Stage 2: Testing and Positioning for Scale ($150k-1.5m, up to 3 years)
• Stage 3: Transitioning Proven Solutions to Scale ($1.5m-15m, up to 5 years)

To learn more about DIV, explore:

• About DIV, including a description of our Model In Detail and our Frequently Asked Questions
• Apply to DIV, including details on What We Look For and instructions on How to Apply, including our Annual Program Statement (APS) that outlines our funding guidelines and our Expression of Interest (EOI) form that prospective applicants complete in order to start the application process 
• The DIV Portfolio, featuring profiles of the innovations we support on our online engagement community

To stay in touch: 

• Contact us by email
• Follow us on Twitter at @GlobalDevLab #DIVUSAID