Development Innovation Ventures Sample Application September 2018

DEVELOPMENT INNOVATION VENTURES
Application Guideline
Open innovation inspires new solutions to the critical challenges affecting millions around the
world. In the spirit of open innovation, DIV supports groundbreaking ideas to transform lives by
providing flexible, tiered grant funding to test new ideas, take strategic risks, build evidence of
what works, and advance the best solutions.
DIV funds innovations that demonstrate the three guiding principles of: rigorous evidence of
impact, cost-effectiveness, and a viable pathway to scale and sustainability. We accept
proposals year-round from any type of organization, sector, and country in which USAID works
at the following stages:
● STAGE 1: Proof of Concept (up to $200,000)

● STAGE 2: Testing and Positioning for Scale ($200,000 to $1,500,000)
● STAGE 3: Scaling ($1,500,000 to $5,000,000)
● Evidence Generation (up to $1,500,000)
For detailed information about DIV, the selection criteria, and examples of previously
funded innovations, please visit usaid.gov/div.
Before you begin working on your application, please read through the following:
1. This is a sample application form.
2. Once you are ready to submit your application, please visit the online application portal
to submit your application. Applications submitted via post or email will not be reviewed.
3. Please submit one application per project and project team.
4. Information about the online application:
 You will need to create an account on the online application portal so that you
may work on the application over time and check the status of your application.
 There are three sections to the online application. Your application will save
automatically and continuously as you work on the application; therefore, there is
no need to “save” your application.
 Once you submit an application, you will not be able to edit your application.
1
DEVELOPMENT INNOVATION VENTURES
Sample Application Form
This is a sample application form. Once you are ready to submit your application, please
visit the online application portal to submit your application.
Please provide accurate information to the full extent of your organization’s knowledge.
* Required field
SECTION 1: ORGANIZATION INFORMATION
Organization Name*: (max. 80 characters):
Organization Type*: [Picklist selection: Academic, Nonprofit/NGO, For-profit, Federal Agency, Foreign
Government, Multilateral, Other]
Website*:
ORGANIZATION ADDRESS
Country*: [Country List]
Street Address*:
City*:
State/Region*:
Zip Code/Postal Code*:
In which country is your organization legally incorporated?* [Country List]
Does your organization have less than 50 employees?* [Yes/No]
2
CONTACT INFORMATION
Primary Point of Contact* Secondary Point of Contact (optional)

(Founder/CEO/Principal Investigator)
First Name: First Name:
Last Name: Last Name:
Title: Title:
Work e-mail: Work e-mail:
Work Phone: Work Phone:
Gender: [Male/Female/Prefer not to disclose] Gender: [Male/Female/Prefer not to disclose]
Under 30-years-old? [Yes/No] Under 30-years-old? [Yes/No]
SECTION 2: PROJECT OVERVIEW INFORMATION
Project Title (max. 80 characters)*:
Please specify to which DIV Stage you are applying*: [Stage 1/2/3/Evidence]
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Evidence
Proof of Concept Testing and Positioning Scaling Evidence Generation

for Scale
up to $200,000 $200,000 to $1,500,000 $1,500,000 to up to $1,500,000

$5,000,000
Applicants may Applicants may apply for Applicants may Researchers may
apply for funds to: funds to: apply for funds to: apply for funds to:
Test proof of Test the business or Scale the innovation Evaluate the impact
concept of any delivery model of a to a new context or of potentially cost-
innovative service, product or service. demonstrate effective innovations
product, or business Building on the replicability. Funds in partnership with
model innovation in parameters of Stage 1, must leverage an implementer
a developing country smaller Stage 2 awards additional external (e.g., a host country
context. (up to $500,000) may be funding or catalytic government, social
awarded for evidence of partnerships. enterprise, nonprofit,
user demand beyond etc.).
the proof of concept.
3
Total Funding Requested (in USD)*:
Please round up to the nearest dollar.
Proposed Cost Share (in USD)*:

Please specify if your organization or a partner organization plan to contribute towards the total cost of
the project. It is not required, but will become a condition of an award if it is part of the approved award
budget.
With what type of organization(s) do you plan to partner (if any)*?

Picklist selection(s): Academic, Nonprofit/NGO, For-profit, Federal Agency, Foreign Government,
Multilateral, Other
Which of the following best describes the sector(s) your innovation addresses?
Primary Sector (select one)*:
Secondary Sector(s), if any:
Picklist selection: Agriculture/Food Security, Democracy/Governance, Disaster

Relief/Humanitarian Assistance, Economic Growth, Education and Training, Energy,
Environment, Health, Water Sanitation and Hygiene, Other: please specify
Where will this project take place?
Primary Country (select one)*: [Country List]
Secondary Country/Countries, if any: [Country List]
Does your organization have a long-term office in the country or countries where the
project will take place?* [Yes/No]
Expected duration of project activities in months (max. 36 months)*:
Expected source of financial support at scale*: [Public, Private, Hybrid]

How do you anticipate funding the implementation of this project/solution over the long-term?
Has the applicant received funding for this or a similar project from any of the
following?*
DIV*: [Yes/No] If ‘Yes’, please provide the grant/award number

USAID (other than DIV)*: [Yes/No] If ‘Yes’, please specify USAID Program/contact
U.S. Government*: [Yes/No] If ‘Yes’, please specify
Has the applicant submitted this or a similar project for funding consideration to any of
the following?*
DIV*: [Yes/No] If ‘Yes’, please provide the application number

USAID (other than DIV)*: [Yes/No] If ‘Yes’, please specify USAID Program
U.S. Government*: [Yes/No] If ‘Yes’, please specify
4
Has the applicant ever received USAID funding in the past?* [Yes/No]
How did you hear about DIV?* [Please specify]

Picklist selection: USAID Staff, USAID Website/Newsletter, DIV Website/Newsletter, Current DIV grantee,
USAID Implementing Partner, Conference, Other
SECTION 3: DETAILED PROJECT INFORMATION

 Stages 1, 2, or 3 grant applications (pages 5-8)
 Evidence Generation grant applications (pages 9-12)
Please review the selection criteria available on the USAID website as a guidance to answer the
following long-form questions. Please be sure to include citations for assertions or references where
applicable.
DETAILED PROJECT INFORMATION: Stages 1, 2, or 3
1. What is the problem your innovation addresses?*

i.e., What is the specific problem and how does the problem impact people's lives?
How would solving this problem improve people's lives? How many people does this
issue impact in the country/countries you're working in? How many people does this
impact globally? Please be sure to include citations for assertions or references.
Max. Characters: 4,000
2. Describe your specific innovation and the expected impact of your innovation.*
i.e., How will your innovation significantly address the problem at lower cost in a way
that has not been feasible before? How is your innovation more effective at solving the
problem than other available options? Please be sure to include citations for
assertions or references.
3. Who does this innovation impact?*

i.e., Who are your beneficiaries/customers? Please explain who is impacted by this
issue and who could benefit from your solution - different genders, age groups, income
levels, minorities, etc. Please be sure to include citations for assertions or references.
5
4. How many people do you anticipate to impact in the next five years?*
i.e., Please explain your calculations, including relevant assumptions. DIV recognizes
that precise estimates may be difficult to calculate, especially for early-stage
applicants, and is most interested in the underlying assumptions which you will use to
calculate a reasonable number. Please be sure to include citations for assertions or
references.
5. Why will end users be interested in your product or service?*

i.e., What current solutions exist in the geographic area where you will implement your
innovation? Why and how is your solution a better alternative? How much does your
innovation cost and what is the cost comparison to other alternatives? Please be sure
to include citations for assertions or references.
6. How is your innovation going to reach millions of people?*

i.e., Operationally and financially, how will your pathway to scale grow outside of DIV
funding? What possible avenues (public, private, hybrid) exist and what approach do
you plan on taking? How will your scale plan deliver impact with DIV's three
fundamental objectives: evidence, cost effectiveness, and pathways to scale? Please
be sure to include citations for assertions or references.
7. Given your stage and intended pathway to scale, please explain the methodology
for how you intend to assess the project/innovation.*
i.e., How you will assess proof-of-concept viability, commercial viability, causal impact
and cost-effectiveness, or other objectives? Please be sure to include citations for
6
8. What are the relevant metrics or key performance indicators you will use to judge
the success of this project/innovation?*
i.e., Please list relevant metrics or key performance indicators. How do you intend to
measure them? DIV understands that these indicators may change over time. Please
be sure to include citations for assertions or references.
9. What activities will you execute under this grant and what results do you
anticipate achieving with DIV funds?*
i.e., Why and how will DIV funding be catalytic for your organization or business?
10. What are the biggest challenges and risks you expect to encounter and how will
you overcome them?*
i.e., Please share the challenges and risks that you have identified and demonstrate
that you have thought through the various challenges you will likely face. Please tell us
what hurdles you anticipate and how you plan to address them.
11. Please provide an overview of the lead implementing organization.*

i.e., What is the lead implementing organization’s area of expertise and its mission?
Please be sure to include relevant experience.
12. Who are the key team members for this project?*
i.e., Please provide a brief summary list of each key team member contributing to this
project including relevant skills/experience and how each team member can address
potential risks and challenges associated with the project. Specify each member’s
personal percentage level of effort (LOE) allotted to this project. For example: CEO
Jane Doe, 50 % LOE; Principal Investigator Mary Smith, 100% LOE; CTO John Doe,
50% LOE. Please DO NOT include entire CVs.
7
13. Describe partner organizations, if any. What skills/experience do they contribute
to implementing or scaling the project and are their roles and responsibilities in
the project?*
i.e., For example, do you plan to work with any non-governmental organizations,
government ministries, health centers, research organizations, etc. to implement this
project? Please distinguish between: 1). partners that have already agreed to
participate and entered into formal agreements, 2). partners that have indicated verbal
interest or verbal assent, or 3). partners that are valid hypothetical prospects. In
addition, please specify which organizations are providing financial support for this
project.
14. Please provide up to three past performance references who can speak to the
ability of the applicant.*
i.e., Please provide contact information for three references including name, email,
and phone number. References must be able to attest and validate the
applicant/project team’s ability to work effectively, achieve results, or successfully
implement projects similar in magnitude, complexity, objectives and in context within
the past three years. Personal references are acceptable if a professional reference is
not available.
15. Please use the space below to list additional citations to support this project. Only
content written in the application will be reviewed; these citations will be used to
verify factual accuracy if necessary.*
i.e., Please list citation URLs or publication information.
❏ I understand that USAID/DIV may share this application, internally or externally, as

part of the due diligence process or if USAID/DIV identifies opportunities to
strengthen or fund an application by connecting with other USAID mechanisms,
other potential funders, and/or external partners for appropriate consideration.
❏ By submitting this application, I certify that the answers to the questions are accurate
to the full extent of my knowledge.
8
SECTION 3: DETAILED PROJECT INFORMATION
Please review the selection criteria available on the USAID website as a guidance to answer the
following long-form questions. Please be sure to include citations for assertions or references where
applicable.
DETAILED PROJECT INFORMATION: Evidence Generation
1. What is the problem your innovation addresses?*

i.e., What is the specific problem and how does the problem impact people's lives?
How would solving this problem improve people's lives? How many people does this
issue impact in the country/countries you're working in? How many people does this
impact globally? Please be sure to include citations for assertions or references.
2. Describe your specific innovation and the expected impact of your innovation.*
i.e., How will your innovation significantly address the problem at lower cost in a way
that has not been feasible before? How is your innovation more effective at solving the
problem than other available options? Please be sure to include citations for
3. Who does this innovation impact?*

i.e., Who are your beneficiaries/customers? Please explain who is impacted by this
issue and who could benefit from your solution - different genders, age groups, income
levels, minorities, etc. Please be sure to include citations for assertions or references.
4. How many people do you anticipate to impact in the next five years?*
i.e., Please explain your calculations, including relevant assumptions. DIV recognizes
that precise estimates may be difficult to calculate, especially for early-stage
applicants, and is most interested in the underlying assumptions which you will use to
calculate a reasonable number. Please be sure to include citations for assertions or
references.
9
5. What are the policy questions your evaluation seeks to address and who are the
consumer of the evidence you intend to generate?*
i.e., What specific improvements in policy and/or implementation does your evaluation
intend to address? How does the evidence generated address a gap in the existing
knowledge? What are the key barriers for adopting the results of your evidence? What
are the key barriers for taking the innovation to scale? Please be sure to include
citations for assertions or references.
6. Please describe your study design.*

i.e., Please describe the experimental or quasi-experimental methods, relevant power
calculations, and threats to internal and external validity. How do you plan to mitigate
these factors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the study design?
7. Please describe your plan to disseminate the evidence generated.*

i.e., Please describe how you plan to disseminate the evidence generated to relevant
actors.
8. What are the specific metrics you intend to measure?*

i.e., Please list relevant metrics. How do you intend to measure them? DIV
understands that these metrics may change over time. Please be sure to include
citations for assertions or references.
9. What activities will you execute under this grant and what results do you
anticipate achieving with DIV funds?*
i.e., Why and how will DIV funding be catalytic for your organization or business?
10
10. What are the biggest challenges and risks you expect to encounter and how will
you overcome them?*
i.e., Please share the challenges and risks that you have identified and demonstrate
that you have thought through the various challenges you will likely face. Please tell us
what hurdles you anticipate and how you plan to address them.
11. Please provide an overview of the implementing and evaluating organization.*

i.e., What are the organizations’ area of expertise and mission? Please be sure to
include relevant experience.
12. Who are the key team members for this project?*
i.e., Please provide a brief summary list of each key team member contributing to this
project including relevant skills/experience and how each team member can address
potential risks and challenges associated with the project. Specify each member’s
personal percentage level of effort (LOE) allotted to this project. For example: CEO
Jane Doe, 50 % LOE; Principal Investigator Mary Smith, 100% LOE; CTO John Doe,
50% LOE. Please DO NOT include entire CVs.
13. Describe partner organizations, if any. What skills/experience do they contribute

to implementing or scaling the project and are their roles and responsibilities in
the project?*
i.e., For example, do you plan to work with any non-governmental organizations,
government ministries, health centers, research organizations, etc. to implement this
project? Please distinguish between: 1). partners that have already agreed to
participate and entered into formal agreements, 2). partners that have indicated verbal
interest or verbal assent, or 3). partners that are valid hypothetical prospects. In
addition, please specify which organizations are providing financial support for this
project.
11
14. Please provide up to three past performance references who can speak to the
ability of the applicant.*
i.e., Please provide contact information for three references including name, email,
and phone number. References must be able to attest and validate the
applicant/project team’s ability to work effectively, achieve results, or successfully
implement projects similar in magnitude, complexity, objectives and in context within
the past three years. Personal references are acceptable if a professional reference is
not available.
15. Please use the space below to list additional citations to support this project. Only
content written in the application will be reviewed; these citations will be used to
verify factual accuracy if necessary.*
i.e., Please list citation URLs or publication information.
❏ I understand that USAID/DIV may share this application, internally or externally, as

part of the due diligence process or if USAID/DIV identifies opportunities to
strengthen or fund an application by connecting with other USAID mechanisms,
other potential funders, and/or external partners for appropriate consideration.
❏ By submitting this application, I certify that the answers to the questions are accurate
to the full extent of my knowledge.
12

Development Innovation Ventures Sample Application September 2018

Hochgeladen von

Dokumentinformationen

Copyright

Verfügbare Formate

Dieses Dokument teilen

Dokument teilen oder einbetten

Freigabeoptionen

Stufen Sie dieses Dokument als nützlich ein?

Sind diese Inhalte unangemessen?

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

Development Innovation Ventures Sample Application September 2018

Hochgeladen von

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

DEVELOPMENT INNOVATION VENTURES

● STAGE 1: Proof of Concept (up to $200,000)

SECTION 1: ORGANIZATION INFORMATION

Organization Name*: (max. 80 characters):

Country*: [Country List]

Zip Code/Postal Code*:

In which country is your organization legally incorporated?* [Country List]

Does your organization have less than 50 employees?* [Yes/No]

Primary Point of Contact* Secondary Point of Contact (optional)

First Name: First Name:

Last Name: Last Name:

Work e-mail: Work e-mail:

Work Phone: Work Phone:

Gender: [Male/Female/Prefer not to disclose] Gender: [Male/Female/Prefer not to disclose]

Under 30-years-old? [Yes/No] Under 30-years-old? [Yes/No]

SECTION 2: PROJECT OVERVIEW INFORMATION

Project Title (max. 80 characters)*:

Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Evidence

Proof of Concept Testing and Positioning Scaling Evidence Generation

up to $200,000 $200,000 to $1,500,000 $1,500,000 to up to $1,500,000

Proposed Cost Share (in USD)*:

With what type of organization(s) do you plan to partner (if any)*?

Primary Sector (select one)*:

Secondary Sector(s), if any:

Picklist selection: Agriculture/Food Security, Democracy/Governance, Disaster

Where will this project take place?

Primary Country (select one)*: [Country List]

Secondary Country/Countries, if any: [Country List]

Expected duration of project activities in months (max. 36 months)*:

Expected source of financial support at scale*: [Public, Private, Hybrid]

DIV*: [Yes/No] If ‘Yes’, please provide the grant/award number

DIV*: [Yes/No] If ‘Yes’, please provide the application number

How did you hear about DIV?* [Please specify]

SECTION 3: DETAILED PROJECT INFORMATION

DETAILED PROJECT INFORMATION: Stages 1, 2, or 3

1. What is the problem your innovation addresses?*

Max. Characters: 4,000

Max. Characters: 4,000

3. Who does this innovation impact?*

Max. Characters: 2,000

5. Why will end users be interested in your product or service?*

Max. Characters: 4,000

6. How is your innovation going to reach millions of people?*

Max. Characters: 4,000

Max. Characters: 4,000

Max. Characters: 2,000

Max. Characters: 2,000

Max. Characters: 4,000

11. Please provide an overview of the lead implementing organization.*

Max. Characters: 2,000

Max. Characters: 2,000

Max. Characters: 2,000

Max. Characters: 2,000

Max. Characters: 2,000

❏ I understand that USAID/DIV may share this application, internally or externally, as

DETAILED PROJECT INFORMATION: Evidence Generation

1. What is the problem your innovation addresses?*

Max. Characters: 4,000

Max. Characters: 4,000

3. Who does this innovation impact?*

Max. Characters: 2,000

Max. Characters: 2,000

Max. Characters: 4,000

6. Please describe your study design.*