FID – Fund for Innovation in Development (Innovative Project Funding)
By Fund for Innovation in Development
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Quick Answer
FID offers non-dilutive grants from €50,000 to €4,000,000 to innovations combating poverty and inequality in low- and middle-income countries, providing staged funding and technical support.
- Funding amount
- ₹45 Lakhs – ₹36 Cr
- Funding type
- Grant
- Application deadline
- Rolling
- Location
- International
About this grant
The Fund for Innovation in Development (FID), a groundbreaking initiative backed by the French government and chaired by Nobel laureate Esther Duflo, is dedicated to financing impactful innovations. FID's core mission is to support solutions that demonstrate a strong evidence base for significantly reducing poverty and inequality across low- and middle-income countries. This program is designed to identify and scale interventions that have the potential for widespread positive social and economic change, focusing on robust evidence of impact rather than speculative claims. The fund embraces a wide array of innovative approaches across critical sectors.
FID supports a diverse ecosystem of innovators, including social enterprises, traditional for-profit companies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), research institutions, and public bodies. This inclusivity ensures that impactful solutions, regardless of their organizational structure, can access the necessary resources to develop and scale. The funding mechanism is tiered and staged, meticulously designed to support projects from their earliest conceptual and preparatory phases through rigorous pilot testing, comprehensive impact evaluations, and ultimately, large-scale deployment. This structured approach allows innovators to progressively build evidence and refine their solutions, de-risking the innovation process and maximizing their potential for sustainable impact on the ground.
Eligibility
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Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Create a free account to view.
Grant providers
The Fund for Innovation in Development (FID) is hosted by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and chaired by Esther Duflo. It finances innovations with strong evidence of impact on poverty and inequality across low- and middle-income countries, funding social…
Learn moreBenefits & Funding
- Amount
- ₹45 Lakhs – ₹36 Cr
- Fund type
- Grant
- Equity
- Equity-free
- Repayment
- Non-repayable
What You Get
FID offers non-dilutive grants across several critical stages of innovation development, ensuring that founders retain full ownership of their ventures. Funding ranges from approximately ₹45 lakh (€50,000) for early-stage preparation and concept validation, scaling up to ₹1.8 crore (€200,000) for pilot projects aimed at testing solutions in real-world environments. For innovations requiring rigorous validation, grants of up to ₹13.5 crore (€1,500,000) are available for comprehensive impact evaluations. Finally, solutions with proven impact can receive substantial scale-up funding of up to ₹36 crore (€4,000,000) to achieve widespread adoption. Beyond financial support, FID provides invaluable technical assistance, connecting innovators with a rich network of experts focused on evidence-based development, helping to refine strategies and maximize impact.
- Disbursement
- Milestone Based
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Applications
Rolling basis
Selection Process
Applications submitted to FID undergo a multi-stage evaluation process designed to identify innovations with the highest potential for evidence-based impact on poverty and inequality. Initially, proposals are screened for eligibility and alignment with FID's mission and thematic areas. Projects are then rigorously reviewed by an expert committee, which assesses the innovation's novelty, feasibility, scalability, and crucially, its potential for generating robust evidence of impact. This evaluation often involves a deep dive into the project's theory of change, methodology for evidence generation, and the capacity of the implementing team. While not explicitly stated, successful applicants may be invited to present their proposals or participate in interviews to further elaborate on their project. Funding decisions are typically communicated about three months after submission, with a strong emphasis on selecting initiatives that can demonstrate measurable results and contribute to the global evidence base for development.
Application Process
- 1
Submit Project Proposal
Applicants submit their detailed project proposal through the FID online portal, including project plan, budget, and impact framework.
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How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of projects does FID typically fund?
FID primarily funds innovations with a strong evidence base that aim to reduce poverty and inequality in low- and middle-income countries. This includes solutions across various sectors such as health, education, climate, agriculture, gender equality, and financial inclusion. Projects should demonstrate potential for significant, measurable social impact.
What are the funding amounts and tiers available?
FID offers non-dilutive grants across multiple tiers: approximately ₹45 lakh (€50,000) for preparation, ₹1.8 crore (€200,000) for pilot projects, up to ₹13.5 crore (€1,500,000) for impact evaluation, and up to ₹36 crore (€4,000,000) for scale-up initiatives. The specific amount depends on the stage and scope of your project.
Is FID open to applicants from India?
Yes, India qualifies as a low- and middle-income country according to the OECD DAC list. Therefore, Indian social enterprises, for-profit companies, NGOs, researchers, and public bodies are eligible and encouraged to apply.
What is the application process and timeline?
Applications are accepted year-round on a rolling basis through the FID 'launch a project' portal. There is no fixed deadline. Typically, funding decisions are communicated within approximately three months after the submission of a complete application, following a thorough review process by FID's expert team and committee.
What kind of organizations can apply for FID funding?
FID welcomes applications from a broad range of entities globally, including social enterprises, for-profit companies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academic researchers, and public sector bodies. The focus is on the innovation's potential impact rather than strictly its legal structure.
What support does FID offer beyond financial grants?
In addition to non-dilutive financial grants, FID provides crucial technical support to selected projects. This includes guidance on evidence generation, impact measurement, and strategy refinement. Applicants also gain access to FID's extensive, evidence-focused network of partners, experts, and fellow innovators, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
