Call for Applications, Development Innovations Ventures, USAID Posted by Craig Zelizer on March 16, 2014 at 8:48pm in NGO Funding Opportunities View Discussions DIV seeks applicants with innovative ideas that address development challenges more efficiently and cost-effectively than the competition, and that have the potential to scale to reach millions of beneficiaries. Eligibility The DIV application process consists of two steps. Applicants must first submit a Letter of Interest (LOI). After a competitive review process described below, DIV will request that selected applicants submit a Full Application. More detail can be found in DIVs guiding document, the Annual Program Statement, and on our Frequently Asked Questions page. Additional questions may be sent to [email protected]. USAID/DIV welcomes applications from many types of organizations for activities that take place in countries in which USAID operates. For complete information on applicant eligibility, please closely read DIVs APS. Application Process The DIV application process balances the needs for both a rigorous and efficient selection process while reducing the burden on the applicant. Step 1: Letter of Interest (LOI) Interested applicants must first submit an LOI. All LOI submissions must be submitted using the LOI form. As requested by the LOI, applicants should describe the purpose of the project, summarize the project’s goals, and include financial information for the project among other criteria in the LOI. Attachments to the LOI will not be reviewed. If DIV finds the project proposed in the LOI to be responsive to the selection criteria, then the applicant will be invited to submit a Full Application. Please note that an invitation to submit a Full Application does not constitute intent to award. Upcoming LOI deadlines for DIV applications are April 15, 2014 Deadlines close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. Letter of Interest: Stage Selection DIV Innovations pipeline. Stage 1 Seed Financing. Stage 2 Testing & Scaling. Stage 3 Implementation Applicants choose one of DIVs three stages when submitting their LOI. Stage level selection should be based on how far the proposed project is in its development and to what extent the applicants have previously gathered evidence of its success. Staging is not based on the level of funding needed. To determine which stage your project falls under, please read stage details in DIVs APS. Letter of Interest: Evaluation Factors LOIs will be evaluated on the degree to which the proposed solution demonstrates: For the LOI form, information on the review process, timeline, and scoring, award administration, and further clarification, please see DIVs Annual Program Statement. Step 2: Full Application Not all applicants who submit an LOI will be invited to submit a Full Application. Selected applicants will be sent the Full Application form with submission instructions. The Full Application form requests additional and more in-depth information than the LOI. It is provided in the APS for informational purposes only. For complete information on the application process, including eligibility details, successful proposal examples, and evaluation criteria please closely read DIVs APS. What We Look For DIV evaluates applicant solutions based on three main criteria: the cost effectiveness of the idea relative to traditional alternatives; the project’s plan for collecting rigorous evidence of success; and the solution’s proposed pathways to scale if it is proven effective. Cost Effectiveness DIV seeks applications that have ideas for addressing development challenges more effectively and more cheaply. Therefore, cost analysis must be conducted in all projects; the specific approach can be determined based on the solution. Stool representing scale, cost-effectiveness, and rigorous testing Rigorous Testing Many pilots never reach scale because they do not sufficiently focus on collecting rigorous evidence of success. The DIV model emphasizes testing potential solutions and rigorously evaluating impact - often through randomized control trials - to identify what works and what does not, and to help scale only those solutions proven to produce results. Pathways to Scale Innovations are expected to eventually scale up through the private sector, the public sector, or in some cases a combination of the two, in order to reach sustainability without DIV support. Scale through the public sector. Applicants should demonstrate that they are likely to compel host country governments, multilateral donors or other public sector players to scale the innovation. They should discuss how targeted outreach, rigorous evaluation (such as a randomized evaluation) and evidence of cost-effectiveness will result in action. At the time of application, the most competitive applicants have already achieved public sector commitments to scale successful results Scale through the private sector. Successful innovations expected to achieve widespread adoption through private sector commercialization without long-run support from donors, governments, or philanthropy will provide evidence that: production costs and sales prices are such that producers make profits; beneficiaries demand and are willing to pay for the product or service; governments receive associated tax revenue; and development outcomes occur. Applicants should either plan to achieve commercial viability themselves, convincingly demonstrate that other businesses will scale their innovation, or a combination of both. Innovating in Stages Applicants with ideas that meet DIVs above review criteria can submit proposals to one of DIVs three distinct stages of financing. The applicant chooses a stage level based on how far their project is in its development and to what extent they have previously gathered evidence of its success. Staging is not based on the level of funding needed. Stage 1 establishes proof of concept and viability of innovations in small pilots Stage 2 evaluates solutions at scale with rigorous impact testing Stage 3 transitions successful programs to widespread implementation. see usaid.gov/div/apply/criteria
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 06:54:06 +0000
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