The Global Innovation Fund (GIF), a nonprofit innovation fund headquartered in London, invests in social innovations that aim to improve the lives and opportunities of people in the developing world.
GIF offers grants, loans, and equity investments to support breakthrough solutions to global development challenges from social enterprises, for-profit firms, nonprofit organizations, international organizations, researchers, and government agencies.
Any solution that has potential to improve the lives of people living on less than the equivalent of $5 per day in developing countries more effectively than existing approaches is eligible. Supported innovations could include new business models, operational or production processes, policy practices, behavioral insights, or ways of delivering products and services that benefit the poor.
Support is provided for social innovations in any of the following sectors, or any other sector relevant to international development:
- agriculture
- disaster relief/humanitarian assistance
- education and training
- employment/livelihoods
- energy
- environment
- financial inclusion
- gender equality
- governance
- health
- industry and trade
- information and communications
- social protection
- transportation and infrastructure
- water, sanitation, and hygiene
GIF also seeks innovations that benefit vulnerable groups such as women and girls, people with disabilities, minority or indigenous groups, refugees or displaced communities, or other vulnerable populations.
