Nigerian innovators, researchers and organisations working on solutions to poverty and inequality have a new funding window to explore. The Fund for Innovation in Development (FID) has opened a call for proposals that accepts applications throughout the year, with no fixed submission season.
Hosted by the French Development Agency (AFD) and chaired by Nobel Prize-winning economist Esther Duflo, FID finances solutions with strong potential to reduce poverty and inequality in low- and middle-income countries. What sets it apart from many grant programmes is its emphasis on evidence. Funded projects are backed by rigorous evaluation of their effectiveness, with the aim of scaling what works.
The fund uses a staged model, so applicants request support that matches how far their innovation has developed. Awards range from €50,000 to as much as €4 million, with the earliest pilot stage offering up to €200,000 to test an idea in real conditions. Priority sectors are education, health, climate and gender equality, although other areas, including agriculture, governance and digital innovation, are open to proposals with strong, measurable impact.
Eligibility is broad. Research institutes, universities, governments, NGOs, private companies and consortiums can all apply, while individuals and international organisations cannot. Projects must be implemented in a country eligible for Official Development Assistance, a list that includes Nigeria. Applications are accepted in English or French.
For Nigerian social enterprises, health innovators, climate startups and education-focused NGOs, the open-ended timeline means proposals can be submitted as soon as they are ready. Applicants are advise to pitch for a grantvis stage that reflects their innovation’s maturity rather than simply seeking the largest amount.
Interested organisations should apply through: https://fundinnovation.wiin.io/en/applications/application
