Who can apply to Development Innovation Ventures for a grant?
DIV welcomes applications from U.S. and non-US organizations, individuals, non-profit, and for-profit entities,* provided their work is in a country where USAID operates. Please see ADS 303.3.6.2 for a list of the types of organizations USAID may support. Participation of foreign government organizations under this APS is possible only through an approved subaward agreement with a prime recipient (see ADS 303.3.21).
When can I submit my application?
DIV has a rolling application process. You may apply for funding at any time. Applications will be reviewed in a competitive process that will be initiated when individual applications are submitted.
Applicants can submit an unlimited number of unique applications; however, they can only submit one application at a time for the same idea. For example, an applicant can submit one application for an energy project and another application for an agriculture project. But they cannot submit two applications for the same energy project at the same time. If DIV receives multiple submissions of the same/similar application, we will review the one we received first. If an applicant does not advance to the next phase of review in a given round, they are welcome to revise their proposal and later submit another application.
Does my organization have to undergo a financial audit to apply?
No. However, if you have never worked with USAID before AND you are selected for a DIV award, the Agency may require some further due diligence before the award can be made. Also, a financial audit is required for PVO registration (see the question on PVO registration in this FAQ) but only if your organization has never registered as a PVO before and if it needs to do to apply.
Does my organization have to be a PVO (Private Voluntary Organization)?
No. Your organization does NOT have to be a PVO to be eligible for DIV funding. If your organization meets the definitional criteria of a PVO, found here, then you do need to be registered as a PVO at the time of submission of the Full Application; you do not need to be registered at the time you submit a Letter of Interest (LOI). If it is not possible for the registration process to be completed at the time of submission of the Full Application, the applicant should provide DIV with documentation that they’ve initiated the process along with an update of the current status of the registration process. If selected for award, the applicant will need to be registered before the final award can be made.
Do I have to start from Stage 1 and work my way up?
No. You may apply for funding at any stage, as long as the evidence-base is appropriate for the stage at which you apply.
Does my organization have to contribute to project costs?
Applicants are encouraged to leverage other resources for the projects and the type, amount, and source should be described. Cost share and leverage are assessed at the Full Application step; please see the addendum under the Broad Agency Announcement and our evaluation criteria in our What We Look For page for more information on the evaluation factors used to assess cost share and leverage.
Does my application have to be in English?
Yes.
Do I need a letter of endorsement from the USAID Mission(s) relevant to my proposal?
No. Letters of support from USAID Missions or Bureaus are not requested; however, upon award, awardees may be expected to coordinate with USAID Missions and Bureaus as appropriate.
May I submit more than one application?
We will accept more than one proposal at a time from an organization, provided that each proposal is for a separate activity.
How do I inquire about the status of my application?
You may inquire about the status of your application by emailing DIV@usaid.gov.
How do I know my application has been received?
You will receive an email from DIVApplications@usaid.gov to confirm that we have all the material necessary to review your proposal.
Please note: Only applications should be sent to the DIVApplications@usaid.gov email address. Inquiries should be sent to DIV@usaid.gov.
What happens if my proposal was not selected for funding?
You will receive written notification from USAID’s Office of Acquisition and Assistance (OAA) informing you that your application will not be funded.
Can I resubmit a proposal?
Yes. We recommend that you ensure any resubmissions reflect the latest guidance and requirements of the most current version of the DIV’s open call.
How can I receive feedback on a proposal that was not selected for funding?
While we would like to provide applicants feedback, we are no longer able to provide applicant feedback beyond the scores provided to each application due to the large number of applications we receive. If you submitted a full application, we are able to provide specific comments from reviewers. To request debriefings on a full application, email div@usaid.gov.
How will I know if my application is successful?
Applicants will be notified by USAID’s Office of Acquisition and Assistance when their application is given the following status:
- That their application has been received by the DIV team.
- That their application has been screened for eligibility and has either passed or not passed on to the review phase.
- That their application has been reviewed and the applicant is either invited to submit a Full Application or they are not invited to move on to the next phase at this time. Those that submit a Full Application to DIVApplications@usaid.gov will also get an auto-response indicating receipt of their message/application materials.
- That their Full Application has been recommended for funding (subject to funding availability) or it has not been recommended at this time;
- USAID may also solicit additional information from the applicant at any point during the selection process.
If I receive funding at one stage, can I enter into a higher stage automatically?
No. All applicants, whether or not having received a previous DIV award, will have to fully compete for a higher stage of funding.
Can I speak with someone at DIV about the application process?
We must keep a written record of communication with all applicants to demonstrate no conflict of interest or unfair advantage during the publically-competed application process. Please submit all inquiries to the DIV inbox at DIV@usaid.gov. We will be able to direct your question to the appropriate point of contact from that location who will respond as soon as possible.
Can I speak with someone at DIV about my project?
DIV solicits applications year-round. Because it is a publically-competed process, we cannot provide substantive feedback on any application or potential application that may be considered unfair advantage to any particular applicant. Please feel free to submit your questions to DIV@usaid.gov and we will work to get you an appropriate and helpful answer. We appreciate your understanding if we cannot meet with you or otherwise discuss a project that may, indeed, be a good fit for the program.
What is the nature of the relationship between DIV and applicants after selections have occurred?
USAID will determine the details of the award on a case-by-case basis. Applicants may be responsible for the following activities and documentation during the life of the project:
- Providing ongoing updates of progress and submitting regular reports according to the requirements outlined in the award;
- Conducting ongoing assessments and a final evaluation of the project;
- Providing financial reports in accordance with the requirements of the formal agreement between USAID and the successful applicant;
- Requesting approval for any changes in project objectives and project staff;
- Notifying USAID when receiving additional funding from another source for this or any related project;
- Briefing USAID personnel in Washington and in the field on project progress and outcomes;
- Compliance with USAID branding requirements, and;
- Mutual agreement on any additional provisions.