Humanitarian Innovation Fund: Call for proposals

Humanitarian innovators will be able to apply for grants from the Humanitarian Innovation Fund (HIF) for the first time today. This landmark grant-making fund supports organisations working in countries struck by humanitarian crises, such as Haiti or Pakistan, to develop, test and share new technologies and processes that will contribute to more effective and cost-efficient humanitarian aid in the future.

Today sees the first call for proposals for the ‘large grant facility’ which will provide funding to projects up to £150,000 and principally support the development, implementation and testing of innovation. Also opening today is the ‘small grant facility’ which will provide funding to projects up to £20,000 and will principally support the recognition, invention and dissemination of an innovation.

The Humanitarian Innovation Fund was created through a partnership between two leading humanitarian initiatives, ELRHA and ALNAP. It will be hosted by Save the Children UK and the initial funding is made up of contributions from the UK Department of International Development and the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, totalling over £1.4 million. Funding decisions will be taken by an independent panel of experts.

Full details of the Humanitarian Innovation Fund, the call for proposals and the different types of funding available can be found at www.humanitarianinnovation.org. The HIF team will also be answering questions in a live Q&A session on the website on Thursday 17th February 2011, 14:00 – 16:00 GMT.