The DIV Fund: Evidence-Driven Innovation from Pilot to Scale
About the session
The DIV Fund is an evidence-driven open innovation fund for global development that advances solutions with the potential to cost-effectively improve millions of lives. Building on a 15-year track record within USAID, the Fund supports early-stage pilots of promising ideas, rigorous evaluation of innovations with demonstrated traction, and the scale-up of cost-effective solutions proven to deliver real impact.
With its first call for proposals launching in April 2026, this session offers an opportunity to engage directly with the team behind the DIV Fund and explore how evidence-driven innovation can drive meaningful, measurable change.
The conversation will draw on lessons from past DIV-supported organizations that have rigorously tested and operationally refined innovative models to generate impact at scale.
Who this is for
This session is for practitioners, researchers, and funders interested in innovative, evidence-based approaches to scaling impact and improving cost-effectiveness in global development.
What you will get out of it
Insight into how the DIV Fund identifies and supports high-potential innovations
Real-world lessons from organizations that have rigorously tested ambitious ideas and brought high-impact innovations to scale through the public and private sectors
A deeper understanding of how evidence can strengthen innovation and enable decision-making
Discussion on what it takes to achieve lasting, large-scale impact
Speakers
Curt Bowen, Executive Director - Semilla Nueva
Ella Gudwin, CEO - VisionSpring
Pranav Kothari, CEO - Educational Initiatives
Jeff Brown, CIO - DIV Fund
Sasha Gallant, CEO - DIV Fund
Amy McDonough, Strategic Partnerships & Technical Assistance - DIV Fund