Humanitarian Innovation Fund (HIF)

When a new water purification tablet designed for disaster relief can serve 10,000 people at one-tenth the cost of traditional methods, or a drone-based medical supply delivery system reaches remote communities faster than any road vehicle, the humanitarian sector advances. The Humanitarian Innovation Fund (HIF), managed by Elrha, has been at the forefront of funding these breakthroughs since 2011.

At a Glance

Component	Details
Funding Range	£50,000 - £350,000 (varies by grant type)
Grant Duration	12-36 months depending on grant type
Application Cycle	Rolling intake with periodic calls
Eligible Applicants	NGOs, humanitarian agencies, social enterprises, research institutions
Geographic Focus	Global humanitarian contexts
Managing Organization	Elrha (Enhancing Learning and Research for Humanitarian Assistance)

What is the Humanitarian Innovation Fund?

The HIF is one of the largest dedicated funders of humanitarian innovation globally. Since 2011, it has invested over £50 million in 250+ projects across 50 countries, supporting innovations ranging from mobile health technologies to shelter solutions to cash transfer systems.

HIF’s Mission

To improve outcomes for people affected by humanitarian crises by:

Identifying and nurturing promising innovations
Supporting rigorous testing and evidence generation
Enabling scale and adoption of proven solutions
Building innovation capacity across the humanitarian sector

What Sets HIF Apart

Humanitarian sector focus: Deep understanding of crisis contexts
Innovation portfolio approach: Invests across stages and risk levels
Evidence emphasis: Strong focus on testing and learning
Capacity building: Supports organizations to become better innovators
Scale pathways: Active work to connect innovations with implementers

Types of Grants

HIF offers different grant types depending on your innovation stage:

Recognition Awards (£5,000 - £20,000)

Purpose: Recognize and give visibility to promising innovations already in use

Duration: One-time award

Best for: Innovations already operational that deserve wider recognition and potential scaling support

Journey to Scale Grants (Up to £350,000)

Purpose: Support proven innovations to achieve scale and adoption

Duration: 18-36 months

Best for: Innovations with strong evidence of effectiveness seeking to reach more people

Requirements:

Clear evidence of impact from prior testing
Identified pathway to scale
Partners committed to adoption
Robust monitoring plan

Innovation Grants (£50,000 - £150,000)

Purpose: Develop and test new solutions to humanitarian challenges

Duration: 12-24 months

Best for: Promising ideas needing development and rigorous testing

Funding covers:

Solution development and prototyping
Field testing and iteration
Evidence generation
Learning documentation

Challenge-Specific Calls

HIF periodically launches targeted calls addressing specific humanitarian challenges:

Shelter innovation
Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)
Education in emergencies
Protection and gender-based violence
Climate adaptation in humanitarian contexts

What HIF Funds

Innovation Types

Category	Examples
Products	Medical devices, shelter materials, water treatment technologies
Processes	New delivery methods, coordination systems, assessment tools
Services	Digital platforms, mobile health, cash transfer systems
Business Models	Social enterprise approaches, market-based solutions
Policies	New frameworks, standards, protocols for humanitarian action

Priority Areas

While HIF is open to innovation in any humanitarian domain, recent priorities include:

Climate and Environment

Climate-adaptive humanitarian solutions
Environmental sustainability in humanitarian operations
Disaster risk reduction innovations

Localization

Innovations led by local and national organizations
Solutions appropriate for local contexts
Local capacity building approaches

Cash and Markets

Innovations improving cash transfer efficiency
Market-based humanitarian solutions
Financial inclusion in crisis contexts

Protection

Innovations preventing and responding to gender-based violence
Child protection technologies
Safe and dignified assistance approaches

Examples of Funded Innovations

Products:

Solar-powered vaccine refrigerators for remote health posts
Flatpack refugee shelter designs
Low-cost prosthetics for conflict-affected populations

Digital Solutions:

Blockchain-based beneficiary identity systems
Satellite imagery analysis for needs assessment
Mobile platforms connecting refugees with services

Processes:

Community-led sanitation approaches
Participatory feedback mechanisms
Rapid assessment methodologies

Eligibility Requirements

Who Can Apply

Organization Type	Eligible?	Notes
International NGOs	✅ Yes	Traditional HIF applicants
National/Local NGOs	✅ Yes	Priority for localization
UN Agencies	✅ Yes	Often in partnership
Academic Institutions	✅ Yes	Especially with implementing partners
Social Enterprises	✅ Yes	Including for-profit with social mission
Private Companies	⚠️ Case-by-case	Must have clear humanitarian application
Governments	⚠️ Case-by-case	Typically as partners, not leads

Project Requirements

Humanitarian focus: Solution must address needs in crisis or conflict contexts
Innovation: Genuinely new or significantly improved approach
Evidence commitment: Willingness to test and document learning
Affected population involvement: Community engagement in design and testing
Partnership: Collaboration encouraged, especially with local actors

What Doesn’t Qualify

Pure research without practical application
Advocacy or awareness campaigns
Core organizational support
Emergency response funding
Solutions with no humanitarian application

Application Process

Stage 1: Concept Note

Initial submission (typically 3-5 pages):

Problem statement and needs assessment
Innovation description and theory of change
Target population and context
Team and organizational capacity
High-level budget estimate

HIF evaluates: Innovation potential, humanitarian relevance, team capability

Stage 2: Full Proposal (If Invited)

Detailed proposal including:

Comprehensive problem analysis
Detailed innovation description
Methodology and work plan
Monitoring, evaluation, and learning plan
Risk assessment and mitigation
Detailed budget with justifications
Partnership agreements

HIF evaluates: Technical quality, feasibility, evidence plan, value for money

Stage 3: Due Diligence

For shortlisted proposals:

Organizational capacity assessment
Financial health review
Reference checks
Safeguarding and risk review

Stage 4: Selection

Final decisions made by HIF Investment Committee considering:

Technical quality scores
Portfolio balance
Available funding
Strategic priorities

Timeline

Stage	Duration
Concept note review	4-6 weeks
Full proposal development	4-8 weeks (if invited)
Full proposal review	6-8 weeks
Due diligence	4-6 weeks
Contracting	4-8 weeks
Total	6-12 months

Writing a Strong Application

What Evaluators Look For

1. Clear Humanitarian Problem

Specific, evidence-based needs assessment
Understanding of affected population
Gap in current humanitarian response

2. Genuine Innovation

What’s new about this approach?
Why hasn’t this been done before?
How is this better than existing solutions?

3. Strong Theory of Change

Logical pathway from activities to impact
Assumptions clearly stated
Evidence supporting key assumptions

4. Robust Methodology

Appropriate for innovation stage
Ethical considerations addressed
Affected community involvement

5. Credible Team

Relevant expertise and experience
Capacity to implement
Track record in humanitarian contexts

6. Learning Orientation

Clear evidence generation plan
Willingness to adapt based on findings
Commitment to sharing learning

Innovation Stages

Tailor your application to your innovation stage:

Stage	Focus	Evidence Needed
Inception	Proving concept works	Qualitative feedback, usability data
Validation	Demonstrating effectiveness	Pilot results, comparison data
Scale	Achieving widespread adoption	Impact evidence, cost-effectiveness

Insider Tips

Before Applying

Study HIF portfolio: Understand what’s been funded before
Engage early: HIF staff are accessible; reach out before applying
Build partnerships: Collaboration with implementing organizations strengthens applications
Consult affected communities: Their input should shape your innovation

Strengthening Your Application

Be specific about the problem: Data and context matter
Define your innovation clearly: Evaluators should understand exactly what you’re proposing
Show your evidence commitment: Detail how you’ll test and learn
Address scalability: Even early-stage innovations should consider future adoption
Be realistic about timeline and budget: Overambitious plans raise concerns

Common Success Factors

Partnership between innovators and humanitarian implementers
Strong community engagement and co-design
Clear pathway to evidence generation
Realistic assessment of challenges and risks
Commitment to sharing learning (including failures)

During Implementation

Report honestly: HIF values learning from challenges
Engage with learning activities: Participate in HIF’s community of practice
Share early findings: Don’t wait for final reports
Connect with other grantees: HIF’s network is valuable

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Conceptual Errors

Solution seeking problem: Starting with technology rather than humanitarian need
Reinventing the wheel: Not researching existing solutions adequately
Ignoring context: Solutions that won’t work in crisis settings
Top-down design: Not involving affected communities

Application Mistakes

Vague problem statements: “Hunger is a big problem” isn’t specific enough
Overstating novelty: Most innovations build on existing work—acknowledge it
Weak evidence plans: No clear methodology for testing effectiveness
Unrealistic budgets: Either too high or suspiciously low

Implementation Risks

Scope creep: Trying to do too much with limited funding
Ignoring evidence: Continuing without testing key assumptions
Poor partnership management: Collaboration requires investment
Underestimating context: Humanitarian settings are challenging

Frequently Asked Questions

Can for-profit companies apply?

Yes, but with conditions. Your innovation must have clear humanitarian application and you should partner with humanitarian organizations for implementation.

Do I need to be based in a crisis-affected country?

No, but you need to demonstrate understanding of humanitarian contexts and ideally partner with organizations operating in crisis settings.

What’s the success rate?

Competitive—typically 5-15% of concept notes proceed to funding, depending on the call and available funding.

Can I apply with an idea at concept stage?

Yes, for Innovation Grants. Journey to Scale requires existing evidence of effectiveness.

Are there restrictions on countries of operation?

Some, based on donor regulations. Check current HIF guidance for specific restrictions.

Do I need matching funds?

Not always required, but co-funding strengthens applications by demonstrating additional support and sustainability.

Can I apply multiple times?

Yes. Many successful applicants applied previously. Use feedback to strengthen future applications.

How important is affected community involvement?

Very. HIF strongly values co-design and meaningful participation of crisis-affected populations in innovation development.

Is HIF Right for Your Project?

Strong fit if:

Your innovation addresses a genuine humanitarian need
You’re committed to evidence-based development and testing
You can work in or with partners in crisis-affected contexts
You’re willing to share learning, including failures
You see scale and adoption as goals beyond just pilot success

Not the right fit if:

Your solution has no humanitarian application
You need emergency response funding
You’re seeking core organizational support
You’re not willing to test and adapt based on evidence
Your approach doesn’t involve affected communities

The Humanitarian Innovation Fund represents the humanitarian sector’s most substantial investment in developing, testing, and scaling innovations that improve outcomes for people affected by crises—offering not just funding, but connection to the global humanitarian innovation ecosystem.