Founded 2014 Method Grants | Type NGO | |
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Founders DFID, Palladium International, KPMG Focus Innovation, Education, Healthcare, WASH Location Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | ||
The Human Development Innovation Fund (also known as HDIF or HDIFtz) is a 30 million British Pound challenge fund providing grants to non-state actors for scaling innovations focused on the quality, value for money, and sustainability of basic services in education, health and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). According to DFID's business case for establishing the fund, the intended outputs of HDIF are testing and use of new innovations to manage and deliver basic human development services and enhance the evidence base and innovation ecosystem in Tanzania.
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HDIF supports the innovation ecosystem and government's roles in science, technology, and innovation through collaborations with Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH). HDIF was launched on May 12, 2014 with the support of the Vice President of Tanzania.
Distinguishing factors of HDIF as a challenge fund include the long investment period compared to other challenge funds, which reflects the desired intent to scale early innovations.
Innovation Week
In March 2015, HDIF curated the first annual Innovation Week in Tanzania, with open collaborative events on innovation and research, development, entrepreneurship, technology, and the arts. Collaborators in Innovation Week 2015 included KINU Innovation and Co-Creation Space, COSTECH, Ifakara Health Institute, Buni Innovation Hub, Nafasi Art Space, Deloitte Consulting, Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship Development (IMED), Tanzania Renewable Energy Business Incubator (TAREBI), and Tanzania Entrepreneurship and Competitiveness Centre (TECC).
From March 13, 2016 to March 19, 2016, HDIF convened the 2nd Annual Innovation Week in collaboration with DFID, COSTECH, BUNI Innovation Hub, KINU Innovation Hub, Deloitte, Nafasi Art Space, TAREBI, TASEF, NALEDI, NjeVenture, Ifakara Health Institute, Sauna Safari, Embassy of Finland, Archipelago and Palladium International.
A 3rd Annual Innovation Week is currently being planned for 2017.
Recognition
HDIF has received recognition from The Guardian, The African Prosperity Report launch by Legatum, TanzICT, the Minister of Communication, Science and Technology of Tanzania, the Daily News, and the Center for Education Innovations.
Innovations supported by HDIF have received global recognition, including the use of drones for delivery of emergency medical supplies, nanofilters using a unique local business approach, and rats used to detect TB.
Portfolio
HDIF's portfolio consists of Initial Investments, Round 1 and Round 2. Additionally, HDIF launched the Mawazo Challenge in 2016 to support earlier stage ideas from Tanzanian youth to be prototyped and launched.
As of October 2016, HDIF's investments include:
Partners
HDIF is funded by the United Kingom's Department for International Development (DFID) through UKAid, managed by Palladium International (formerly known as GRM International) in consortium with KPMG, the Institute for Development Studies (IDS), Loughborough University, and Newcastle University, and led by David B. McGinty, Palladium's Director of Social Innovation & Technology. HDIF's branding has been completed by a Tanzania start-up media company, Khangarue Media.