The Human Development Innovation Fund (HDIF) identifies and supports innovations that have the potential to create social impact in education, health and WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) across Tanzania. The fund awards grants to private sector, civil society and research organizations to develop and implement innovative products and services in these areas.
The programme also works to strengthen the Tanzanian political, social and economic environment within which innovations are developed and adopted. By working with key players in research, development, entrepreneurship and technology, HDIF inspires current and future leaders in Tanzania to take risks on new ideas, to collaborate across sectors, and to transform Tanzania by taking innovative ideas to scale. The programme aims to foster a network of people and organizations who have strong ideas and will challenge the status quo.
Using the HDIF consortium of technical and academic partners and consultants, the programme generates and disseminates lessons and recommendations about innovation to policymakers, civil society and government. In this area of the programme, HDIF draws heavily on IDS experience in Knowledge Mobilisation.
HDIF also works with the IDS team to provide support to the Tanzanian Commission on Science and Technology (COSTECH), helping it to fulfil its national knowledge management role in Tanzania.
Together, all these components are designed to improve the innovation environment in Tanzania by accelerating the diffusion of innovative ideas, approaches and solutions, as well as by stimulating debates, conversations and policymaking in support of innovation in human development. In addition, HDIF also aims to improve basic services in the core focus areas of health, education and WASH, ultimately contributing to improvements in human development outcomes.
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