The GSMA Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation Fund (“the Fund”) aims to promote innovation in the use of mobile technology to address humanitarian
challenges. This funding round will test new technical solutions, catalyse ideas to improve or transform institutional systems, and enable solutions to
empower, assist or protect individuals and communities affected by complex emergencies and forced displacement.
All grant funded projects are expected to provide examples of best practice and lessons learnt on how mobile technology can address 5 key themes
within humanitarian contexts:
1. Mobile Enabled Utilities
2. Gender & Inclusivity
3. Mobile Financial Services
4. Digital Identity
5. Food Security, Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change
The Fund is especially interested in projects - implemented through collaborative partnerships - that can demonstrate long-term sustainability (i.e.
commercial, technical, social, economic, environmental) beyond the lifespan of the grant.
The Fund is supported by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the GSMA, and its members.
To be eligible, applicants must make use of mobile technology to support solutions in the context of ‘complex emergencies’ or ‘forced displacement’.
Complex Emergencies
For the purposes of the Fund, a complex emergency is defined as a major humanitarian crisis of a multi-causal nature, which requires a multi-faceted, cross-sectoral, international response that goes beyond the mandate or capacity of any single agency.
Forced Displacement
Displacement refers to the forced removal of a person from
his/her home or country, often due to armed conflict or
natural disaster.
The Fund is particularly interested in solutions that address
challenges specific to protracted displacement.
Applicants must:
challenges. This funding round will test new technical solutions, catalyse ideas to improve or transform institutional systems, and enable solutions to
empower, assist or protect individuals and communities affected by complex emergencies and forced displacement.
All grant funded projects are expected to provide examples of best practice and lessons learnt on how mobile technology can address 5 key themes
within humanitarian contexts:
1. Mobile Enabled Utilities
2. Gender & Inclusivity
3. Mobile Financial Services
4. Digital Identity
5. Food Security, Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change
The Fund is especially interested in projects - implemented through collaborative partnerships - that can demonstrate long-term sustainability (i.e.
commercial, technical, social, economic, environmental) beyond the lifespan of the grant.
The Fund is supported by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the GSMA, and its members.
To be eligible, applicants must make use of mobile technology to support solutions in the context of ‘complex emergencies’ or ‘forced displacement’.
Complex Emergencies
For the purposes of the Fund, a complex emergency is defined as a major humanitarian crisis of a multi-causal nature, which requires a multi-faceted, cross-sectoral, international response that goes beyond the mandate or capacity of any single agency.
Forced Displacement
Displacement refers to the forced removal of a person from
his/her home or country, often due to armed conflict or
natural disaster.
The Fund is particularly interested in solutions that address
challenges specific to protracted displacement.
Applicants must:
- Be able to provide formal evidence of a partnership (e.g. contract/MoU) with one or more eligible organisation(s) where the collaborating partners will be involved in implementing the grant project.
- Clearly demonstrate how the proposed project meets one of the Fund’s five focus areas (see section 3).
- Have a minimum viable product / solution (grant funding cannot be spent on Research and Development at ideation stage.
- Have the necessary rights / permissions required to operate in the selected implementation area as relevant (i.e. refugee settlements)
- Commit to providing the required match funding for the selected grant type [see section 8].
- Be in satisfactory financial health, have adequate financial systems and human resource capacity to implement the grant project. GSMA may require the applicant to undergo a pre-selection assurance review. Such review, if required will be conducted by an independent organisation chosen by GSMA.
