Since April this year, Sida is operating the Innovations Against Poverty programme, which provides financial funding and assistance to allow people in developing countries to lift themselves out of poverty by way of businesses which take advantage of new ideas and include local people. Small and large grants up to 200,000 euros are available and the first application round which closed before the summer saw 157 companies originating from 25 different countries applying.
“It's encouraging that so many companies have shown interest in our new venture. The idea is for development assistance and the companies to jointly contribute to reduction of poverty and environmental impact, creation of more and better jobs and to boost growth. But also that the innovations in themselves will be products beneficial to poor people”, says Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, Director General of Sida.
In September twelve companies from Africa, Europe and the US were awarded small grants. 14 organisations were shortlisted to submit a full application for the large grants and Sida has now selected nine successful applicants to be awarded grants. The sectors targeted by the selected companies are agriculture, energy, food, health, sanitation and waste across Africa and Asia. Projects include for example portable ultra sound systems for women in remote areas, toilets in the slum and plastic waste recycling.
The grants of up to 200,000 euro per year are available to cover up to 50 per cent of the cost for new projects and product development, and companies can also apply for advice on how they can transform their business models to include the poorest. Sida cooperates with a group of specialists led by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the British initiative "Business Innovation Facility” to offer external expertise, networks and a platform to exchange experiences of doing inclusive business in poor countries.
A list of the companies that have been awarded large grants (pdf)
For more information and interviews with Sida's responsibility for the program, contact the Sida press office on 
or +46 8 698 55 55.
For questions to the team managing Innovations Against Poverty, contact Ms Ruth Brannvall at 
or +46 733 211 006.
