About Us
To resource and amplify locally led, data-driven solutions that address systemic development challenges and strengthen delivery at the last mile.
To resource and amplify locally led, data-driven solutions that address systemic development challenges and strengthen delivery at the last mile.
Why the Fund Exists
The Umbrella Fund addresses a persistent gap in the development landscape: the disconnect between local capacity and flexible capital. In many LMICs, local actors are closest to the challenges and the solutions but are often excluded from decision-making or under-resourced in implementation.
The Fund shifts this dynamic by offering catalytic, small-scale investments to initiatives that are:
Led by legally registered local organizations
Informed by data and systems analysis
Designed to address specific, high-impact gaps
Built for long-term integration and scale
Structured as a flexible, multi-track mechanism, each intervention under the Fund targets a specific sector or theme and is operationalized through one or more tracks.
Each track represents a structured call for locally led implementation and typically includes:
Public release of terms of reference and application guidelines
Transparent evaluation criteria and review process
A concept note-based application process
Tailored technical assistance, where needed
Required partnerships with technical or academic institutions
Ongoing learning and adaptation
* The Fund is not sector-bound *
While its first intervention focuses on health and geospatial data, it is designed to respond flexibly to evolving needs and opportunities across regions and sectors over time.
Impact to Date
The Umbrella Fund in Numbers
Since its launch in late 2024, the Umbrella Fund has deployed its first intervention: strengthening geospatial data ecosystems to improve health service delivery in LMICs. This work has supported three tracks across Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as a growing network of institutional collaborators and local partners.
3
Tracks launched
Across Nigeria and DRC under the geospatial intervention
20
Awarded grants
With implementation underway
300+
Stakeholders
Engaged across both countries
10+
High-level consultations
With government and private sector actors
Catalytic
Investing where small-scale funding can trigger larger shifts in systems, institutions, or service delivery.
Locally Led
Driven by local expertise. Solutions are rooted in local knowledge and led by those closest to the community.
Evidence-Driven
Track design is grounded in data. Implementation is monitored. Learning is shared.
Systems-Oriented
Aiming to strengthen how systems perform in the long run, not just fill short-term gaps.
Everything you need to know about Umbrella Fund.
