Logo

About Us

Mission & Vision

To resource and amplify locally led, data-driven solutions that address systemic development challenges and strengthen delivery at the last mile.

A funding ecosystem where catalytic capital enables local organizations to lead sustainable, scalable change—across sectors and systems.

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

image

How the Fund Works 

The Umbrella Fund operates through a flexible, evidence-driven framework:

Assessment & Discovery:  Conducting rigorous analysis to identify systemic gaps and opportunities

Strategic Investment Areas: Defining focus domains where targeted resources can create outsized impact

Intervention Design: Developing context-appropriate approaches to address specific challenges

Local Implementation: Partnering with local organizations to execute interventions

Learning & Adaptation: Continuously improving based on implementation feedback

* The Fund is not sector-bound *

While the Fund's first intervention focuses on geospatial data for health, 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 implementation across Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as a growing network of institutional collaborators and local partners.

4

Investment areas

Established addressing critical ecosystem gaps

6

Local organizations

Which are leading implementation

$500k+

Catalytic grant

Funding deployed across both countries

300+

Stakeholders

Engaged across both countries

10+

High-level consultations

With government and private sector actors

Technical Priorities Addressed

orange-dot

Geospatial capacity institutionalization through curriculum development

orange-dot

Integrated data governance established at national level

orange-dot

Subnational geospatial infrastructure for local decision-making

orange-dot

Geospatial policy operationalization through practical implementation

Our Core Principles

Catalytic

Investing where small-scale funding can trigger larger shifts in systems, institutions, or service delivery

Locally Led

Only legally registered local organizations are eligible to lead funded interventions. No exceptions.

Evidence-Driven

Investment 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.

image

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about Umbrella Fund.

Answer: Only registered local organizations with demonstrated technical and operational capacity. Individuals and unregistered entities are not eligible.