About Us
Mission & Vision
Mission & Vision
The Fund's investment approach follows five steps, from assessment to shared learning:
Assessment & Discovery
Strategic Investment Areas
Intervention Design
Local Implementation
Learning & Adaptation
The Umbrella Fund works through catalytic sub-grants to local partners to generate evidence for innovation, scale proven solutions, and address system and capacity barriers. The Fund ensures interventions are institutionalized through adoption, scaling, and sustainability strategies.
How the Fund Works
Strengthening locally led implementation across two countries.
k+
Invested Across Active Interventions
$
Catalytic Grant Funding
$2M+
Committed to funding geospatial solutions that address health data gaps in Nigeria and DRC
Local Organizations
Funded and delivering geospatial solutions that strengthen national and subnational geospatial systems.
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.
Impact to Date
Impact to Date
The Umbrella Fund in Numbers
The Umbrella Fund in Numbers
Technical Priorities Addressed
Explore The Intervention
View Investment Areas
Institutionalizing geospatial capacity through curriculum development and professional training.
Strengthening integrated national data governance for improved coordination and decision making.
Expanding sub-national geospatial infrastructure to support local planning and service delivery.
Supporting the implementation of national geospatial policies through practical, locally led action.
Technical Priorities Addressed
Institutionalizing geospatial capacity through curriculum development and professional training.
Strengthening integrated national data governance for improved coordination and decision making.
Expanding sub-national geospatial infrastructure to support local planning and service delivery.
Supporting the implementation of national geospatial policies through practical, locally led action.
Explore The Intervention
View Investment Areas
Technical Priorities Addressed
Explore The Intervention
View Investment Areas
Institutionalizing geospatial capacity through curriculum development and professional training.
Strengthening integrated national data governance for improved coordination and decision making.
Expanding sub-national geospatial infrastructure to support local planning and service delivery.
Supporting the implementation of national geospatial policies through practical, locally led action.
Technical Priorities Addressed
Institutionalizing geospatial capacity through curriculum development and professional training.
Strengthening integrated national data governance for improved coordination and decision making.
Expanding sub-national geospatial infrastructure to support local planning and service delivery.
Supporting the implementation of national geospatial policies through practical, locally led action.
Explore The Intervention
View Investment Areas
Our Core Principles
Catalytic
We invest where targeted funding can unlock broader improvements in systems, institutions, and public service delivery.
Locally Led
We support local organizations to lead the design and implementation of solutions because sustainable development is strongest when institutions closest to the challenges are empowered to act.
Evidence-Driven
Our investment decisions are guided by evidence, informed by local knowledge, and strengthened through continuous learning and adaptive implementation.
Systems-Oriented
We invest in strengthening institutions, partnerships, and systems that deliver lasting development outcomes rather than short term project outputs.
Our Core Principles
Catalytic
We invest where targeted funding can unlock broader improvements in systems, institutions, and public service delivery.
Locally Led
We support local organizations to lead the design and implementation of solutions because sustainable development is strongest when institutions closest to the challenges are empowered to act.
Evidence-Driven
Our investment decisions are guided by evidence, informed by local knowledge, and strengthened through continuous learning and adaptive implementation.
Systems-Oriented
We invest in strengthening institutions, partnerships, and systems that deliver lasting development outcomes rather than short term project outputs.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about Umbrella Fund.
Everything you need to know about
Umbrella Fund.
Who is eligible to apply?
Only registered local organizations with demonstrated technical and operational capacity. Individuals and unregistered entities are not eligible.
Are any funding opportunities currently available
Check the Investment Areas section for current opportunities. New calls will be announced through the Fund website and mailing list.
Does the fund only support work in health?
The current focus is geospatial data for health, but the Fund is sector-flexible and will expand to other domains based on need and opportunity.
Who is eligible to apply?
Only registered local organizations with demonstrated technical and operational capacity. Individuals and unregistered entities are not eligible.
Are any funding opportunities currently available
Check the Investment Areas section for current opportunities. New calls will be announced through the Fund website and mailing list.
Does the fund only support work in health?
The current focus is geospatial data for health, but the Fund is sector-flexible and will expand to other domains based on need and opportunity.
To resource and amplify locally led, data-driven solutions that address systemic development challenges and strengthen systems and service delivery where they are needed most .
A funding ecosystem where catalytic capital enables local organizations to lead sustainable, scalable solutions that strengthen systems and improve lives.
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 with demonstrated technical and implementation capacity.
Informed by evidence, data, and systems a clear understanding of the data ecosystem.
Designed to address clearly identified, high impact development gaps.
Positioned to strengthen institutions and deliver sustainable, long term impact
Sustainable development depends on strong local institutions that understand the realities, priorities, and opportunities within their communities. Yet across many low and middle income countries (LMICs), these organizations often face limited access to flexible funding despite being well positioned to design and deliver effective solutions.
The fund invest in initiatives that are:
Led by legally registered local organizations with demonstrated technical and implementation capacity.
Led by legally registered local organizations with demonstrated technical and implementation capacity.
Led by legally registered local organizations with demonstrated technical and implementation capacity.
Led by legally registered local organizations with demonstrated technical and implementation capacity.
Led by legally registered local organizations with demonstrated technical and implementation capacity.
How the Fund Works
The Umbrella Fund works through catalytic sub-grants to local partners to generate evidence for innovation, scale proven solutions, and address system and capacity barriers. The Fund ensures interventions are institutionalized through adoption, scaling, and sustainability strategies.
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.
The Fund's investment approach follows five steps, from assessment to shared learning:
The Umbrella Fund works through catalytic sub-grants to local partners to generate evidence for innovation, scale proven solutions, and address system and capacity barriers. The Fund ensures interventions are institutionalized through adoption, scaling, and sustainability strategies.
Local Implementation
Intervention Design
Strategic Investment Areas
Assessment & Discovery:
Learning & Adaptation
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
Strengthening locally led implementation across two countries.
k+
Invested Across Active Interventions
$
Catalytic Grant Funding
$2M+
Committed to funding geospatial solutions that address health data gaps in Nigeria and DRC
Local Organizations
Funded and delivering geospatial solutions that strengthen national and subnational geospatial systems.
Technical Priorities Addressed
Institutionalizing geospatial capacity through curriculum development and professional training.
Strengthening integrated national data governance for improved coordination and decision making.
Expanding sub-national geospatial infrastructure to support local planning and service delivery.
Supporting the implementation of national geospatial policies through practical, locally led action.
Explore The Intervention
View Investment Areas
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
Strengthening locally led implementation across two countries.
k+
Invested Across Active Interventions
$
Catalytic Grant Funding
$2M+
Committed to funding geospatial solutions that address health data gaps in Nigeria and DRC
Local Organizations
Funded and delivering geospatial solutions that strengthen national and subnational geospatial systems.
Technical Priorities Addressed
Institutionalizing geospatial capacity through curriculum development and professional training.
Strengthening integrated national data governance for improved coordination and decision making.
Expanding sub-national geospatial infrastructure to support local planning and service delivery.
Supporting the implementation of national geospatial policies through practical, locally led action.
Explore The Intervention
View Investment Areas
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.
Why the Fund Exists
Sustainable development depends on strong local institutions that understand the realities, priorities, and opportunities within their communities. Yet across many low and middle income countries (LMICs), these organizations often face limited access to flexible funding despite being well positioned to design and deliver effective solutions.
The Umbrella Fund was established to help close this gap by investing in locally led initiatives that strengthen systems, generate evidence, and improve development outcomes. Each investment is designed to create lasting institutional and systemic change beyond the funding cycle
The fund invest in initiatives that are:
Informed by evidence, data, and systems a clear understanding of the data ecosystem.
Designed to address clearly identified, high impact development gaps.
Positioned to strengthen institutions and deliver sustainable, long term impact.
Led by legally registered local organizations with demonstrated technical and implementation capacity.
To resource and amplify locally led, data-driven solutions that address systemic development challenges and strengthen systems and service delivery where they are needed most.
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 was established to help close this gap by investing in locally led initiatives that strengthen systems, generate evidence, and improve development outcomes. Each investment is designed to create lasting institutional and systemic change beyond the funding cycle
The fund invest in initiatives that are:
Sustainable development depends on strong local institutions that understand the realities, priorities, and opportunities within their communities. Yet across many low and middle income countries (LMICs), these organizations often face limited access to flexible funding despite being well positioned to design and deliver effective solutions.
Led by legally registered local organizations with demonstrated
technical and implementation capacity.
Informed by evidence, data, and systems a clear understanding
of the data ecosystem.
Designed to address clearly identified, high impact development
gaps.
Positioned to strengthen institutions and deliver sustainable, long term impact.
Why the Fund Exists
The Umbrella Fund was established to help close this gap by investing in locally led initiatives that strengthen systems, generate evidence, and improve development outcomes. Each investment is designed to create lasting institutional and systemic change beyond the funding cycle
The fund invest in initiatives that are:
Sustainable development depends on strong local institutions that understand the realities, priorities, and opportunities within their communities. Yet across many low and middle income countries (LMICs), these organizations often face limited access to flexible funding despite being well positioned to design and deliver effective solutions.
Led by legally registered local organizations with demonstrated
technical and implementation capacity.
Informed by evidence, data, and systems a clear understanding
of the data ecosystem.
Designed to address clearly identified, high impact development
gaps.
Positioned to strengthen institutions and deliver sustainable, long term impact.
Why the Fund Exists
The Umbrella Fund was established to help close this gap by investing in locally led initiatives that strengthen systems, generate evidence, and improve development outcomes. Each investment is designed to create lasting institutional and systemic change beyond the funding cycle
The fund invest in initiatives that are:
Sustainable development depends on strong local institutions that understand the realities, priorities, and opportunities within their communities. Yet across many low and middle income countries (LMICs), these organizations often face limited access to flexible funding despite being well positioned to design and deliver effective solutions.
Led by legally registered local organizations with demonstrated
technical and implementation capacity.
Informed by evidence, data, and systems a clear understanding
of the data ecosystem.
Designed to address clearly identified, high impact development
gaps.
Positioned to strengthen institutions and deliver sustainable, long term impact.
How the Fund Works
The Fund's investment approach follows five steps, from assessment to shared learning:
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 Umbrella Fund works through catalytic sub-grants to local partners to generate evidence for innovation, scale proven solutions, and address system and capacity barriers. The Fund ensures interventions are institutionalized through adoption, scaling, and sustainability strategies.
Strategic Investment Areas: Defining focus domains where targeted resources can create outsized impact
Our Core Principles
Catalytic
We invest where targeted funding can unlock broader improvements in systems, institutions, and public service delivery.
Locally Led
We support local organizations to lead the design and implementation of solutions because sustainable development is strongest when institutions closest to the challenges are empowered to act.
Our investment decisions are guided by evidence, informed by local knowledge, and strengthened through continuous learning and adaptive implementation.
Systems-Oriented
Evidence-Driven
We invest in strengthening institutions, partnerships, and systems that deliver lasting development outcomes rather than short term project outputs.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about Umbrella Fund.
Who is eligible to apply?
Only registered local organizations with demonstrated technical and operational capacity. Individuals and unregistered entities are not eligible.
Are any funding opportunities currently available
Check the Investment Areas section for current opportunities. New calls will be announced through the Fund website and mailing list.
Does the fund only support work in health?
The current focus is geospatial data for health, but the Fund is sector-flexible and will expand to other domains based on need and opportunity.
To resource and amplify locally led, data-driven solutions that address systemic development challenges and strengthen systems and service delivery where they are needed most.
A funding ecosystem where catalytic capital enables local organizations to lead sustainable, scalable solutions that strengthen systems and improves lives.