Research & Innovation on Human Agency

Overview

We are interested in approaches that give people access to localized, actionable insights to support them as they navigate their lives with purpose and deliberation.  

Background for our Open Window. Recent advances in experimental social science indicate that even people who live in extremely difficult conditions, and who appear to have very limited options, can derive major benefits from insights that engage their consciousness, affirm their dignity, and support them in charting a path forward. Remarkable impacts can follow – not only on people’s sense of control over their lives, but also on objective development outcomes like income, health, and educational attainment.

The expansion of mobile technology, along with the falling cost of data in low-income settings, has opened new opportunities to bring support to people who experience poverty and social disadvantage. A number of organizations are already pioneering this approach.

What and How We Plan to Fund. We seek to make grants to time-limited research and innovation projects that pilot, design, and test concrete solutions. The strongest applications will score well on the following: 

• Relevance to Human Agency: Is this approach aligned with ours? Does it engage people's consciousness and embrace their dignity? Does it unearth situationally relevant insights about people’s options, capabilities, or future? Does the context realistically afford people alternative choices?  
• Leverage & Synergy: Does the idea elegantly leverage technology to engage people in a customized, interactive, and scalable manner? Alternatively, does it build on an existing user base, case worker network, or policy mechanism? Is there potential for cross-fertilization other approaches that the Agency Fund is involved with? 
• Data & Learning: Is this approach idea grounded in scientific evidence (e.g., from development economics or social psychology?) Does the applicant organization use data to for precision and rapid adaptation? Is there a path to exceptional cost effectiveness?   
• Team & Management: Does the team come with ample local context as well as a track record of rigorous and open research? Are the timelines ambitious?

Submissions are reviewed on a quarterly basis. 
Our investments range from $10k-$1m, depending on perceived potential and maturity. The median is around $200k. See examples of our investments.

Before you submit:

1. Please read up on our Values, Our Approach, and our Frequently Asked Questions.
2. Please also review What We Fund and our Investments to date to assess the fit of your idea.

Consider:

• Is your project likely to demonstrate socioeconomic impact (e.g. impacts on health, education, or livelihoods)?
• Do you plan to serve 1 million or more users in the coming years, either directly or through partners?

Would it naturally feature among the other projects in the Agency Fund's Portfolio?