The Innovation Incentive Award Authority (IIAA) is a special United States Agency for International Development (USAID) authority that incentivizes local innovators, entrepreneurs, and organizations to enter and strengthen weak markets via unrestricted awards of up to $500,000. USAID Missions and Bureaus may carry out prize competitions, a pay-for-results approach that uses cash awards to incentivize participants to solve development and humanitarian challenges.
All USAID Missions and Bureaus can host prize competitions using the Innovation Incentive Award Authority. Innovation Incentive Awards are neither acquisitions nor assistance, so their flexibility may be ideal for new, local, and nontraditional partners. Prize awards must be disbursed by USAID directly, not by implementing partners.
The Exploratory Programs and Innovation Competitions (EPIC) team is available to advise on prize concepts from any sector (agriculture, the environment, economic growth, education, health, and beyond). EPIC will work with Missions and Bureaus to tailor a design that matches their preferred outcome, identify the best mechanism(s) to administer your competition, and follow best practices developed around the globe.
