Through the Open Window, 3ie funds impact evaluations of interventions aimed at improving social and economic development in low and middle-income countries. We accept proposals on any theme, and there are no pre-established funding limits.

Open Window Round 3 is now closed. 

Open Window Round 4 is scheduled for mid-2012. To receive updates on the next call for proposals and to subscribe to 3ie news, join the 3ie mailing list.

Preference is given for:

• Impact evaluations of large-scale development interventions that have a high probability of influencing policy and include a clear communications strategy
   
• Proposals with close partnership with the implementing agency
   
• Proposals produced by developing country researchers/evaluators or through a partnership between developed and developing country partnership of research teams
   
• Evaluation designs based on the theory of change underlying the programme with evaluation questions addressing the causal chain

Important guidelines to read 3ie Principles of Impact Evaluation and 3ie Impact Evaluation Practice.

For more information, click on Frequently Asked Questions

New Online Grant Application System

Register and log-in to the online application system: Online registration. Applicants will be able to follow the status of their applications throughout the process.

Review Process

Once applicants have submitted an expression of interest or application, they will receive an automatic message confirming that we have received it. If the expression of interest is accepted, applicants will be asked to submit a full application. Applicants should expect a decision regarding whether the application has been accepted within three months of receipt of the application. 

All applications are reviewed and scored by one internal reviewer and three external reviewers. The scores from these reviews are used to determine those applications that are technically sufficient. A panel of policy makers and impact evaluation experts then reviews and selects from the short listed proposals according to policy relevance and potential policy impact. Final approval of awards is made by the 3ie Board of Commissioners.