DRIVE — Development Related Infrastructure Investment Vehicle

DRIVE — Infrastructure Grant

Funds public infrastructure preparation for projects in emerging markets through grants and guarantees linked to Dutch development financing.

DRIVE (Development Related Infrastructure Investment Vehicle) is a grant and guarantee instrument administered jointly by Invest International and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) on behalf of the Dutch government. The program supports businesses — both Dutch and international — that contribute to the development of public infrastructure in emerging and developing markets. DRIVE covers up to 50 percent of eligible project implementation costs, with the remainder co-funded by partner governments, other development donors, or applicant equity. The program has a 10-year track record as of 2025 and accepts applications on a rolling basis with no fixed call deadlines.

Eligible sectors include food security, water, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), climate-resilient systems, and healthcare infrastructure. The underlying beneficiaries of the funded infrastructure are governments in developing countries; the direct applicants are businesses with the technical and financial capacity to deliver the infrastructure projects. Projects must comply with IFC Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) standards and align with UN Sustainable Development Goals 8 and 13. A companion instrument, DRIVE Technical Assistance (DRIVE TA), funds pre-investment activities including feasibility studies, environmental and social impact assessments, preliminary technical designs, and tender document preparation.

Prospective applicants begin with a quick-scan assessment on the Invest International website to determine whether their project aligns with the program's eligibility requirements before entering the full application process. Award amounts are not capped at a fixed ceiling and are sized to project needs, subject to the 50 percent co-funding rule. Invest International is a Dutch public-private institution jointly owned by the Dutch government and FMO, the Dutch development bank, making DRIVE a flagship instrument for Dutch development finance engagement in lower- and middle-income countries.