DRIVE Technical Assistance

DRIVE Technical Assistance

Funds feasibility and environmental studies for infrastructure preparation in developing markets under the Dutch DRIVE model.

DRIVE Technical Assistance (DRIVE TA) is a grant instrument operated by Invest International in partnership with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) to fund the project-preparation phase of public infrastructure investments in developing and emerging markets. The programme sits upstream of the main DRIVE infrastructure grant and guarantee facility, which itself covers up to 50% of implementation costs. DRIVE TA pays specifically for the work needed before a project can reach financial close: feasibility studies, environmental and social impact assessments (ESIA), preliminary technical designs, tender documentation, and technical advisory services during the development stage. Eligible sectors mirror those of the main DRIVE instrument and include food security, water and sanitation, climate-resilient systems, healthcare, and sexual and reproductive health infrastructure.

Both Dutch and international businesses may apply for DRIVE TA support, provided their project contributes to public infrastructure whose underlying beneficiary is a government or community in a developing country. There is no explicit co-funding requirement attached to the TA component. Award amounts are not published on a standard tariff; rather, they are tailored to the specific project-preparation scope agreed with Invest International. The entry point for all DRIVE instruments is a quick-scan application on the Invest International website, after which a funding advisor assesses fit and routes the applicant into TA or the main DRIVE track as appropriate. The programme has operated for more than ten years as of 2025.

Applicants best positioned for DRIVE TA are companies that have already identified a concrete infrastructure opportunity in an emerging market and need grant support to produce the technical and environmental studies required by development finance institutions or procurement frameworks. Because DRIVE TA is explicitly linked to the downstream DRIVE implementation instrument, a strong application demonstrates a credible pathway from feasibility work to a bankable project. Contact Invest International via info@investinternational.nl or +31 70 701 3251 to initiate a quick-scan review.