Innovations from any sector will be considered for inclusion in the Million Lives Collective. The key requirement is that the innovation must serve a client base of those living on less than USD $5.50 per day.

For inclusion in the MLC Vanguard cohort, an innovation would need to have reached at least 1 million individual clients who are living on less than USD $5.50 per day. We would advise exploring the Voyager cohort which recognises innovations that have an impact projection of 1 million in the upcoming 18 months.

When screening MLC applications, we look at the number of individual clients that have been impacted by an innovation over time. That said, we do understand that gathering data to this level for any organisation can be challenging. 

For the purposes of your MLC application, if you have sales figures (or equivalent data), you may provide an estimate of the number of individual clients that you have reached, showing the data and assumptions behind your workings (including secondary sources if relevant). The MLC team will then be able to review and assess your application on the basis of your estimated number of individual clients served.

The MLC is also looking to assess the magnitude of social impact of your innovation on the target population. To do so, you will be requested to include a list of the key impact indicators (e.g., a X% reduction in chronic malnutrition; a $Y increase in household income, etc.) with explanations underpinning your assumptions and supporting calculations to demonstrate how you reached your estimates.

The next round of applications will open on August 31st 2023.

Unfortunately we cannot accept applications by email. All applications to the Million Lives Collective must be made through the online application portal.

There is no cost, application fee or similar for applying to the Million Lives Collective.

Applications are assessed based on the following high-level criteria: 

1. Breadth of Impact: The number of lives the innovation directly impacts.

2. Innovation: The extent to which an innovation can be considered ‘innovative’ within the current ecosystem.

3. Magnitude of Social Outcomes: The extent of the impact generated for each end-user of an innovation.

4. Evidence: The extent to which impact reported is supported by sufficiently rigorous data and documentation.

The 3-stage review process involves various actors within the MLC network. At each stage, if necessary, applicants will be provided with opportunities to resubmit their application with additional information specific to the reviewer’s feedback. The three stages are as follows:

Stage 1: Initial Screen

The MLC Team conducts a rapid initial screening of each application to ensure it is complete and that the breadth of impact figures reported are in line with the requirements for either the MLC Vanguard or Voyager cohort.

Stage 2: Expert Review

Reviewers from the MLC Partner network carry out a detailed review of applications according to their sectoral expertise, with a particular focus on assessing the level of innovation, magnitude of social outcomes, evidence and breadth of impact.

Stage 3: Endorsement Review

MLC Partners receive a list of provisional MLC Members for endorsement on a no-objections basis, resulting in the final cohort.

While there is no one-size-fits-all type of evidence accepted by the MLC, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit documentation and data that demonstrate both the innovation’s breadth of impact as well as the depth of social outcomes reported. 

Acceptable types of evidence include:

• Impact report

• Key business metrics for market-based solutions

• Power calculations

• Anonymized client data

• Published reports / Annual Report

• Monitored data

• External reviews

• Peer-reviewed journal articles

• Randomized Control Trial (RCT)

Evidence that will not be accepted on its own:

• Descriptive evidence

• Powerpoint slides