Five cross-cutting focus areas help us to streamline learning and gather the latest evidence. These relate to how sustainability systems can improve their effectiveness in driving sector transformation and address the needs of stakeholders along the value chain:

Principles that guide grant selection, as core values to be upheld by our projects:

• Innovation: Each project tests new ideas, tools or approaches, and generates learning.
• Relevance: Each project contributes to the Innovations Programme's overall objectives.
• Replicability and applicability: There is high potential for replicability of project outputs and outcomes across different sustainability systems, sectors and regions.
• Engagement: Where applicable, there is strong buy-in and engagement from stakeholders and intended participants.
• Monitoring and learning: Each project commits to capturing and sharing lessons and outcomes to support cross-sector learning, including measuring and reporting on key indicators.
• Collaboration: Each project takes a partnership approach, engaging with other sustainability systems, or coordinating and integrating with other tools or frameworks.
• Value for investment: The expected impact of each project, including its learning value, is high relative to its investment.

Since 2016, the ISEAL Innovations Fund has created an enabling environment for ISEAL Community Members and their partners to explore and test innovative ideas, approaches and strategies. These efforts are enhancing impact, effectiveness, efficiency and inclusiveness at scale. Find the latest updates and key resources from the Fund here.