The approach used in this paper to assess official development finance towards innovation generally excludes capacity-building exercises. The DAC High Level Meeting in 2017 recognised the need for the DAC to step up its focus on innovation for development: “Innovation is an essential enabler for both improved development co-operation practices and quick and effective responses to development co-operation challenges. We intend to gather evidence, facilitate and encourage the sharing of good practices and experiences, foster platforms on innovative policies, tools and practices so that DAC members can increase their knowledge and implement innovative programming that delivers humanitarian and development impact in ways that are better than existing approaches. ”