WFP Innovation Challenge for Zero Hunger (up to US$100,000 equity-free funding)

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WFP Innovation Challenge is currently ongoing. Every year, they host multiple WFP Innovation Challenges in search of game-changing innovations that deliver relief, foster, resilience and end hunger.

Over 309 million people are facing acute levels of food insecurity in 2024 in the 123 countries with WFP operations. The convergence of multiple crises – conflict, extreme climate patterns and economic shocks – is driving hunger, eroding livelihoods, and entrenching vulnerabilities especially in the worst hit food crisis countries. These multifaceted crises have made food inaccessible for millions of people, placing significant strain on WFP’s operations. We encourage people to apply innovative ideas that support WFP’s operation.

You could either apply for topic-specific cohorts or submit your project to be reviewed on a rolling basis. The application will automatically be considered for future programs.

WFP Innovation Challenge Benefits

Innovation Consultancy: Dedicated Innovation Consultant providing project management support and creating enablers for scalability.
WPF Access: Creation of strategic collaborations between the Sprint team and WFP field operations, HQ Business Unit and/or Regional Bureaus towards testing and scaling within WFP and beyond
Funding: Access to up to US$100,000 equity-free funding to test the venture’s scalability potential.
Mentor Support: Access to need-specific mentors from our broad innovation ecosystem. Our mentors come from diverse backgrounds including experts from humanitarian agencies and partners such as John Deere, Netlight and Google.
Visibility: Production and dissemination of project visibility materials to internal and external audiences, including through social media and the Accelerator web page.

Eligibility Criteria for WFP Innovation Challenge

If you are a startup

Your organization must be an established legal entity. It can be for profit or not-for-profit.
Your innovation must at least be at the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) stage. Proof-of-concept and initial traction is preferred.
Your organization should have a presence or willingness to build a presence in one of 123 countries and territories that WFP operates in.
Your proposal must show how working with WFP will serve your long-term strategy.
Your innovation should have a potential plan to implement during the six-month Sprint with the available funding and a clear pathway to scale.

If you are a WFP employee

Your team must have evidence of Country Office support and management buy-in.
You are encouraged to apply, regardless of your contract type or function.
We accept applications from WFP employees.

Evaluation criteria

Applications submitted to the WFP Innovation Accelerator are assessed according to a standard set of criteria, and are reviewed by both WFP and external experts. Please note that we prioritize projects that are designed alongside our core users — vulnerable communities — and that show initial traction and market validation to ensure impact and maximize cost-effectiveness. We are looking for innovations that meet the following expectations:

Your application will be evaluated according to the following criteria*:

Impact: The idea has the potential to impact millions of WFP beneficiaries and can be scaled
Feasibility: The solution can be effectively developed, deployed, and maintained
Level of Innovation: The idea is a new technology, approach of applying existing technology, process or business model addressing a problem
Financial Sustainability: The solution has a robust plan to ensure sustainable revenue generation beyond WFP funding
Team: Team members have relevant experience and are committed to the project
*We reserve the right to adjust eligibility criteria based on the changing context as new information becomes available.

WFP’s Current Innovation Priorities

Emergency Preparedness and Response
- For the past 60 years, WFP has provided emergency food assistance, often in conflict, post-conflict or disaster situations. Effective humanitarian relief entails effectively assessing and addressing immediate needs like food, water, shelter, and medical assistance in challenging environments. We are seeking innovations that elevate WFP’s Emergency preparedness and response operations, while enabling the ecosystem of coordination and support through the cluster approach.
Supply Chain and Delivery
- At any given time, the WFP is on the frontlines in the fight against hunger, delivering food assistance in some of the planet’s remotest and most insecure regions, Thousands of dedicated staff channel their expertise and use all means at their disposal – trucks, planes, ships, helicopters and even amphibious vehicles – to ensure that vast quantities of food and other essential items reach those who need them most. We are seeking innovations that foster improved upstream and downstream planning, emergency response logistics, track & trace, sustainable supply chains, and food safety & quality.
Nutrition and School Meals
- To end hunger and all forms of malnutrition, we need food systems that bring affordable, nutritious and safe food products to all, especially the most vulnerable. We are looking for transformational solutions at scale to address the double burden of malnutrition, as well as initiatives that support School-Based Programmes to improve access to school-based health and nutrition packages.
Food Systems and Smallholder Farmers
- Smallholder farmers are the backbone of the agricultural sector in most countries WFP operates in. We are seeking innovations that support smallholder farmers and value chain actors to increase capacity to produce and aggregate marketable surplus, reduce post-harvest losses, and access markets.
Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods
- We are looking for innovations that build the ability in people, households, and communities to mitigate, adapt to and recover from climate shocks and stresses in a manner that reduces chronic vulnerability and protects their livelihoods.
Social Protection
- Social protection plays a vital role in the pursuit of a world with Zero Hunger. We are looking for innovations that strengthen or address the gaps in national programmes and systems contributing to the SDGs, such as social registry, digital payment, and integrated mechanisms for shock-responsive social protection systems.