WFP Innovation Accelerator 2020

Application Deadline: 14th September 2020

About the Award: Unless swift action is taken, some 265 million people in low and middle-income countries will be in acute food insecurity by the end of 2020, due to conflict, climate shocks, poverty and #COVID19.
The COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating food insecurity, interrupting supply chains, and moving more people into hunger than previously predicted. WFP seeks cutting-edge solutions to transform emergency response and to achieve SDG2: Zero Hunger by 2030 for communities impacted by COVID19 and beyond. Innovations are needed more than ever before to achieve this goal.
In the WFP Innovation Challenge 2020, we are looking for innovations that seek to disrupt hunger, and address any of the following problem statements.

1. COVID-19 emergency response. WFP is mobilizing to meet the needs of up to 138 million people in 2020, with more than half of WFP’s operations scaling up direct assistance in urban areas. Cities are bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 crisis, accounting for 90 percent of COVID-19 cases and leaving millions without jobs unable to meet food other essential needs. It is challenging to identify, locate, target and reach those in most in need, particularly in urban areas and informal settlements. At the same time, better access to phones and internet in cities in comparison to urban areas, brings opportunities of using new technologies to address those challenges.
2. Local food security and market access for smallholder farmers. Domestic food supply is a challenge in many countries in which WFP operates, due to many factors – including severe  water scarcity, limited farmable land availability, a growing urban population and weak supply chain infrastructure. High volumes of imports and movement restrictions can create volatility and cause high price shocks, as seen during COVID-19. 
3. Sustaining and creating livelihoods. Two billion people – more than 61 per cent of the world’s employed population – make their living in the informal economy, most of whom reside in developing countries. COVID-19 movement restrictions have damaged the economic activity of millions of vulnerable people, and informal economy workers have very little access to reliable, adequate income generation opportunities. 
4. Affordable, nutritious diets and awareness. Healthy diets are on average five times more expensive than nutrient-poor diets, are unaffordable for more than 3 billion people around the world, and are often exacerbated by a lack of awareness of nutritious food and healthy consumption habits in low-resource environments. 
5. Appropriate energy solutions along the food value chain.  Access to energy is a consistent obstacle to food processing, cooking and preservation, which in turn has negative impacts on food availability, intake and nutritional value. Irrigation, tilling, milling and pressing are few examples of processes that are considerably enhanced by energy leading to increased quantity and quality of food. In addition, food is lost at every step of the value chain due to lack of cooking or preservation options, such as energy-efficient cooking options, refrigeration, smoking, drying, canning and sealing.

Type: Entrepreneurship

Eligibility: If you are a start-up…

• Your start-up must be incorporated at the time of application. 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 solution should be financially viable.
• Your proposal must show how working with WFP will serve your long-term strategy.

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 project applications from WFP employees who are collaborating with NGOs, government or private sectors.

Selection 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:

• Impact for the people we serve and potential to reach Zero Hunger
• Feasibility, including time to deliver impact, technology maturity, and user traction
• Level of innovation
• Financial sustainability with a clear business case that does not rely on WFP funding
• Team strength, experience, and commitment

Eligible Countries: Any

Number of Awards: Not specified

Value of Award:

Funding	Access to WFP Operations	Hands-On Support	Networking
Apply to receive up to $100,000 in equity-free funding, with further funding dependent upon progress and measurable achievement of key targets.	Successful teams will work with WFP units on the ground to further develop and refine their solutions.	You’ll have the chance to work with technical and industry mentors who will provide guidance and accelerate your progress.	Teams will be able to tap into and leverage our strong network of public, private, and government partners to accelerate implementation.

Duration of Program:

• Innovation Bootcamp: 30 November–4 December 2020
• Pitch: 10 December 2020

How to Apply:

• Start-Ups: Do you have an innovation that can end hunger? We want to support you. APPLY
• WFP Employees: Are you an innovator at WFP? Let’s work together to design bold solutions. APPLY

Visit Award Webpage for Details