31 August 2020

Hunger is on the rise. 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 COVID-19. We’ve launched the WFP Innovation Challenge 2020 in search of cutting-edge ideas to disrupt hunger.

Banner: Deadline extended to 20 Sept 2020
New Application Deadline: 20 September 2020

p>This year’s campaign challenges us to find bold solutions to fight hunger in the following priority areas:

  1. COVID-19 emergency response
  2. Local food security and market access for smallholder farmers
  3. Sustaining and creating livelihoods
  4. Affordable, nutritious diets and awareness
  5. Appropriate energy solutions along the food value chain

Of course we are open to other innovative ideas too. Successful teams will be invited to the WFP Innovation Bootcamp in November 2020. After the bootcamp, teams will have the opportunity to apply to our Sprint Programme and may be eligible for up to US $100,000 in equity-free funding, hands-on support and mentorship, and access to a global network of experts.

The WFP Innovation Challenge seeks projects that recognize the importance of gender equality in achieving Zero Hunger, as well as projects that are led by women and have diverse teams. Promoting gender equality in WFP’s work enables food security and nutrition for all.

HungerMapLive is a digital tool using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help track and visualize food security needs. Visit: hungermap.wfp.org

Since launching in 2015, the WFP Innovation Accelerator has supported more than 80 solutions to disrupt hunger, 11 of which are now scaling up in multiple countries around the globe.

Among the projects scaling up is H2Grow, a low-tech hydroponic agriculture project that is enabling refugees and other vulnerable people to grow food in harsh environments across nine countries. H2Grow uses no soil and 90 percent less water than traditional agriculture.

Taleb Brahim — an engineer, refugee, and early adopter of H2Grow — spoke about the importance of locally-driven innovation at the 2019 UN General Assembly in New York City. He emphasized that anyone can be an innovator:

“Hydroponics works not only because it is a good technique, but more importantly, because it allows people to become part of their own solution,” said Brahim. “You have the power to create transformative change like this has done for me and my community.”

H2Grow hydroponics enables refugees to grow food in deserts. Photo: WFP/Abdulaziz Abdulmomin.

H2Grow hydroponics enables refugees to grow food in deserts. Photo: WFP/Abdulaziz Abdulmomin.

Start Your Online Application Now

Applications can be submitted until 20 September at 11:59 pm (CET).

Review our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page for tips.

Start an application now at the: Apply page of the WFP Innovation Accelerator website.

 

Photo: SCOPE CODA. Photo: WFP/Kirstyn Allen.
Photo: SCOPE CODA. Photo: WFP/Federico Naccarato.
The WFP Innovation Accelerator

The WFP Innovation Accelerator sources, supports and scales high-potential solutions to end hunger worldwide. We provide WFP staff, entrepreneurs, start-ups, companies and non-governmental organizations with access to funding, mentorship, hands-on support and WFP operations.

Find out more: innovation.wfp.org. Subscribe to our e-newsletter. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, or watch our videos on YouTube.