In this three-part blog series, we share our lessons learned across the innovation initiatives and projects of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Innovation Accelerator that can be useful for any public or private sector innovation team and other humanitarian development organizations.

This first blog post focuses on enabling factors for innovation, such as defining your North Stars, data-driven approaches, and scaling innovation. The second blog offers takeaways from our experience harnessing emerging technologies, new financing models, and maximizing efficiency. In the final post in this series, we share what we’ve learned about human-centered design, ecosystem engagement, and mentorship for start-ups.