HIA 2.0 Logos

The WFP Innovation Accelerator is launching the second edition of the Humanitarian Innovation Accelerator (HIA), powered by the Government of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg. HIA aims to support technology-powered solutions addressing pressing challenges faced by vulnerable populations and humanitarian actors. The platform supports selected ventures and solution providers with financial, technical, and methodological support from the WFP Innovation Accelerator and its partner ecosystem.

 

What We Offer

 

Hands-on support 
Visibility
Funding
Mentorship and Global Access

Access to a co-creation learning experience designed to refine your solution and activate your path to scale.

A chance  to showcase your solution on a global stage to pitch and network with technical experts, industry leaders and investors at the Luxembourg Humanitarian Days.

Apply for equity-free funding of up to USD $150,000 to implement your proposed scaling plan over a 12-month sprint.

 

Participants who receive funding  will receive up to 12 months of acceleration support from the WFP Innovation Accelerator and relevant partners through the duration of the sprint.


Learn more here.

What Are We Looking for

As extreme weather events, conflict, and displacement escalate, humanitarian needs continue to grow, outpacing available resources. Addressing these complex and interconnected challenges requires a shift from traditional humanitarian approaches to more adaptive, technology-driven solutions and strategic partnerships. Technological advancements have the potential to mitigate disasters, enhance emergency response efficiency, and transform the lives of vulnerable communities worldwide. HIA seeks proven, innovative, technology-driven solutions that provide crisis-affected populations with access to information, financial resources, and essential infrastructure. Additionally, HIA seeks innovations that strengthen humanitarian organizations’ crisis management and coordination capabilities. 

We welcome applications from established startups, companies, NGOs, and organizations ready to scale impactful solutions for global humanitarian challenges to showcase their innovations that fit under one of four challenges areas. We also welcome “wildcard” entries, including cutting-edge technologies that currently operate in other sectors but have strong potential to be adapted for humanitarian and emergency settings. Learn more here.

Geographies of Interest 

We strongly encourage applications from organizations implementing solutions in the following regions:

Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Chad, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Iraq, Laos, Lebanon, Libya,, Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar Niger, Palestine, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Ukraine and Yemen

* Applications outside these regions will still be considered if they demonstrate alignment with the call for applications and eligibility criteria.

Apply by April 20, 11:59 pm (CEST)
Do you have a solution that addresses pressing emergency and humanitarian challenges faced by vulnerable populations and humanitarian actors? If yes then apply!
Application process

1. To submit your application, please fill in the Application Form before April 20, 11:59 pm (CEST)

2. Or, if you know a relevant venture or solution for us to consider for this programme, please let us know by filling out this Referral Submission Form. 

3. We will review and select successful applications to invite to HIA. While we value all applications, we are only able to contact shortlisted applicants. 

4. For more information, see the Frequently Asked Questions.

Eligibility Criteria
  • Your organization must be an established legal entity (for-profit, non for profit, social business, NGO, INGO) for at least 2 years. 
  • Your organization should already have a presence in the country of implementation, has built partnerships or has evidence of interest from potential partners and stakeholders, specifically with relevant humanitarian actors.
  • Your innovation should have a clear pathway to scale and a potential plan to implement during the 12-month Sprint with the available funding. 
  • Solutions must be beyond the prototype/pilot phase, with demonstrated evidence of user adoption, operational feasibility, and readiness to scale impact.
  • Applicants are expected to build connections with the innovation ecosystem of Luxembourg

 * Key Considerations:

  • We prioritize organizations that focus on empowering women, either through their beneficiaries, job creation, or by having a high representation of women in leadership positions.
  • The organization pays attention to environmental protection, as well as social inclusion and cohesion.

Learn about the evaluation criteria and more details here.

 

Evaluation Criteria

In accordance with the above, applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria: 

  • Impact & Scalability: Applicants should have a defined vision, an identified target group, and be able to demonstrate the potential to solve the posed challenge(s).
  • Team: Applicants should be able to demonstrate they have a diverse, non-discriminatory, gender-balanced organization with demonstrated leadership and entrepreneurial mindset. 
  • Novelty: Applicants should be able to show how their solution is innovative and competitive while being technically suitable, and viable.  
  • Traction: Applicants should be able to present evidence of feasibility and adoption by the target group and strong engagement with relevant stakeholders.
  • Business Model: Applicants should demonstrate the viability of their business model, how they intend to achieve a sustainable business, pricing, and financial model. 

*We reserve the right to adjust eligibility criteria based on the changing context as new information becomes available.  

 

Current Sprint Cohort (2024-2025)

Sprints are structured support programmes in which selected innovators are guided toward implementing their solutions and testing their hypotheses. The WFP Innovation Accelerator provides tailored support to innovations to roll out or scale their activities and impact. After a competitive selection process, the following ten ventures were selected for the HIA sprint programme.

Opero
Opero has developed an innovative and self-sustaining Faecal Sludge Treatment Unit (FSTU) to contain and treat human waste safely, in refugee camps and internally displaced population (IDP) settings.

Lack of adequate sanitation facilities and sufficient treatment capacity is one of the most common challenges in IDP (internally displaced persons) settlements and refugee camps, meaning that untreated sewage is dumped directly into the environment. The modular design enables this emergency sanitation solution to be rapidly deployed in any challenging environment. The unit’s deployment in Kisumu, Kenya, has prevented the omission of 660 m3 of greenhouse gases into the environment.
Waterkit
WaterKit Wallet is a money-powered card that allows communities to access credit easily. With this card, a community member can directly access credit for WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) and energy products. Users do not pay any interest rates and can use the card at community/village stores to get the required products.

Powered by a microfinance banking system, the solution also has a digital wallet that allows individuals and organisations to directly donate for WASH and energy projects to those in need. The solution has currently enrolled 500+ water sources in Uganda that are actively monitored and are ready for operation.
Jangala
Jangala’s Big Box is a lightweight briefcase-sized device that transforms any form of internet connectivity into Wifi that is easy to manage and scale.

A lack of easily deployable, capable internet access is one of the biggest barriers to being able to deliver services in humanitarian settings. Jangala partners with United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Gaza Field Office to connect twenty schools to the internet using Jangala’ self-designed and self-developed Big Box Wi-Fi solution.
Open Algorithms (OPAL) for Humanitarian Action
Open Algorithm for Humanitarian Action by Data Pop Alliance is a privacy-preserving technology and governance system that shares sensitive information safely and ethically for humanitarian action.

It extracts key indicators and insights deemed relevant and safe by local stakeholders, for a wide range of potential use cases in crisis contexts. The development of such a model is done in engagement with communities to build on and enhance local capacities and knowledge.
Bleaglee
Bleaglee develops drone software that can inspect improperly disposed waste in drainage channels and waterways.
The team collaborates with waste collectors and youth environmental groups to collect and properly dispose of the waste, or sell it to recycling companies. Using the software, drones follow predetermined paths to identify poorly disposed waste through image analysis. The software generates reports that serve as early warnings for potential flooding caused by garbage obstructing drainage channels. Through its digital platform, Bleaglee offers on-demand waste recycling and disposal services for packaging waste to individuals and businesses. Payments are made conveniently through mobile money systems.
Neurotech
NeuroTech offers an innovative energy monitoring and management solution, promoting equitable electricity distribution, particularly in vulnerable communities.
Their solution caters to refugees in camps and individuals in remote areas who are seeking connectivity to the electricity grid. By integrating advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, electronics and networks, NeuroTech optimises efficiency and fosters fair resource sharing.
Speetar
Speetar is a patient-centric digital health platform in Libya that connects under-served patients in post-conflict communities with culturally aligned health specialists. It provides a holistic healthcare management system, including cloud-based electronic medical records, doctor-patient scheduling, real-time identity verification, billing, and video conferencing, all integrated into a unified solution. Furthermore, Speetar can quickly deploy crisis-oriented applications like its COVID-19 app, created in partnership with Libya’s Ministry of Health. This app acts as the main triage point and supports contact tracing within the country.
WASDI
WASDI is an open-source Earth Observation (EO) platform that harnesses cloud-based satellite data and remote sensing technologies to enhance stakeholders’ decision-making processes in disaster assessment, response planning, and proactive action.
It has several use cases, such as during floods, forest fires, and monitoring oil spills; all developed by the WASDI team and its partners. The platform ensures interoperability among its applications and facilitates seamless integration with third-party systems.