WFP Innovation Challenge
WFP Innovation Challenge supports startups, organizations, and WFP innovators to test and scale solutions that strengthen humanitarian response, improve food systems, and build community resilience.
This grant was recently updated
Rolling applications are now considered for intake when relevant funding or programming becomes available, replacing automatic consideration for future programmes. WFP also removed the stated US$100,000 funding ceiling and six-month Sprint duration without specifying replacements, and revised evaluation criteria and priority areas.
Funder: World Food Programme
Due Dates: Rolling (Flagship Innovation Challenge) | Cohort-specific deadlines (Announced on programme website)
Funding Amounts: Up to USD 100,000 in equity-free funding per Sprint; six-month acceleration programme
Summary: Supports innovations that strengthen humanitarian response, improve food systems, and build lasting resilience for vulnerable communities.
Key Information: Innovations must be at least at Minimum Viable Product stage and have a dedicated execution team.
Description
The WFP Innovation Challenge is run by the World Food Programme’s Innovation Accelerator to identify and scale high-impact solutions relevant to WFP’s global operations. It supports startups, organizations, and WFP innovators working to strengthen humanitarian response and help vulnerable communities build lasting resilience. Rolling applications are reviewed for portfolio intake when relevant funding or programming becomes available.
Priority areas include emergency preparedness and response, supply chain and delivery, food systems and smallholder farmers, school meals, resilience and sustainable livelihoods, and nutrition. Supported solutions may improve emergency logistics and food safety, reduce post-harvest losses, expand market access, sustain national school meal programmes, or help communities recover from climate shocks. The Accelerator combines equity-free funding with tailored consulting, project management, mentoring, and connections to WFP operations to test and scale solutions with sustainable impact.
