Applications Invited for Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator

Follow us@ngobox

About the Organization

The WFP Innovation Accelerator was established by the United Nations (UN) World Food Programme in 2015 to source new ideas, sprint pilot projects and scale high-impact innovations by connecting them with WFP’s global network and field operations in over 120 countries and territories. From its base in Germany, the WFP Innovation Accelerator has grown to become one of the world's leading social impact startup accelerators.

In 2024, the WFP Innovation Accelerator ran 18 programmes addressing a wide range of social impact and sustainability issues, including climate change, primary healthcare, gender equality and emergency response with the support of WFP regional innovation hubs and country office innovation teams, portfolio ventures and its partners. Its portfolio, comprising over 86 innovations, reached 61 million individuals across 90 countries and territories in 2024. Since its launch, innovations supported by the WFP Innovation Accelerator have secured over US$323 million in grant funding. The WFP Innovation Accelerator has been named as one of the ‘Best Workplaces for Innovators’ (2020, 2030, 2024), Most Innovative Companies (2030 and 2017) and ‘Innovation Team of the Year’ (2020) by Fast Company, for ongoing work in sourcing, nurturing, and scaling innovative start-ups focused on reducing global hunger.

WFP is a four-time winner of the Anthem Awards in 2022 and 2023. The award recognizes social impact work worldwide. The WFP Innovation Accelerator was named in Fast Company’s lists of Innovation Team of the Year 2020, Best Workplaces for Innovators (2020, 2030, 2024) and Most Innovative Companies (Not-For-Profit) (2017 and 2030) and Innovation Leader of the Year finalist 2023. WFP's Share the Meal App won Best Apps of 2020 by Google and Apple.

About the Grant

Shocks and stresses such as drought, heatwaves, storms and floods are increasingly putting lives and livelihoods at risk, affecting the functioning of global food systems at all levels - from production to consumption and eroding development.

To address these growing crises, the World Food Programme (WFP), in partnership with the Adaptation Fund, launched the Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA) programme.

This programme is run by the WFP Innovation Accelerator and consists of four cohorts running from 2024 to 2029. Each year, the programme focuses on a different region, identifying, supporting and scaling locally rooted solutions that enhance climate adaptation and resilience, particularly in communities impacted by extreme weather events. In 2025, this new call for applications is focused on Asia, specifically innovations for Nepal, Pakistan and the Philippines. We call on innovators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers to bring forward groundbreaking solutions to drive resilience, enhance climate adaptability, and promote sustainable development in affected communities. By strengthening local capacities and fostering partnerships, we strive to enhance climate resilience and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 2: ‘Zero Hunger’ and SDG 13: ‘Climate Action’.

What We Offer:

This partnership between the WFP Innovation Accelerator and the Adaptation Fund through Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator aims to enhance climate adaptation with gender equity, foster inclusive economic opportunities, engage youth and increase community resilience. By supporting groundbreaking climate innovations, the programme will boost local, regional and global collaborations, expand the knowledge base for climate adaptation and deliver sustainable solutions for vulnerable populations, contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals and building a more resilient future for communities worldwide.

What we offer to boost innovations:

• Invitation to participate in a four-day WFP Innovation In-person Bootcamp in Munich.
• Access to WFP’s field operations and opportunity to engage in comprehensive field testing.
• Expert innovation management assistance from the WFP Innovation Accelerator.
• Extensive visibility across multiple WFP social media channels and other platforms.
• Access to a diverse pool of mentors from various sectors and top-tier organizations.
• Nine-month Sprint acceleration programme combining business-oriented training, mentoring, and technical assistance from the WFP Innovation Accelerator.
• More than US$ 1 million in equity-free funding will be available for 10-12 startups

through competitive grants based on the stage of your solution:

• Up to US$ 120,000 per venture for seed stage solutions.
• Up to US$ 200,000 per venture for growth stage and expansion stage solutions.
• Exposure to national and international funders through an online pitch event at the end of the programme.

What We Are Looking For:

For this Innovation Challenge, the WFP Innovation Accelerator is looking for both low- and high-tech solutions specifically tailored to meet distinct climate adaptation challenges in Nepal, Pakistan and the Philippines along the food system value chain. We aim to identify and support exceptional innovations from around the world that hold the potential to address these challenges on a significant scale. Applicants are requested to showcase a high-impact, scalable solution that matches the below call for solutions.

Eligibility

Your organization must be an established legal entity (for-profit, not-for-profit, social business, NGO, INGO).

• Your organization should have a presence in one of the three countries of implementation (Nepal, Pakistan and the Philippines). This could take the form of a country office or other permanent presence, subsidiary, long-term operations or partnerships in the country.
• Your innovation addresses at least one of the above-mentioned priority areas related to pressing challenges faced in the climate adaptation space of the country of implementation.
• Your innovation must be at least in the seed stage. Solutions that are still at the idea, research or early pre-seed stage are not eligible.
• Your innovation should have a clear pathway to scale, adequate resources and a proposed plan to implement during the nine-month Sprint with the available funding.
• Applicants are expected to have strong intentions to collaborate with relevant humanitarian stakeholders, build relationships with the country offices, and connect with the innovation ecosystems.

Following the above-mentioned requirements, your application will be evaluated according to the following criteria*:

• Level of innovation/innovativeness: The solution is novel, innovative and has a strong climate adaptation regarding the mentioned themes.
• Relevance to the context: The solution addresses at least one of the above-mentioned priority areas, is suitable for at least one of the three country contexts, and provides concrete solutions to end-users or the ecosystem.
• Financial sustainability and scalability: The solution showcases a clear business model and a robust sustainable revenue model relative to its maturity stage. Team expertise and capabilities: Proven competence, technical coherence, commitment, motivation, entrepreneurial mindset and a diverse and inclusive team.
• Climate adaptation: The solution effectively enhances resilience to climate impacts, promotes sustainable practices, improves resource efficiency, and facilitates adaptive measures to address climate-related challenges.
• Level of Impact: Evidence of tangible historical and projected impact towards solving a defined challenge related to climate adaptation, demonstrating long-term, sustainable change beyond the grant period.
• Environmental and social sustainability: The solution adheres to the environmental and social principles of the Adaptation Fund.
• Gender and Inclusion: Solutions must address diverse user needs, enable inclusive participation and decision-making, and use disaggregated data and feedback to inform design and impact.

How to Apply

To submit your application, please fill out the Application Form by 30 September 2025, 11:59 pm (CEST). Please note that only English submissions will be accepted. We will review and select 10 to 12 successful applications in November 2025, inviting those selected to our Innovation Bootcamp in January 2026. The Bootcamp teams will then have the opportunity to apply for the Sprint Programme, where they will receive funding. While we appreciate all applications, please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

For more information please check the Link

Stay in the loop with the newest RFPs and Grants through NGOBOX's WhatsApp Channel. Join now by clicking here!

Tags Environment and Sustainability Food, Agriculture and Nutrition Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Others