Deadline: April 20, 2025
Applications are open for the World Food Programme (WFP) Humanitarian Innovation Accelerator 2025. 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.
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.
They 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. They 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.
Benefits
- Hands-on support: Access to a co-creation learning experience designed to refine your solution and activate your path to scale.
- Visibility: 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.
- Funding: Apply for equity-free funding of up to USD $150,000 to implement your proposed scaling plan over a 12-month sprint.
- Mentorship and Global Access: 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.
Eligibility
- 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.
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.
Application
Do you have a solution that addresses pressing emergency and humanitarian challenges faced by vulnerable populations and humanitarian actors? If yes then apply!
For more information, visit WFP Humanitarian Innovation Accelerator.
