Applications are currently open for the 2027 WFP Innovation Accelerator x Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA). As extreme weather events like droughts, floods, and storms increasingly pressure global food systems, this initiative seeks to address the resulting disruptions to food production and rising food insecurity. The program specifically targets Latin America and the Caribbean, one of the world's most climate-vulnerable regions, where environmental degradation puts significant strain on livelihoods. In its third edition for the region, the AFCIA, implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP) in partnership with the Adaptation Fund, aims to identify, support, and scale innovative solutions that build resilience and help vulnerable communities adapt to these new climate realities.
Eligibility
• Your organization must be an established legal entity, which can include for-profit, not-for-profit, social business, NGO, or INGO.
• Your organization is required to have a presence in one of the three implementation countries: Dominican Republic, El Salvador, or Peru. This can be a country office, permanent presence, subsidiary, long-term operations, or established partnerships.
• Your innovation must address at least one of the priority areas related to pressing climate adaptation challenges in the country of implementation.
• Your innovation must be at a minimum of the seed stage. Solutions at the idea, research, or early pre-seed stage are not eligible.
• Your innovation should demonstrate a clear pathway to scale, possess adequate resources, and include a proposed plan for implementation during the nine-month Sprint program with the available funding.
• Applicants should have strong intentions to collaborate with relevant humanitarian stakeholders, build relationships with WFP country offices, and connect with local innovation ecosystems.
Evaluation Criteria
• Level of innovation/innovativeness: The solution must be novel and innovative, with a strong focus on climate adaptation related to the program's themes.
• Relevance to the context: The solution should address a priority area, be suitable for at least one of the three country contexts, and offer concrete benefits to end-users or the ecosystem.
• Financial sustainability and scalability: The solution must showcase a clear business model and a robust, sustainable revenue model appropriate for its maturity stage.
• Team expertise and capabilities: The team should demonstrate proven competence, technical coherence, commitment, motivation, an entrepreneurial mindset, and be diverse and inclusive.
• Climate adaptation: The solution must effectively enhance resilience to climate impacts, promote sustainable practices, improve resource efficiency, and facilitate adaptive measures.
• Level of Impact: There should be evidence of tangible historical and projected impact in solving a defined climate adaptation challenge, demonstrating potential for long-term, sustainable change beyond the grant period.
• Environmental and social sustainability: The solution is required to adhere 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 utilize disaggregated data and feedback to inform their design and impact.
Application Details
• Deadline: September 6, 2026 (7 September at 00:59 (GMT+1)).
• To apply or find more information, interested parties should visit the official AFCIA website.
Innovators with solutions that can help communities build resilience and strengthen food security in the face of climate change are encouraged to explore this opportunity. The Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator, implemented by the World Food Programme, offers a platform to scale impactful projects within Latin America and the Caribbean.