5 Insights WFP’s Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Bootcamp
A look at the design, insights and reflections from an inspiring in-person bootcamp week in Munich, featuring ten climate innovation teams and WFP colleagues from the Middle East and North Africa region.
By Sanjna Sudan
“The need is urgent. The rewards are great. And time is short,” declared UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the conclusion of COP29. Against this backdrop, the World Food Programme (WFP) Innovation Accelerator hosted the in-person Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA) bootcamp in Munich. This unique 5 day experience brought together 10 selected startups with climate solutions for Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon. Each startup is working on innovative solutions to counter or adapt to the devastating effects of climate change on food security in the MENA region. They were chosen after a rigorous selection process and call for applications that was launched in July 2024.
Here’s a look at the five major takeaways from the bootcamp and its potential to shape the future of climate adaptation:
#1 Bringing everyone into the same room: Collaboration is key
One of the standout features of the AFCIA programme and not just this bootcamp was its ability to bring together diverse stakeholders and enable them to collaborate and solve common regional challenges. During the bootcamp, participating startups worked closely with colleagues from WFP country offices of Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon, WFP Regional Bureau in Cairo (representing MENA) and WFP’s Climate Division as well as the environment and sustainability team in WFP HQ.
The cross-pollination of ideas enabled participants to refine their project plans while aligning them with the on-ground realities of Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon. By tapping into WFP’s vast operational experience, the startups identified scalable solutions tailored to regional needs.
“Bringing the startups together for this in-person bootcamp was incredibly valuable — not only to hear their perspectives but also to give them the opportunity to connect with WFP colleagues working on related innovations across the region. True magic unfolds when great minds come together in the same room, sharing their expertise and insights” said Giorgia Pergolini, Programme Officer, WFP Climate Division, Rome.
#2 Human-centered design: Understanding the operational context
The bootcamp emphasized human-centered design, a methodology that ensures innovations align with real-world needs and challenges. By putting people at the heart of the innovation process, startups were encouraged to design solutions that resonate with the lived experiences of communities most affected by climate change.
This approach helped the participants to empathize with their end users and design practical and impactful solutions.
“Being an environmental engineer in Egypt, I often feel that few truly care about the environment in our country and region. However, meeting like-minded individuals here has reignited my hope and passion. Seeing others who care as deeply as I do — if not more — about taking real action, implementing solutions, and advancing both environmental and humanitarian efforts has been truly inspiring. I’m proud to stand among those committed to making a real impact — not just talking, but doing,” said Mohamed Tarek, Co-Founder of P-Vita.
P-Vita is a startup leveraging bioprocessing technology to transform Egypt’s agricultural waste — particularly palm waste, which is often burned or dumped into rivers — into valuable natural extracts. During the bootcamp, the P-Vita team engaged with colleagues from WFP Egypt and the WFP Regional Bureau in Cairo, receiving valuable advice on scaling their solutions within the country, potentially through collaboration with the WFP.
#3 Embedding environmental and social safeguards
To create truly sustainable solutions that can potentially be implemented and scaled through WFP, the participants were introduced to WFP’s Environmental and Social Sustainability (ESS) Programming. This framework ensures that all innovations comply with the “do no harm” principle, minimizing environmental and social risks.
Gilbert Kilimo, Environmental and Social Safeguards Advisor for MENA and Eastern Europe at WFP, highlighted the importance of ESS compliance:
“ESS safeguards not only protect people and the environment but also unlock significant financing opportunities from global investors. Sustainability is the foundation of future resilience.”
This emphasis on ESS equips startups to align with international best practices, enabling them to attract funding and scale their solutions responsibly.
#4 Enabling behavior change through gender-responsive programming
A critical component of the bootcamp was integrating gender-responsive approaches into climate adaptation strategies. Colleagues from the WFP Regional Bureau in Cairo led plenary sessions on fostering behavior change through solutions that promote gender inclusivity and community engagement. Following these sessions, they provided individualized guidance to each startup during dedicated team working sessions, offering practical advice on how to implement these principles effectively.
As Aya Salah, Programme Officer for Resilience and Climate at WFP’s Regional Bureau in Cairo, explained:
“In today’s world, any design that neglects gender balance is fundamentally flawed. Climate adaptation solutions must consider the disproportionate impact of climate change on women and girls to truly address the needs of vulnerable populations.”
This session encouraged startups to incorporate gender equity into their ventures, ensuring that their solutions are not only inclusive but also effective in addressing the root causes of vulnerability.
#5 Strengthening financial sustainability for long-term impact
Innovation thrives on scalability and scalability requires financial sustainability. Regina Schmidt, Head of SDG2 Acceleration at WFP, shared insights from WFP’s innovation portfolio, showcasing examples of successful innovations and the lessons learned. Barry Panulo, Innovative Finance consultant at WFP shared about WFP Innovation Bridge that enables WFP innovation teams to access venture capital.
Startups were guided on building resilient business models, with a focus on navigating the challenges posed by conflicts, climate disasters and economic downturns. By equipping participants with tools to secure funding and sustain their operations, the bootcamp set the stage for long-term impact.
“For any venture to be sustainable and truly impactful, it must deeply explore its business model as early and thoroughly as possible. At the WFP Innovation Accelerator, our experience with social impact startups has taught us valuable lessons, and we were delighted to support participating teams in piloting diverse business models to capture the value of their innovation.” shared Regina Schmidt, Head of SDG2 Acceleration at WFP Innovation Accelerator.
The road ahead
The AFCIA bootcamp exemplifies the transformative potential of collaboration, innovation and inclusivity in tackling the challenges of climate change. By enabling startups to use the tools, methodologies and networks needed to succeed, the WFP Innovation Accelerator is building a new generation of solutions that can push forward climate adaptation.
The sprint plans drafted by the ten teams are currently undergoing a review by the WFP team and the selected innovations will receive up to US$ 200,000 to scale their solutions in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon with constant mentorship and support from WFP network.
As the startups move forward with their refined venture plans, they carry the hope and promise of building a more resilient and food-secure future. Time may be short, but with initiatives like this, the rewards are within reach.
If you missed the deadline for this challenge, remember that anyone can apply at any time through our rolling call for applications.
The WFP Innovation Accelerator sources, supports and scales high-potential solutions to end hunger worldwide. We provide WFP colleagues, entrepreneurs, start-ups, companies,\ and non-governmental organizations with access to funding, mentorship, hands-on support and WFP’s global operations.
Find out more about us: http://innovation.wfp.org
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