Innovating for the Future

Transforming the path to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals

By Vida Gabe

For the past six years, the WFP Innovation Accelerator has been working to systematically source, support and scale high-potential solutions to end hunger and help pave the path to reaching the other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In a virtual event that took place on 4 May 2022, the WFP Innovation Accelerator, together with the WFP Tanzania Country Office, shared some lessons learned in a Masterclass on “How innovations can transform the path to the 2030 Agenda.” The webinar, which was an official side event of the 7th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (STI Forum), was delivered to an audience of innovators, investors, and partners from the private sector and other United Nations agencies.

Watch these videos below to see some of the main lessons shared by the four projects that shared their knowledge during the forum:

Sanku aims to tackle the problem of malnutrition by providing fortification tools, training and other support to small-scale flour mills, enabling them to fortify their flour with essential micronutrients.

Sanku Co-founder and CEO Felix Brooks-church talks about the importance of implementing partners.

Community Inclusion Currencies utilises blockchain technology to drive a community-driven credit programme that enables people to exchange goods and services and set up new businesses.

Sheila Agha, Director Grassroots Economics, explains why it’s valuable to know your strengths and weaknesses and leverage resources from partners.

EMPACT, connects food-insecure youth to the global digital economy, enabling them to build viable careers and better livelihoods.

Elisa Molena, Founder and Director of EMPACT, shares the importance of partnering with the private sector.

Imara Tech is a Tanzanian start-up that brings mechanization to small farms in rural communities, increasing the productivity, crop quality and incomes of smallholder farmers.

Eliot Avila, Founder and Director of Imara Tech, talks about patience and managing expectations in project management.

The event was moderated by Regina Schmidt, Head of Innovation Projects of the WFP Innovation Accelerator and featured messages from Sarah Gordon-Gibson, WFP Tanzania Country Director; Dr. Ladislaus Kasankala, Director of the Tanzania Food & Nutrition Center; and Maggie Schmitz, Acting Division Chief, Private Sector Engagement, Diaspora and Innovation at the USAID — Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.

The WFP Innovation Accelerator sources, supports and scales high-potential solutions to end hunger worldwide. We provide WFP staff, entrepreneurs, start-ups, companies and non-governmental organizations with access to funding, mentorship, hands-on support and WFP operations.

Find out more about us: http://innovation.wfp.org. Subscribe to our e-newsletter. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn and watch our videos on YouTube.