WFP Expands Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator to Asia
In its second year, the World Food Programme Innovation Accelerator is expanding the Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA) programme to three countries in Asia: Nepal, Pakistan and the Philippines.
By Sanjna Sudan
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has announced a call for applications for the Asia edition of the Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator. This US$10 million initiative, funded by the Adaptation Fund, was launched in 2024 in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and will run until 2029. The programme aims to identify, support, and scale solutions that help vulnerable communities adapt to the growing impacts of extreme weather events. It offers small grants to ventures in developing countries that are disproportionately affected by climate shocks such as droughts, floods, heatwaves, and storms.
“There is a clear, causal link between climate change, extreme weather events and food insecurity,” said Saliha Dobardzic, Lead for Programming and Innovation at the Adaptation Fund. “Without immediate global action, we face a future of unprecedented hunger and conflict. With the AFCIA partnership, we prioritize support for innovators and solution finders from communities at risk. The second edition of support under WFP’s AFCIA Programme, in Asia, will enable exactly that, ensuring they have the tools they need to quickly adapt and perhaps even thrive in a changing climate.”
Empowering Local Innovation
This year too, the programme will award grants of up to US$200,000 each to up to twelve ventures offering affordable, inclusive and region-specific climate adaptation solutions. The focus is on innovations that strengthen food systems and build resilience in Asia, home to some of the world’s most densely populated and climate-vulnerable regions.
“This Programme is meaningful in championing locally-led solutions that protect communities and reduce the impact of extreme weather events. With a focus on Asia this year, the AFCIA would continue to be important in fostering inclusive, affordable innovations that strengthen community resilience” — Jayoung Lee, Chief, Programme Support Unit, Climate and Resilience Service, World Food Programme.
Inception Workshops: Laying the Groundwork
At the end of July 2025, WFP Country Offices in Nepal, Pakistan, and the Philippines, in collaboration with the WFP Asia and the Pacific Regional Office (APARO) in Bangkok and the WFP Innovation Accelerator, hosted Inception Workshops to identify local climate challenges and co-design problem statements . These workshops brought together humanitarian organizations, innovation ecosystem stakeholders, and government representatives.
“Nepal is a country rich in resilience, innovation and community strength, and that gives us great hope in the face of extreme weather events. We believe innovation can be a powerful tool, ranging from climate-smart agriculture to early warning systems and improved supply chains. We are looking forward to working closely with the WFP Innovation team to enhance the capacity of the government and local communities to adapt and scale these solutions. Despite challenges, there is hope to protect food security and create long-term climate-smart solutions.” said Riaz Lodhi, WFP Nepal Deputy Country Director.
In the Philippines, Elisabet Fadul, WFP Philippines Head of Programme, shared:
“WFP Philippines works hand-in-hand with the Philippine Government and local communities to explore innovative approaches towards food security and climate adaptation in the face of extreme weather events. This initiative will ultimately help us source and scale sustainable solutions that can best help the communities we serve.”
Call for Applications Opened on 10 September
The official call for applications will be live from the second week of September 2025 on the WFP Innovation Accelerator website. Ventures operating in Nepal, Pakistan and the Philippines, or with scalable solutions for these countries are encouraged to apply. The webpage will include details on priority themes, eligibility criteria, and the Sprint Programme for selected innovations.
“With yet more lives and livelihoods lost to the devastating floods submerging large parts of Pakistan this year, the new normal must be business unusual when it comes to climate action and investment. We need partners who think and act differently, with urgency, bringing forward solutions and partnerships that deliver impact at scale. We call upon those with ideas and actions that move us closer to a future of possibilities — a future where food and nutrition security is a reality for all.”- Coco Ushiyama, Representative and Country Director, WFP Pakistan.
Building on Success in MENA
In 2024, the AFCIA programme kickstarted its support to a range of impactful innovations across the MENA region. These included, but were not limited to, initiatives in agribiotech and soil health, smart and digital farming, water technology and infrastructure, irrigation systems and waste innovation, collectively reaching thousands of people.
“Following the success of WFP’s Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator in the Middle East and North Africa region, we’re optimistic about the programme’s potential to enable WFP country offices in Asia to scale innovations that reduce hunger and help communities adapt. This partnership marks a significant step forward in WFP’s core mission for a food-secure future in an increasingly unpredictable world.” — Bernhard Kowatsch, Director Global Accelerator and Ventures at World Food Programme.
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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