Submissions open for Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator Programme

Deadline: September 21, 2025

The Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA) programme, launched by the World Food Programme in partnership with the Adaptation Fund, invites innovators to present groundbreaking solutions addressing climate adaptation challenges across the food system value chain.

The focus areas include enhancing climate adaptation with gender equity, fostering inclusive economic opportunities, engaging youth, increasing community resilience, and supporting climate innovations that contribute to Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 2: ‘Zero Hunger’ and SDG 13: ‘Climate Action’. The programme promotes innovative solutions tailored to climate adaptation challenges in Nepal, Pakistan, and the Philippines, addressing various points along the food system value chain, such as localized climate information systems, inclusive adaptation finance, climate-resilient seeds and inputs, climate-smart water management, risk protection solutions, water management, post-harvest management, land restoration, digital market solutions, localized early warning solutions, nature-based solutions, community-based post-harvest management, parametric microinsurance, and AI-powered digital platforms for farmers.

This programme aims to identify, support and scale high-impact ventures that enhance climate resilience in vulnerable regions by providing equity-free funding, mentorship, business-oriented training, and access to WFP’s field operations and innovation ecosystem. Eligible applicants must be established legal entities with a presence in at least one of the three target countries, have innovations at the seed stage or higher, and show a clear pathway to scale and strong collaboration intentions with humanitarian stakeholders. Funding opportunities range up to US$ 120,000 for seed-stage solutions and up to US$ 200,000 for growth and expansion-stage solutions, distributed through competitive grants. Selected applicants will participate in a nine-month acceleration programme and a four-day innovation bootcamp in Munich.

The programme emphasizes each applicant’s innovation’s impact on climate resilience, sustainability, gender inclusion, environmental and social principles, and long-term viability. Applications must be submitted by 21 September 2025, and the successful candidates will be announced in November 2025.

For more information, visit WFP.