WFP Innovation Accelerator x Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA) 2027

Extreme weather events are increasingly impacting food systems globally, leading to food insecurity for vulnerable communities. Droughts, floods, and rising temperatures disrupt food production and threaten livelihoods. Latin America and the Caribbean, in particular, is highly susceptible to these climate shocks. To address these challenges, the World Food Programme (WFP), in partnership with the Adaptation Fund, has launched the Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA). This program aims to support and scale innovative solutions that strengthen resilience, improve food security, and help communities adapt to climate change.

The third edition of AFCIA focuses on the Latin America and the Caribbean region, seeking innovations that can be implemented there or have strong potential for regional adoption. The initiative is designed to identify, support, and scale these solutions, fostering a more resilient future for affected populations.

Key Takeaways

• The AFCIA program supports innovative solutions for climate adaptation and food security in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• To be eligible, your organization must be a registered legal entity with a presence in the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, or Peru, and your innovation must be at the seed stage or beyond.
• Applications are evaluated on the innovation’s novelty, relevance to context, financial sustainability, team expertise, climate adaptation impact, and commitment to gender and inclusion.
• The application deadline for the AFCIA 2027 program is September 6, 2026, and applications can be submitted through the provided Airtable link.

Eligibility for the AFCIA Program

To be considered for the WFP Innovation Accelerator x Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA) 2027, your organization must meet specific criteria. These requirements ensure that the program supports established entities with viable, climate-focused innovations.

• Legal Entity Status: Your organization must be a registered legal entity. This can include for-profit businesses, non-profit organizations, social businesses, NGOs, or INGOs.
• Country Presence: Your organization should have a presence in one of the three specified implementation countries: the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, or Peru. This presence can be in the form of a country office, a subsidiary, ongoing operations, or established partnerships.
• Innovation Focus: The innovation must address at least one of the priority areas related to climate adaptation challenges within the chosen implementation country.
• Stage of Innovation: The innovation must be at least in the seed stage. Ideas, research projects, or solutions in the very early pre-seed stage are not eligible for this program.
• Scalability and Plan: Your innovation should demonstrate a clear path to scaling. You must also have adequate resources and a proposed plan for implementation during the nine-month Sprint, including the use of available funding.
• Collaboration Intent: Applicants are expected to show a strong willingness to collaborate with relevant humanitarian stakeholders, build relationships with WFP country offices, and connect with local innovation ecosystems.

Evaluation Criteria for Applications

Applications submitted to the AFCIA program will be evaluated based on several key criteria. These criteria help identify the most promising innovations that align with the program’s goals of climate adaptation and resilience.

• Level of Innovation: The solution will be assessed on its novelty and how innovative it is, particularly concerning its contribution to climate adaptation within the stated themes.
• Relevance to Context: The evaluation will consider how well the solution addresses the priority areas, its suitability for at least one of the three country contexts, and its ability to provide concrete benefits to end-users or the broader ecosystem.
• Financial Sustainability and Scalability: Applicants must demonstrate a clear business model and a robust, sustainable revenue model that is appropriate for the innovation’s current maturity stage.
• Team Expertise and Capabilities: The competence, technical coherence, commitment, motivation, and entrepreneurial spirit of the team will be assessed. A diverse and inclusive team is also a positive factor.
• Climate Adaptation Impact: The solution’s effectiveness in enhancing resilience to climate impacts, promoting sustainable practices, improving resource efficiency, and facilitating adaptive measures will be a key consideration.
• Level of Impact: Evidence of both historical and projected impact in solving defined climate adaptation challenges will be reviewed. The solution should demonstrate the potential for long-term, sustainable change beyond the grant period.
• Environmental and Social Sustainability: The innovation must align with the environmental and social principles set forth by the Adaptation Fund.
• Gender and Inclusion: Solutions should address diverse user needs, promote inclusive participation and decision-making, and utilize disaggregated data and feedback to guide their design and impact.

How to Apply for the AFCIA Program

If you have a climate innovation that can help communities build resilience and strengthen food security, the Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA) offers an opportunity to gain support. This program, a collaboration between the Adaptation Fund and implemented by WFP, is open for applications until September 6, 2026.

To submit your application, please visit the official application portal:
Click here to apply

For further details and more information about the program, you can visit the AFCIA website:
AFCIA

Conclusion

The WFP Innovation Accelerator x Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA) 2027 represents a significant opportunity for innovators in Latin America and the Caribbean. By focusing on practical, scalable solutions, the program aims to bolster food security and build resilience against the growing impacts of climate change. Organizations with eligible innovations are encouraged to apply by the September 6, 2026 deadline to contribute to a more sustainable and adaptive future.

Frequently Asked Questions