The World Food Programme (WFP), in partnership with the Adaptation Fund, is inviting established organisations, startups, NGOs, social businesses and other legal entities to apply for the 2027 Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA). The programme is seeking low- and high-tech solutions that can strengthen climate resilience, food security and the ability of vulnerable communities to adapt to climate change in the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Peru. Applications close September 6, 2026.
The Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA) is opening a new opportunity for organisations developing practical climate-adaptation solutions with the potential to reach vulnerable communities at scale.
The programme is being implemented by the WFP Innovation Accelerator in partnership with the Adaptation Fund and is focused in this edition on three Latin American countries: Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Peru.
The opportunity is particularly relevant to organisations working at the intersection of climate change, agriculture, food systems, disaster preparedness, water management, early-warning systems, climate finance and community resilience.
Importantly, this is not a conventional scholarship or a simple grant where applicants automatically receive a fixed amount after applying. The current process involves an application and selection stage, followed by an innovation bootcamp. Selected teams will then have an opportunity to apply for the programme’s nine-month Sprint, where funding and tailored support are provided following a further competitive process.
AFCIA 2027 Opportunity at a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Programme | Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA) |
| Implementing organisation | World Food Programme Innovation Accelerator |
| Partner | Adaptation Fund |
| Eligible implementation countries | Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Peru |
| Applicant type | Established legal entities |
| Eligible entity types | For-profit, non-profit, social business, NGO, INGO |
| Innovation stage | At least seed stage |
| Technology requirement | No; low- and high-tech solutions accepted |
| Application language | English |
| Application deadline | September 6, 2026 |
| Deadline time | 11:59 p.m. UTC |
| Expected selection | November 2026 |
| Innovation bootcamp | January 2027 |
| Sprint | Nine-month programme following competitive selection |
| Funding | Available through the Sprint stage |
The Programme Responds to Growing Climate Pressure on Food Systems
The programme comes at a time when climate-related shocks are increasingly affecting food production, livelihoods and vulnerable communities.
Droughts, floods, storms, rising temperatures and environmental degradation can disrupt agricultural production and make it more difficult for communities to maintain reliable sources of food and income.
The WFP and Adaptation Fund partnership is therefore looking beyond conventional climate projects and seeking innovations that can help communities anticipate, withstand and recover from climate-related disruptions.
The programme also incorporates broader priorities including:
- Climate adaptation;
- Food security;
- Gender equity;
- Youth engagement;
- Inclusive economic opportunities;
- Community resilience;
- Sustainable development;
- Local and regional innovation ecosystems.
Three Countries Receive Country-Specific Innovation Priorities
The current call does not use exactly the same priority areas for every country.
Applicants need to demonstrate that their solution responds to the specific climate-adaptation challenges identified for the country where they intend to implement it.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic track includes areas such as:
- Climate-responsive support and delivery;
- Localised climate information;
- Hazard monitoring;
- Early-warning systems;
- Anticipatory financing and delivery solutions.
El Salvador
Priority areas include:
- Disaster-risk management;
- Climate-smart agricultural advisory services;
- Climate and market intelligence;
- Post-harvest loss reduction.
Peru
The Peru track includes:
- Market and climate information;
- Climate-risk financing;
- Scalable early-warning communication;
- Water-management solutions.
Applicants should consult the full official call documentation because these categories represent the principal areas rather than an exhaustive list of every potentially eligible solution.
Climate Innovation Can Be Both Low-Tech and High-Tech
One of the important features of the AFCIA call is that applicants are not required to develop advanced technology.
The WFP is explicitly seeking both low-tech and high-tech solutions.
This means the opportunity can potentially accommodate innovations such as:
- Digital climate-information systems;
- Early-warning platforms;
- Agricultural advisory services;
- Water-management technologies;
- Climate-risk financing tools;
- Communication systems;
- Community-based disaster-preparedness approaches;
- New agricultural practices;
- Data-driven climate services.
The critical issue is whether the proposed solution can address a clearly identified adaptation challenge and demonstrate potential for meaningful scale.
Seed-Stage Innovations Are the Minimum Entry Point
The programme is not designed for organisations that are still at the earliest conceptual stage.
Applicants must have an innovation that is at least at the seed stage.
Solutions that remain at the:
- Idea stage;
- Research stage;
- Early pre-seed stage
are not eligible.
This means applicants should ideally already have something tangible to demonstrate, whether that is a prototype, service, tested model, early product or evidence that the solution has progressed beyond an initial idea.
An Existing Presence in the Target Country Is Required
The organisation must have a presence in at least one of the three implementation countries:
Dominican Republic, El Salvador or Peru.
The WFP says this presence can take different forms, including:
- Country office;
- Permanent presence;
- Subsidiary;
- Long-term operations;
- Established partnership in the country.
This requirement is particularly important for international organisations.
Being an international company or NGO does not automatically make an organisation eligible. It must demonstrate an appropriate connection to one of the three implementation environments.
Eligible Organisations Include Businesses and Non-Profits
The programme has a broader applicant structure than many traditional development grants.
Eligible legal entities can include:
- For-profit companies;
- Non-profit organisations;
- Social businesses;
- NGOs;
- International NGOs (INGOs).
The central issue is whether the organisation meets the programme’s legal, country-presence, innovation-stage and climate-adaptation requirements.
This means the opportunity can potentially suit both social-impact organisations and commercially oriented climate innovators.
Financial Sustainability and Scalability Are Major Selection Factors
The programme is not only interested in whether a solution works.
Applicants must also demonstrate a realistic pathway toward scale and financial sustainability.
The evaluation considers whether the innovation has:
- A credible business model;
- A sustainable revenue model appropriate to its maturity;
- Potential for wider adoption;
- Adequate resources;
- A realistic implementation strategy.
This makes the AFCIA opportunity particularly relevant to startups and social enterprises that have already begun testing their business model.
Best Strategy Method to Win the AFCIA Opportunity
The strongest application is unlikely to be the one with the most complicated technology. It will be the one that can demonstrate a clear connection between problem, solution, evidence, users, impact and scale. There’s a A Step-by-Step Guide on the Winning Strategy as an International Student.
1. Match the Innovation to One Country’s Priority
Do not submit a generic climate-change proposal.
Choose the country where your organisation has a legitimate presence and demonstrate exactly how the solution responds to one of that country’s priority areas.
2. Demonstrate That the Solution Already Exists
Because idea-stage and early pre-seed innovations are excluded, applicants should provide evidence that their innovation has progressed beyond concept development.
This could include:
- Prototype;
- Pilot;
- Existing users;
- Early results;
- Partnerships;
- Customer feedback;
- Demonstrated impact.
3. Quantify the Problem
Explain the scale of the challenge using credible evidence.
For example, instead of simply saying that farmers face climate risks, explain:
- How many farmers are affected;
- What climate risk they face;
- What the economic consequences are;
- Why existing approaches are insufficient.
4. Explain the Path to Scale
AFCIA is looking for solutions with significant potential.
Show how the innovation could move from one community or market to wider adoption.
5. Build a Credible Revenue Model
For commercially oriented solutions, explain who pays, why they will pay and how revenue will support continued operations.
6. Show Real User Engagement
The evaluation specifically considers user needs, feedback and inclusive participation.
Evidence that communities have helped shape the solution can strengthen the proposal.
7. Integrate Gender and Inclusion
Do not treat inclusion as an afterthought.
Explain how women, young people and other groups with different needs will participate and benefit.
Advantages and Limitations of the AFCIA Programme
Major Advantages
- International backing: The programme is implemented by WFP in partnership with the Adaptation Fund.
- Access to the WFP innovation ecosystem: Selected innovators can connect with WFP country offices, humanitarian stakeholders and innovation networks.
- Funding opportunity: Successful teams that progress through the competitive process can receive funding through the Sprint.
- Technical support: The programme provides tailored support for innovators.
- Nine-month Sprint: The Sprint provides a structured period for implementation and testing.
- Global visibility: Participation can help promising climate solutions gain exposure and partnerships.
- Technology flexibility: Both low-tech and high-tech solutions are eligible.
Important Limitations
- Geographic restriction: The current implementation focus is only Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Peru.
- Existing country presence required: Organisations without a qualifying presence or partnership in one of these countries may not meet eligibility requirements.
- No idea-stage solutions: The innovation must already be at least at seed stage.
- Competitive selection: Completing the application does not guarantee participation or funding.
- Funding is not automatic: Applicants first go through selection and bootcamp stages before having the opportunity to apply for the Sprint.
- English-only submission: The current application must be submitted in English.
The Funding Structure Requires an Important Clarification
Some third-party opportunity listings may give the impression that AFCIA is simply a grant programme where applicants submit an application and immediately receive funding.
That is not the correct way to understand the current process.
The official WFP process indicates that applications will first be reviewed, with approximately 10–12 successful applications expected to be selected in November 2026. Those selected teams will be invited to an innovation bootcamp in January 2027.
After the bootcamp, teams will have the opportunity to apply for the Sprint programme, where funding is provided following another competitive selection process.
This distinction should be made clear to applicants before they invest time preparing their application.
The Innovation Bootcamp Forms the Next Major Stage
Approximately 10–12 successful applicants are expected to be selected in November 2026.
Those selected will be invited to an innovation bootcamp scheduled for:
January 2027
The bootcamp is intended to help selected innovators strengthen their solutions and prepare for the next stage.
The subsequent Sprint provides an opportunity for selected teams to receive funding and tailored support to implement or scale their solutions.
Visa Requirements and International Travel Considerations
A visa is not required simply to submit an AFCIA application.
The application is completed online.
However, selected organisations may eventually participate in programme activities, including the innovation bootcamp. If a participant is required to travel internationally for a programme activity, the traveller would need to satisfy the immigration requirements of the destination country.
For applicants based in Africa or other regions outside the programme countries, it is important to understand that being selected for AFCIA does not automatically provide a visa or guarantee visa approval.
Where international travel is required, applicants may need:
- Valid passport;
- Official programme invitation;
- Proof of participation;
- Accommodation details;
- Travel arrangements;
- Visa application;
- Biometric information where required;
- Other documents requested by the relevant embassy.
The appropriate visa category depends on the destination, purpose and duration of travel. However, you can still take a look at the Schengen Area (European Union) Visa Application Guide, Appointment Centres for updates.
African Applicants Need to Pay Attention to the Country-Presence Requirement
The opportunity may appear attractive to climate innovators across Africa, but African organisations cannot automatically apply simply because they operate in climate adaptation.
The current AFCIA call is focused on solutions for the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Peru, and the applicant organisation must have an appropriate presence in one of those countries.
For example, a Nigerian climate-tech company with no operations, subsidiary, long-term presence or qualifying partnership in any of the three countries should not assume that it qualifies.
However, an African-founded organisation that has established operations or an eligible long-term partnership in one of the target countries could potentially satisfy this part of the requirement, subject to all other criteria.
Climate Adaptation and Food Security Sit at the Centre of the Programme
The programme is particularly concerned with solutions that help vulnerable populations respond to climate-related disruption.
This includes innovations that can:
- Protect food production;
- Improve agricultural resilience;
- Strengthen water security;
- Improve access to climate information;
- Reduce disaster risks;
- Improve early warning;
- Strengthen financial resilience;
- Reduce post-harvest losses;
- Improve resource efficiency.
The broader objective is to help communities adapt to climate change while strengthening food systems and livelihoods.
Evaluation Will Consider Eight Major Areas
Applications will be assessed across several dimensions.
Innovation
How novel and effective is the proposed solution?
Contextual relevance
Does it address a genuine problem in one of the target countries?
Financial sustainability
Can the solution develop a sustainable business or revenue model?
Team capability
Does the team have the expertise and commitment required?
Climate adaptation impact
Will the innovation genuinely improve resilience to climate change?
Long-term impact
Can the solution continue generating benefits beyond the programme?
Environmental and social sustainability
Does the solution respect the Adaptation Fund’s environmental and social principles?
Gender and inclusion
Does the innovation respond to different user needs and promote inclusive participation?
Application Preparation Checklist
Before applying, organisations should have evidence covering:
- Legal registration;
- Presence in the target country;
- Existing innovation;
- Seed-stage development;
- Climate-adaptation relevance;
- Target users;
- Early evidence or impact;
- Team expertise;
- Business/revenue model;
- Scale strategy;
- Gender and inclusion;
- Environmental and social considerations;
- Implementation resources;
- Partnerships.
The application should tell a coherent story from the climate challenge through to the proposed solution and its potential for scale.
AFCIA Application Deadline and Timeline
The current application deadline is:
September 6, 2026 and Closing time: 11:59 p.m. UTC
The official WFP page confirms that only English-language submissions will be accepted.
The expected timeline is:
| Stage | Expected Date |
|---|---|
| Application deadline | September 6, 2026 |
| Selection of successful applicants | November 2026 |
| Innovation bootcamp | January 2027 |
| Sprint programme | Following bootcamp and competitive selection |
| Sprint duration | Nine months |
The Opportunity Is Particularly Relevant to Climate-Tech and Food-System Innovators
AFCIA may be especially suitable for organisations developing solutions around:
- Climate-smart agriculture;
- Agricultural advisory services;
- Weather and climate intelligence;
- Early-warning systems;
- Water management;
- Climate-risk insurance;
- Anticipatory finance;
- Disaster preparedness;
- Post-harvest technology;
- Food-security innovations;
- Climate-resilient supply chains.
However, the solution must still correspond to an eligible country priority.
The Programme Connects Climate Innovation With Inclusive Development
The AFCIA programme goes beyond the technical question of whether a climate solution works.
WFP and the Adaptation Fund are also interested in how innovations affect people and communities.
The programme therefore considers:
- Gender equity;
- Youth engagement;
- Inclusive economic opportunities;
- Community resilience;
- Sustainable practices;
- Local partnerships.
This means applicants should demonstrate not only technological or commercial potential but also social and environmental value.
The Application Process Runs Through the Official WFP Platform
Organisations should approach the application in stages:
Stage 1 — Verify eligibility
Confirm the legal status, country presence and seed-stage requirements.
Stage 2 — Select the appropriate country track
Identify whether the solution is most relevant to Dominican Republic, El Salvador or Peru.
Stage 3 — Match the solution to a priority
Clearly demonstrate how the innovation addresses a listed adaptation challenge.
Stage 4 — Prepare evidence
Present existing results, users, partnerships, prototypes or other evidence showing that the solution is beyond the idea stage.
Stage 5 — Develop the scale strategy
Explain how the solution could reach significantly more users.
Stage 6 — Demonstrate financial sustainability
Explain how the organisation intends to sustain the innovation.
Stage 7 — Address inclusion
Explain how gender, youth and diverse user needs have been incorporated.
Stage 8 — Submit in English
Complete the official online application before the deadline.
Important Clarifications
Although the opportunity may appear alongside scholarships and fellowships on opportunity websites, AFCIA is primarily an innovation and climate programme.
It is therefore most relevant to:
- Startups;
- Social enterprises;
- NGOs;
- Climate innovators;
- Technology companies;
- Development organisations;
- Organisations with tested climate-adaptation solutions.
It is not a university scholarship, and it does not provide tuition fees, monthly student stipends or an academic degree.
Other Scholarships to Try out
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- DAAD Architecture Scholarships in Germany
- University of Miami Scholarships
- McCall MacBain Scholarships
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Programme classification
AFCIA is a climate innovation accelerator, not an academic scholarship.
Implementing organisation
The programme is implemented by the World Food Programme Innovation Accelerator in partnership with the Adaptation Fund.
Target countries
The current call focuses on Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Peru.
Applicant type
Established legal entities including for-profit companies, non-profits, social businesses, NGOs and INGOs can apply.
Innovation stage
The innovation must be at least seed stage.
Idea-stage projects
Idea, research and early pre-seed solutions are not eligible.
Technology requirement
Both low-tech and high-tech solutions are welcome.
Application language
Only English submissions are accepted for this call.
Application deadline
September 6, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. UTC.
Selection
Approximately 10–12 applicants are expected to be selected for the November 2026 stage.
Bootcamp
Selected applicants are expected to participate in an innovation bootcamp in January 2027.
Funding
Funding becomes available through the Sprint programme following the bootcamp and competitive selection; applicants should not interpret the opportunity as an automatic upfront cash grant.
Concluding Observations
The Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator 2027 provides a pathway for established climate innovators to move beyond early experimentation and strengthen solutions designed to help vulnerable communities adapt to climate change.
The opportunity stands out because it combines WFP’s innovation ecosystem, Adaptation Fund partnership, technical support, networking, an innovation bootcamp and a potential nine-month funded Sprint.
However, applicants need to understand the eligibility requirements carefully. The current edition is focused on Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Peru, and applicants need an established presence in at least one of these countries. Their innovation must also have reached at least the seed stage, demonstrate a credible pathway to scale and address a relevant climate-adaptation priority.
For African organisations, the opportunity should therefore not be presented as a grant open to all African countries. Eligibility depends on having the required presence in one of the three implementation countries.
The immediate deadline is:
September 6, 2026 — 11:59 p.m. UTC
Organisations with existing climate, agriculture, food-security, water, early-warning or climate-finance solutions should review the official requirements carefully and ensure that their proposal directly matches the priorities of the country where they intend to operate.
Official programme: WFP Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator
Official application information: Download the WFP AFCIA Call for Applications document
Editorial: The current WFP programme page and UN Innovation Network listing is the source for this proposal grant. The most important clarification is that AFCIA is a staged accelerator: selection for the initial cohort leads to a bootcamp and an opportunity to apply for the subsequently funded Sprint; it is not an automatic fixed cash award for every successful application.
A Travel Consultant dedicated to helping students, job seekers, and professionals discover life-changing opportunities around the world. He holds a Diploma in Human Resource Management, Project Management & Ticketing, Degree in Microbiology, and Master’s in Public Health.