The Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA) 2026, implemented by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Innovation Accelerator in partnership with the Adaptation Fund, is inviting organizations with innovative climate adaptation solutions to apply for support to strengthen resilience, improve food security and help vulnerable communities respond to climate change.

The opportunity is particularly focused on Latin America and the Caribbean, with this edition seeking solutions that can be implemented in or have strong potential for implementation in the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Peru.

Applications are open to established organizations developing solutions that address pressing climate adaptation challenges, including climate-smart agriculture, early warning systems, climate information, disaster risk management, water management, climate-risk financing and post-harvest losses.

Application deadline: 6 September 2026 at 11:59 p.m. UTC.

What Is the Main Goal of the Programme?

The AFCIA programme aims to support innovations that can contribute to a more resilient and sustainable future for communities facing climate-related challenges.

The programme seeks to:

1. Strengthen climate adaptation and resilience.
2. Improve food security.
3. Support vulnerable and climate-affected communities.
4. Promote gender equity and inclusion.
5. Create inclusive economic opportunities.
6. Engage young people in climate adaptation.
7. Encourage collaboration between innovators and humanitarian organizations.
8. Expand knowledge and learning around climate adaptation.
9. Support solutions with potential for large-scale implementation.
10. Promote sustainable and locally relevant approaches to climate resilience.

Rather than focusing only on ideas at an early conceptual stage, the programme is seeking innovations that have already progressed beyond the idea or early pre-seed phase and have a credible pathway toward implementation and scale.

What Types of Innovations Is WFP Looking For?

The programme is open to both low-tech and high-tech solutions.

This means applicants do not necessarily need to have developed sophisticated or highly technical technologies. What matters is whether the innovation provides a meaningful, scalable and sustainable response to a clearly identified climate adaptation challenge.

Potential solutions may involve:

• Digital technologies
• Climate information systems
• Agricultural technologies
• Early-warning systems
• Financing mechanisms
• Water-management approaches
• Climate-smart agriculture
• Disaster-risk management
• Food-system innovations
• Market intelligence
• Communication technologies
• Community-based approaches
• Humanitarian innovations
• Environmental solutions
• Business-model innovations

The most important consideration is whether the proposed solution addresses a relevant climate adaptation problem and has credible potential for impact and scale.

Who Can Apply?

The opportunity is designed for established legal entities, rather than individual applicants.

Eligible organizations may include:

• For-profit companies
• Non-profit organizations
• Social businesses
• NGOs
• International NGOs
• Other established legal entities

An organization must also have a presence in at least one of the three countries of implementation: Dominican Republic, El Salvador or Peru.

This presence could include:

• A country office
• A permanent operational presence
• A subsidiary
• Long-term operations
• An established partnership in the country

Organizations from outside the three countries may therefore be relevant if they have an appropriate and established presence or partnership structure in one of the target countries.

Key Eligibility Requirements

Applicants should carefully review the eligibility requirements before applying.

The innovation must:

1. Be submitted by an established legal entity

The applicant must be an established organization such as a company, NGO, social business or other legally recognized entity.

2. Have a presence in a target country

The organization should have an established presence in:

• Dominican Republic
• El Salvador
• Peru

3. Address a relevant climate adaptation challenge

The innovation must respond to at least one of the priority areas identified for the country where it will be implemented.

4. Be beyond the idea stage

The innovation must be at least at the seed stage.

Solutions that are still only ideas, research concepts or at the early pre-seed stage are not eligible.

5. Have potential for scale

Applicants should demonstrate a clear pathway for expanding their solution beyond a small pilot.

6. Have adequate resources

The organization must have sufficient resources and capabilities to implement the proposed activities during the nine-month Sprint programme using the available funding.

7. Demonstrate willingness to collaborate

Applicants are expected to have strong intentions to:

• Collaborate with relevant humanitarian stakeholders
• Develop relationships with WFP country offices
• Engage with local innovation ecosystems
• Work with relevant partners

How Will Innovations Be Evaluated?

Eligible applications will be assessed against several important criteria.

1. Level of Innovation

The proposed solution should demonstrate genuine innovation and respond effectively to climate adaptation challenges within the identified thematic areas.

WFP will consider how novel and innovative the solution is and whether it offers a meaningful improvement over existing approaches.

2. Relevance to the Local Context

The solution must be relevant to at least one of the target countries and its identified climate adaptation priorities.

Applicants should demonstrate:

• A clear understanding of the problem
• The relevance of the solution
• The needs of intended users
• How the innovation fits the local ecosystem
• The practical value of the solution

3. Financial Sustainability and Scalability

A strong application should demonstrate that the innovation can become financially sustainable.

Applicants should be able to explain:

• How the solution generates or can generate sustainable revenue
• How it can continue beyond programme support
• What its business model looks like
• How the solution can grow
• What resources will be required for expansion

Scalability is an important part of the opportunity because the programme is looking for innovations capable of generating meaningful impact beyond a limited pilot.

4. Team Expertise and Capabilities

The strength of the team will also be considered.

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Relevant technical expertise
• Entrepreneurial capabilities
• Commitment
• Motivation
• Ability to implement the proposed solution
• Technical coherence
• Appropriate leadership
• Diverse and inclusive team composition

A strong solution must be supported by a team capable of turning the proposed innovation into measurable results.

5. Climate Adaptation

The innovation should make a meaningful contribution to climate adaptation.

This could involve:

• Increasing resilience to climate impacts
• Improving resource efficiency
• Promoting sustainable practices
• Helping communities prepare for climate-related shocks
• Supporting adaptive decision-making
• Reducing vulnerability to climate risks

6. Level of Impact

Applicants should provide evidence of the solution’s actual or potential impact.

WFP will consider whether the innovation can produce:

• Tangible results
• Sustainable improvements
• Long-term benefits
• Meaningful climate adaptation outcomes
• Improvements that can extend beyond the grant or programme period

Historical evidence of impact can strengthen an application, particularly where the innovation has already been tested.

7. Environmental and Social Sustainability

Solutions must align with the environmental and social principles of the Adaptation Fund.

Applicants should therefore consider the broader environmental and social implications of their proposed innovation.

8. Gender and Inclusion

Gender equality and inclusion are important components of the programme.

Applicants should demonstrate how their solution:

• Addresses diverse user needs
• Promotes inclusive participation
• Supports inclusive decision-making
• Uses disaggregated data where appropriate
• Incorporates feedback from different user groups
• Considers the needs of populations that may be disproportionately affected by climate change

Application Process

Interested organizations should first carefully review the official call for applications and eligibility requirements.

The application process involves completing the online application form and providing information about the organization, the innovation, the problem being addressed, the target market or users, the solution’s impact and its potential for scale.

Official WFP AFCIA Call for Applications – English

Applications must be submitted through the official application platform.

AFCIA 2026 Application Form

The source information states that only English-language submissions will be accepted.

Important Application Deadline

The deadline stated for the 2026 AFCIA call is:

6 September 2026 at 11:59 p.m. UTC.

Applicants should avoid waiting until the final hours to submit their applications. Organizations should allow sufficient time to review the eligibility requirements, develop their responses and ensure that all information submitted is accurate and complete.

Important note: The supplied source contains a typographical error in one instance, displaying the year as “20265”; elsewhere on the same source it clearly identifies the deadline as 6 September 2026. The article therefore uses 2026 as the deadline year.

What Happens After Applications Are Submitted?

According to the programme information, WFP plans to review applications and select approximately 10 to 12 successful applications in November 2026.

Selected organizations will then be invited to an innovation bootcamp in January 2027.

The process can be understood in stages:

Stage 1: Application

Organizations submit their innovation through the online application form by the September deadline.

Stage 2: Evaluation

Applications are reviewed against the programme’s eligibility requirements and evaluation criteria.

Stage 3: Selection

Approximately 10–12 successful applicants are expected to be selected.

Stage 4: Innovation Bootcamp

Selected innovators will be invited to participate in the bootcamp scheduled for January 2027.

Stage 5: Sprint Programme

Following the bootcamp, participating teams will have the opportunity to apply for the Sprint programme.

Stage 6: Funding and Tailored Support

Teams selected for the Sprint programme can receive funding and tailored support from the WFP Innovation Accelerator to help implement, test or scale their solutions.

It is therefore important to understand that submitting the initial AFCIA application does not automatically mean receiving Sprint funding. The programme describes a competitive process involving application, selection, bootcamp participation and a subsequent opportunity to apply for the Sprint programme.

What Is the AFCIA Sprint Programme?

The Sprint is designed as a structured support programme for selected innovators.

During a Sprint, innovators receive support aimed at helping them:

• Implement their solutions
• Test key assumptions
• Validate their approaches
• Expand their activities
• Strengthen their impact
• Work toward scaling their innovations

The WFP Innovation Accelerator provides tailored support to help innovations move from promising concepts and solutions toward practical implementation and greater impact.

Examples of Relevant Innovation Areas

Depending on the target country, organizations working in the following areas may find the opportunity particularly relevant:

• Climate-smart agriculture
• Agricultural advisory services
• Early warning systems
• Climate information
• Disaster risk management
• Water management
• Climate-risk financing
• Anticipatory action
• Food-system resilience
• Post-harvest loss reduction
• Market intelligence
• Climate-risk communication
• Digital climate services
• Resource-efficient technologies
• Community resilience
• Humanitarian technology

However, applicants should consult the official call for applications to determine whether their particular solution falls within the priority areas for the country in which they intend to implement it.

Key Dates and Programme Timeline

The programme information indicates that the Sprint implementation period will involve a nine-month Sprint, with available funding and tailored support for selected innovations.

Language of Application

The current application information states that only applications submitted in English will be accepted.

Applicants should therefore prepare their application materials and responses in English.

A Spanish version of the call is also available for reference.

Official WFP AFCIA Call for Applications – Spanish

Which countries are covered by this edition?

The three countries specifically identified are:

• Dominican Republic
• El Salvador
• Peru

What is the deadline?

The stated deadline is 6 September 2026 at 11:59 p.m. UTC.

Will every applicant receive funding?

No. The programme describes a competitive selection process. Selected applicants will be invited to the innovation bootcamp, after which teams have an opportunity to apply for the Sprint programme and associated funding.

When will successful applications be announced?

The programme information indicates that approximately 10–12 successful applications are expected to be selected in November 2026.

When is the bootcamp?

The innovation bootcamp is scheduled for January 2027.

Are both technology and non-technology solutions eligible?

The call specifically states that WFP is looking for both low-tech and high-tech solutions.

Click HERE to read more.

How to Apply

Organizations interested in the Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator should begin by reviewing the official English call for applications and the eligibility requirements.

Read the Official AFCIA 2026 Call for Applications

After confirming eligibility, applicants can complete the official online application form:

Apply to the AFCIA 2026 Programme

Applicants should submit their application before 6 September 2026 at 11:59 p.m. UTC.

APPLY HERE

Conclusion

The Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator 2026 represents an important opportunity for established organizations developing practical climate adaptation solutions with potential to improve resilience, food security and livelihoods.

Through its partnership with the Adaptation Fund, the WFP Innovation Accelerator is seeking innovations that go beyond ideas and demonstrate evidence of development, relevance to real-world climate challenges, potential for scale and the capacity to create sustainable impact.

The current call focuses on the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Peru, with priority areas ranging from climate-smart agriculture and disaster risk management to early-warning systems, climate information, water management, climate-risk financing and post-harvest loss reduction.

Organizations that meet the eligibility requirements should carefully assess their solution against the programme’s evaluation criteria, particularly innovation, contextual relevance, scalability, financial sustainability, team capability, climate adaptation, impact, environmental and social sustainability, and gender and inclusion.

With the application deadline set for 6 September 2026 at 11:59 p.m. UTC, eligible organizations should begin preparing their applications early and ensure that their proposed innovation clearly demonstrates both its existing potential and its pathway toward larger-scale climate adaptation impact.

Click HERE for more Grant opportunities.