Apply Now: Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator

Deadline: 06-Sep-2026

The Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA) supports innovative organizations developing solutions that strengthen climate resilience and food security in the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, and Peru. The programme is implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP) in partnership with the Adaptation Fund and supports both low-tech and high-tech innovations that help vulnerable communities adapt to climate change. The third AFCIA edition in Latin America and the Caribbean focuses on innovations in areas including climate-smart agriculture, localized climate information, early warning systems, disaster risk management, water management, post-harvest loss reduction, market intelligence, and climate risk financing. Eligible applicants must be established legal entities with a presence in at least one target country, and their innovations must have reached at least the seed stage with a credible pathway to scale. What Is the Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator? The Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA) is designed to identify, support, and scale innovative solutions that help vulnerable communities respond to climate change. The initiative recognizes that climate change is affecting food systems, livelihoods, water resources, and community resilience across Latin America and the Caribbean. AFCIA therefore supports innovators developing practical solutions that can: Extreme weather events and environmental degradation are putting increasing pressure on food systems and vulnerable communities.

Climate-related challenges can include:

Drought. Flooding. Extreme weather. Agricultural losses. Water insecurity. Food supply disruptions. Post-harvest losses. Damage to livelihoods. Limited access to climate information. Innovative technologies and locally relevant approaches can help communities anticipate these risks and adapt more effectively. AFCIA aims to bridge the gap between innovation and practical climate adaptation, particularly for communities vulnerable to climate and food-security risks. Which Countries Are Eligible? The third AFCIA edition in Latin America and the Caribbean focuses on three countries: Applicants must have a presence in at least one of these target countries. What Types of Innovations Are Supported? AFCIA welcomes both low-tech and high-tech innovations. The programme covers a broad range of climate adaptation and food-security solutions. Climate-Responsive Support and Delivery Innovations can improve how climate-responsive assistance and services are designed and delivered to vulnerable populations. Potential solutions may help organizations: Identify people exposed to climate risks. Improve delivery of support. Respond more effectively to climate-related emergencies. Make assistance more responsive to local conditions. Localized Climate Information Climate information can help farmers, communities, humanitarian organizations, and decision-makers understand and respond to changing climate conditions.

Innovations may focus on:

Local climate information. Climate forecasts. Community-level climate data. Decision-support tools. Climate information services. Hazard Monitoring Solutions can help monitor climate and environmental hazards before they cause major damage. Other eligible legal entities that meet the programme requirements. The organization must be legally established and demonstrate a presence in at least one of the eligible countries. What Stage Must the Innovation Be At? The proposed innovation must be at least at the seed stage. This means the programme is intended for solutions that have moved beyond the earliest idea stage and have some basis for further development, testing, or scaling.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate:

The innovation already exists in a meaningful form. The problem being addressed is clearly defined. The solution has potential to benefit vulnerable communities. There is evidence supporting the proposed approach. The organization has a credible plan for further implementation. What Does “Pathway to Scale” Mean? A pathway to scale is a clear strategy for expanding an innovation so that it can reach more users, communities, markets, or locations.

Applicants should explain:

Who currently uses the innovation. Where it is currently being implemented. What evidence demonstrates its potential. What needs to happen for expansion. Which partners could support scaling. How the solution can remain financially or operationally sustainable. How the innovation could reach additional vulnerable communities. A strong application should demonstrate that scaling is realistic rather than simply stating that the innovation has “high potential.” What Is the Nine-Month Sprint Programme? Selected innovators are expected to implement their proposed plans during a nine-month sprint programme. The sprint approach emphasizes focused implementation and measurable progress within a defined period. Applicants should therefore develop a realistic nine-month plan that identifies: Applicants are expected to collaborate with humanitarian stakeholders. This collaboration can help ensure that innovations respond to real operational challenges faced by vulnerable communities.

Potential partners may include:

Humanitarian organizations. Local institutions. Community organizations. Government actors. Development organizations. Food-system stakeholders. Climate adaptation practitioners. Applicants should explain how these partnerships will contribute to implementation and impact. Engagement With Local Innovation Ecosystems AFCIA also expects innovators to engage with local innovation ecosystems.

This can help applicants:

Access local expertise. Develop partnerships. Understand local needs. Test solutions. Connect with potential users. Identify scaling opportunities. Strengthen sustainability. Local ecosystem engagement is particularly important because climate adaptation solutions need to reflect local environmen