Apply to receive up to US $50,000 in equity-free funding, mentorship and access to the world’s largest humanitarian organization.
Last year, the United Nations World Food Programme launched its first regional innovation hub in Eastern Africa. Now, the hub is kicking off its flagship WFP IGNITE Food Systems Challenge in partnership with the USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, implemented by Outbox in search of game-changing ventures contributing to stronger, more sustainable food systems Uganda.
30.4 million people are currently facing severe food insecurity in Eastern Africa. The main drivers of high levels of food and nutrition insecurity are conflict/insecurity, climatic shocks, macro-economic instability and COVID-19. This suggests that existing food systems — all elements involved in the production, distribution, consumption, loss or waste of food products that originate from agriculture — are not meeting the needs of all people. We have seen that some food systems can easily be disrupted by climate shocks, COVID-19 and violent conflict. Even in stable environments, people have limited access to nutritious food because of geographic isolation, socioeconomic inequalities, or weak commercial markets.
This challenge celebrates Ugandan entrepreneurs who are thinking outside of the box to redesign regional food systems in service of people and the planet. We are looking for startups, SMEs and cooperatives contributing towards food security in areas such as resilience to shocks and stress, access to safe and nutritious food, optimizing regional food supply chains, empowering smallholder farmers, and advancing food security for all.
Applications can be submitted until 21st May 2022 at 11:59 pm (EAT).
