WFP & Adaptation Fund Open AFCIA 2027 Applications

Program Overview

The World Food Programme (WFP) and the Adaptation Fund have launched the third edition of the Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA) for Latin America and the Caribbean. The initiative seeks to identify, support and scale innovative solutions that strengthen resilience, improve food security and help vulnerable communities adapt to climate change. The focus is on the three implementation countries: the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Peru.

The program responds to the growing pressure on food systems from extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, storms and rising temperatures. By providing a nine-month sprint, AFCIA offers funding and partnership opportunities to innovators who can demonstrate a clear pathway to scale.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet several criteria:

• The organization must be an established legal entity, whether for-profit, not-for-profit, social business, NGO or INGO.
• The organization must have a presence in one of the three implementation countries. This presence can be a country office, subsidiary, long-term operations or partnerships.
• The innovation must address at least one of the priority areas related to climate adaptation challenges in the chosen country.
• The solution must be at least in the seed stage. Ideas, research or early pre-seed projects are not eligible.
• The proposal should outline a clear plan for implementation during the nine-month sprint, including resources and scalability.
• Applicants should demonstrate a willingness to collaborate with humanitarian stakeholders, build relationships with country offices and engage with local innovation ecosystems.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be judged against the following dimensions:

• Level of innovation - The solution must be novel and strongly aligned with climate adaptation themes.
• Relevance to the context - It should address a priority area, fit at least one of the three country contexts and deliver concrete benefits to end-users or the ecosystem.
• Financial sustainability and scalability - The proposal must present a clear business model and a robust revenue strategy appropriate for its maturity stage.
• Team expertise and capabilities - The team should show proven competence, technical coherence, commitment, motivation, an entrepreneurial mindset and diversity.
• Climate adaptation impact - The solution should enhance resilience, promote sustainable practices, improve resource efficiency and facilitate adaptive measures.
• Level of impact - Evidence of tangible historical and projected impact is required, demonstrating long-term sustainable change beyond the grant period.
• Environmental and social sustainability - The proposal must adhere to the Adaptation Fund’s environmental and social principles.
• Gender and inclusion - The solution must address diverse user needs, enable inclusive participation and decision-making, and use disaggregated data and feedback to inform design and impact.

How to Apply

Innovators with climate solutions that can help communities build resilience and strengthen food security are invited to submit an application by September 6, 2026. The application process is managed by the Adaptation Fund and implemented by WFP. For further details, applicants should visit the AFCIA website.

The Opportunity Desk reports that the program is open to a wide range of sectors and technologies, provided they meet the seed-stage and scalability requirements outlined above. Interested parties should prepare a concise proposal that addresses each evaluation criterion and demonstrates a clear pathway to implementation during the sprint.

The deadline of September 6, 2026, marks the final date for submissions. Early preparation is recommended to ensure compliance with all eligibility and evaluation requirements.