WEP 2023 Digital Green Innovation Acceleration Programme (DGIx)

The Digital Green Innovation Acceleration Programme (DGIx) is a programme by the WFP Innovation Accelerator and the Smart Development Fund (#SDF), and powered by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union (EU). DGIx is in search of high-impact digital ventures and projects solving some of the most pressing environmental challenges in selected countries.

Digital transformation can play a major role in addressing climate change and biodiversity loss in low- and middle-income countries. A “twin transition” approach recognises this large and untapped role of technology and data to drive sustainability: instead of thinking about digitalization (using technology) and sustainability (taking care of the planet) separately, a twin transition strategy believes that these two changes can work together. It states that the technologies that help the environment and the ones that enable digital transformation, can both help us create stronger, more flexible, and better economies.

The DGIx aims to support technology-powered solutions addressing pressing environmental challenges. The programme will select ventures, solution providers and consortiums who will receive financial, technical, and methodological support from the WFP Innovation Accelerator, #SDF, and other partners. Together with the best and brightest minds globally, we will be able to leverage the digital-green synergies to ultimately improve the lives of vulnerable communities.

• Table of Content
• About World Food Programme (WFP)
• Digital Green Innovation Acceleration Programme (DGIx)
• Aim and Benefits of Digital Green Innovation Acceleration Programme (DGIx)
• Requirements for Digital Green Innovation Acceleration Programme (DGIx) Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for Digital Green Innovation Acceleration Programme (DGIx)
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About World Food Programme (WFP)

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Innovation Accelerator sources, supports and scales high-impact innovations to achieve Zero Hunger. Based in Munich, Germany, we provide WFP employees, entrepreneurs and startups with funding, hands-on support and access to WFP’s global operations. Through the Innovation Accelerator, WFP is leveraging unprecedented advances in digital innovation—such as mobile technology, artificial intelligence, big data and blockchain—and new business models to transform the way we serve vulnerable communities across the world. Building on... continue reading

Digital Green Innovation Acceleration Programme (DGIx)

Aim and Benefits of Digital Green Innovation Acceleration Programme (DGIx)

The WFP Innovation Accelerator has a track record of organizing over 45 flagship innovation bootcamps to date, supporting over 395 teams to rapidly refine their innovations, field testing over 120 projects, and bringing disruptive innovations to scale. Join a high-impact network of disruptive innovations that have reached over 37 Million people in 2022 alone. 

The Smart Development Fund #SDF has so far refined, supported, and scaled 8 digital solutions from the global south expanding their impact in 32 countries, partnering with more than 360 institutions from the public, private, and social sector, directly benefiting 1.5 million persons and reaching more than 13 million individuals. 

With a wealth of experience and profound expertise, the WFP Innovation Accelerator and the GIZ programme’s Smart Development Fund #SDF, join their efforts to support digital innovations accelerate their growth and expand their impact globally.

Hands-on support & access to network

The selected ventures and solutions will be invited to participate in a fully virtual 4-day WFP Innovation Bootcamp in early December 2023, and will be invited to attend an in-person pitch event in Kigali, Rwanda, on 30-31st January 2024.

Funding, coaching & mentorship

Selected ventures will be invited to apply to the WFP Sprint Programme – a six-month acceleration program with access to up to US$ 230,000 in equity-free funding, coaching, and mentorship support from a global network of relevant partners in the public health space.

Scaling

Mature solutions that have proven their concept, scale, and value for social impact may qualify for further funding and support

Requirements for Digital Green Innovation Acceleration Programme (DGIx) Qualification

What We Are Looking For

DGIx aims to leverage the aforementioned interconnectedness between digitalisation and climate change by utilising the potential of ventures and consortiums developing digital tools for climate action in the following areas:

• Adaptation: reducing potential damages and vulnerability associated with climate change.
• Mitigation: curbing and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Resilience: anticipating, preparing, and recovering while incurring minimal damages.

Interview date, Process and Venue for Digital Green Innovation Acceleration Programme (DGIx)

Evaluation Criteria

• Impact & Scalability: applicants should have a defined vision, an identified target group, and be able to demonstrate the potential to solve the posed challenge(s).  
• Team: applicants should be able to demonstrate having a diverse, non-discriminatory, and inclusive organization with demonstrated leadership and entrepreneurial mindset. 
• Novelty: applicants should be able to show how their solution and business model are innovative while being technically suitable and viable.
• Traction: applicants should be able to present evidence of feasibility and adoption by the target group. 
• Business Model: applicants should demonstrate the viability of their business model, how they intend to achieve a sustainable business, pricing, and financial model. 

*We reserve the right to adjust eligibility criteria based on the changing context as new information becomes available. 

Application Deadline

How to Apply

• To submit your application, please fill in the Application Form before 24 September 2023 11:59 pm (CET).  
• Or, if you know a relevant venture or solution for us to consider for this programme, please let us know by filling out this Referral Submission Form. 
• An information session will be held on 19 September 2:00 - 3:00 pm (CET) to answer any questions from interested applicants, feel free to register here. 
• We will review and select successful applications to participate in a fully virtual WFP Innovation Bootcamp in December 2023. While we value all applications, we are only able to contact shortlisted applicants.  
• Interested, but don’t feel your idea is ready yet? Don’t let this stop you! You can still send your application as we are creating a pool of solutions with a focus on solving emergency and humanitarian challenges. This pool of solutions could be invited for future programmes.

For more details, visit WEP website.