The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and Impact Hub Kigali (IHK), with the support of USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have launched the highly anticipated second edition of the IGNITE Food Systems Challenge in Rwanda worth USD 300,000 to foster home grown innovations to tackle food systems challenges.
The call for applications is open for start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and cooperatives to apply for this innovation challenge from 06 March 2023 to 31 March 2023. Selected ventures will have an opportunity to receive grant funding and acceleration support to address business gaps.
The IGNITE Food Systems Challenge supports the scaling of innovative solutions that address food security challenges in various areas, including resilience to shocks and stress, access to safe and nutritious food, improved food supply chains, the empowerment of smallholder farmers, and the advancement of food security for all. This second edition will support ten ventures with a support of USD 30,000 each in grant funding and four months of curated technical support to address business gaps.
“Piloting, implementing, and scaling innovative ideas lies at the heart of WFP and Impact Hub Kigali’s work. The success of IGNITE phase 1 produced many lessons learned, working as catalysts for new investments and partnerships to improve food systems through innovation. In the second edition, we look forward to capitalizing on the momentum forged in the last edition to continue creating an enabling environment for innovative ideas”. Said Ahmareen Karim, WFP’s acting country director.
IGNITE Food Systems Challenge focuses on increasing national production capacities, enhancing, and streamlining operational efficiency, acquisition of new customers for best innovators, and multiplication of customer segments across the country.
“Following the success of the first edition of the IGNITE Food Systems Challenge, we are excitedly looking forward to onboarding and providing individualized acceleration support to more ventures to scale their impactful solutions” adds Cares Manzi, Managing Director – Impact Hub Kigali.
The first edition of the programme supported six ventures to scale their innovative solutions for a period of six months with tailored technical support and financial support of USD 50,000 to each venture. Ventures increased revenues, all of which materialize their standing and contribution to the strengthening of the wider food system.
The IGNITE Food Systems Challenge second edition will be implemented in Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda and Ethiopia, and is made possible thanks to the generous support of USAID Bureau of Humanitarian Affairs. The initiative comes at a time of deteriorating food insecurity in the region due to the compounding effects of rising conflict, climate change, increasing food prices, natural disasters, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Are you a game-changer in the food systems space? Do you want to transform the food systems in Rwanda? If yes, don’t miss out on this opportunity. APPLY NOW at bit.ly/IGNITEChallenge2.
About the implementing partners
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change.
WFP’s IGNITE Innovation Hub for Eastern Africa was launched in December 2020, with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, to leverage WFP’s brand, public and private partners, deep field access, and expertise to develop, nurture and scale sustainable innovations for increased food security in the region.
Impact Hub Kigali (IHK) is a community-based innovation hub in Kigali, Rwanda, offering a unique ecosystem of resources, inspiration, and collaboration opportunities to grow positive impact. IHK offers a range of innovation and entrepreneurship support initiatives, including incubation and acceleration programmes, bootcamps and challenges. IHK also supports the ecosystem through knowledge sharing platforms and mapping exercises. IHK is part of a large social innovation network in the world with +100 open hubs in over 50 countries. (End)