Innovating Against Hunger: The WFP Innovation Accelerator

In the ten months since joining WFP as Executive Director, I’ve made it a priority to scale-up new, innovative solutions to the global hunger crisis. The last years have shown us that humanitarian budgets are not keeping up with rising humanitarian needs, and we need to make sure every dollar is used efficiently to get people vital food wherever they are.

Innovation has never been more important than right now. Business as usual is not enough. We must use the best innovations and technologies to help hungry people – whether this makes WFP operations more efficient and effective or whether we partner with other organizations.

Innovation is in WFP’s DNA.

For the past 60 years, WFP has been transforming the way to support people in emergencies. From the days our teams used email over VHF radio, to today, where we use AI to improve our supply chains, and satellite and mobile technologies to monitor food insecurity in vulnerable populations – WFP has always been pushing the envelope to deliver in places many thought impossible.

Carrying this torch, the WFP Innovation Accelerator launched in 2015 to identify, support and scale high-impact innovations, connecting and enabling WFP innovators and external startups and companies with our global field offices. What started as our global innovation team for WFP only has now expanded to run a total of 20 innovation accelerator programs across the humanitarian and development ecosystem.

In 2023, its portfolio, comprising over 70 active innovations and 66 alumni innovation initiatives, reached over 60 million individuals across 70 countries and territories. For example, Optimus, a WFP big data and analytics solution that optimizes supply chain and food basket design, has achieved cost savings of USD $50 million since its inception and WFP’s crowdfunding app, ShareTheMeal, has enabled the sharing of over 200 million meals by more than 1 million users worldwide at just USD 0.80 per meal with a simple tap. It was named one of the Best Apps of 2020 by Google and Apple.

While in Munich, I was pleased to officially inaugurate the new WFP Global Innovation Accelerator office together with long-standing partners from Bavaria, Germany, USA and many others. This will be the new home to the 79 innovators coming from 35 different nations, nearly 70 percent of whom are women.

WFP also organized an official Munich Security Conference side event – the WFP Innovation Accelerator Pitch event. It was inspiring to see the optimism and hope of everyone there. But above all, the pitches showcased the next generation of innovations that will help WFP and the humanitarian system be more efficient, more effective, and reduce humanitarian needs in the future.

There were pitches from innovators all over the globe, working in different environments, and looking to solve problems that range from cash flow with a blockchain cash payments network, to improved crop yields with an all-natural pesticide.

One of the most technically advanced innovations highlighted was the Autonomous Humanitarian Emergency Aid Devices – or AHEAD vehicle – designed to help deliver payloads of aid supplies safely to dangerous, last-mile locations using remote-controlled technology. On my mission to South Sudan last year I was able to see how WFP already uses All-Terrain Vehicles to access hard-to-reach areas for humanitarians. The German Aerospace Center is developing driverless vehicles using DLR space technology for WFP and other humanitarian actors, minimizing the risk to humanitarians delivering food. This is just an example of how innovation and technology could help transform the delivery of assistance, ensuring it reaches the right people at the right time. It showcases the potential of science and technology to transform humanitarian aid, including the use of autonomous vehicles to reach those in greatest need.

It was equally inspiring to see solutions led by and designed for women take center stage, such as Toothpick, which has developed a bio-herbicide technology for small-holder farmers that helps kill Striga, a parasitic weed affecting farms across sub-Saharan Africa. For WFP, it is just as important that we help people grow their own food in sustainable ways for the community as it is that we deliver food when there are no other options. Innovations like this mean that time and resources are not wasted on crops that ultimately will not be able to sustain a community.

Another is Rescue Card/Zinli, originating from Latin America and the Caribbean region, which simplifies access to help and financial services during difficult times, addressing the challenge of distributing aid efficiently in crises. Prepositioning these cards in areas that may be prone to natural disasters or humanitarian emergencies can significantly improve response times and support the affected populations more effectively.

I also had the opportunity to acknowledge the support of the Bavarian Government, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO) and the Bavarian State Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Tourism. Without their long-standing multi-year partnership, the establishment of the global WFP Innovation Accelerator would not have been possible.

As conflict and climate crises reach critical levels, hunger remains at record levels. Currently, about 333 million people are acutely hungry, all while funding is falling back to pre-COVID levels.

That is why innovation is not just a buzzword for us at WFP – it is a lifeline for millions of people who do not know when or if their next meal will come. With each new technology, strategy, or partnership, we are not only adapting to the evolving landscape of humanitarian aid but also staying true to our commitment to leave no one behind.

Looking ahead, WFP remains laser-focused on fostering collaboration, nurturing creativity, and scaling up impactful innovations. Whether it's leveraging blockchain for transparent food distribution, harnessing drones for rapid assessments in hard-to-reach areas or utilizing artificial intelligence to predict and prevent food crises, the possibilities are endless.

But we cannot do this alone. We need the support of like-minded individuals, organizations, and governments who share our vision of a world where no one goes to bed hungry.

I want to thank everyone who supports WFP’s vital mission – and our global Innovation Accelerator here in Munich. Let's innovate, let's collaborate.  Together, we can turn the tide against hunger and build a future where innovation ensures food security for all.

Cindy McCain