Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Entwicklung und Humanitäre Hilfe
Outside view (EN)
The UN World Food Programme Innovation Accelerator is driving transformative solutions toward achieving zero hunger through cutting-edge technologies like blockchain and AI, reaching 61 million people in 2024 alone. A key lesson: empowering local communities through human-centered design is essential for lasting, scalable impact.
Outside view by Bernhard Kowatsch
The World Food Programme’s (WFP) Innovation Accelerator considers several initiatives to be significant contributions to the advancement of the „zero hunger“ goal. These innovations address different aspects of the challenge, from improving supply chain efficiency and digital cash transfers to strengthening smallholder agriculture and enabling real-time decision-making through data.
One impactful initiative is Building Blocks, WFP’s blockchain-based humanitarian payment system. Since 2017, it first operated as blockchain wallet for refugees going into stores to purchase food. Right now, Building Blocks is being used by 65 organizations in Ukraine. It saved 67 million US Dollar in 2024 and 200 million US Dollar between 2022 and 2024 by avoiding potentially duplicate transitions, resulting in these funds to be redirected to assist even more people.
Another innovation is the Farm to Market Alliance (FtMA). This public-private consortium builds resilient food systems by strengthening smallholder farmers‘ access to inputs, services, and structured markets through a network of 2,500 Farmer Service Centres. In 2024 alone, FtMA supported 730,000 smallholder farmers, reaching more than 3.6 million beneficiaries in total. The alliance also pilots innovative methods using technology and new business models to increase smallholder farmers’ incomes sustainably.
SCOUT is another key innovation that improves WFP’s operational efficiency. This AI-driven supply chain optimization tool enables faster, smarter decision-making on procurement, storage, and transport. By avoiding peak prices and long-distance suppliers, SCOUT generated already 2 million US Dollar in savings in its first pilot implementation. It is projected to deliver over 50 million US Dollar in long-term savings. More importantly, SCOUT reduces delivery times and enables WFP to respond more nimbly to emergencies.
In parallel, HungerMap LIVE enhances WFP’s ability to monitor and respond to food insecurity in real time. By integrating data on nutrition, weather, conflict, and economic shocks, HungerMap LIVE shifts humanitarian action from reactive to proactive, enabling smarter, faster, and more targeted interventions.
These innovations each represent a distinct facet of the WFP’s strategy for innovation, which involves harnessing technology, forging strong partnerships, strengthening local resilience, and reshaping the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Together, they drive WFP’s vision of a world with zero hunger.
As we are running 18 impact accelerator programmes this year, and multiples of these over the years, we’ve seen a lot of impactful start-ups positively impact the lives of people across the planet. In 2024 alone, the start-ups and non-profit innovations reached 61 million people. These innovations raised a total of 323 million US Dollar of grant funding between 2015 and 2024 in addition to funding provided by us and in addition to any equity investments.
One common misconception is that start-ups and innovations never reach scale. This misconception usually comes from two root causes:
Another misconception is about knowledge that people engaged with innovations right now compared to years ago when decisions took place. Looking back, it seems like successful innovations would have been obvious from the get-go, but in fact, there is always a level of risk involved. Support mechanisms such as accelerator programmes can help minimise risk, while still supporting the most promising start-ups and innovations.
One of our strongest learnings is that localized innovation must be developed with, not just for, the communities we serve.
That is why human-centered design (HCD) and lean start-up approaches are central to our approach. By developing solutions that solve real problems for people, the innovations are not just theoretically useful, but adapted to create the biggest impact. When communities are part of shaping solutions, they are more invested in their success. This builds ownership, trust, and the capacity to adapt and sustain innovations over time.
Equally important is recognizing that context matters. What succeeds in one setting may require adaptation elsewhere. This is why flexibility, iterative feedback loops, and local leadership are key when scaling localized solutions.
At WFP, we see country offices and regional innovation hubs as engines of innovation, driving adaptation, field-testing, and scaling in close partnership with local stakeholders. Strengthening their innovation capabilities is essential to building sustainable, resilient food systems and humanitarian responses.
In short, field-driven, user-centered, and community-empowering innovation is not a “nice to have” but the foundation for lasting impact.
Bernhard Kowatsch is the Director Global Accelerator and Ventures at the United Nations World Food Programme. Since he created the Global Accelerator in 2015, it has become one of the Worlds biggest impact start-up accelerators offering 18 annual programmes. Prior to starting the Accelerator, Bernhard co-founded the award-winning ShareTheMeal app that crowdsources funding for WFP and has delivered over 268 million meals for hungry children worldwide. His previous experience includes creating WFP’s Business Innovation Unit and working as a Project Leader at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
Inspired by Tom Fletcher’s statement of commitment to the humanitarian community when he resumed his position as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (OCHA) in November 2024, this channel provides expert views and impulses that highlight the current importance of listening, efficiency, outspokenness, and innovation in humanitarian assistance.
