Last Updated on November 1, 2021
Applications for the WFP Digital Health Innovation Accelerator Program 2021 are now open. They are in search of scalable digital solutions using open standards and approaches towards the creation of global goods, with a focus on building and supporting pandemic preparedness capabilities in low- and middle-income countries.
As the COVID-19 vaccination campaign continues globally, the WFP aims to leverage these digital solutions to accelerate the vaccination campaign, thereby maximizing its impact and the recovery of communities and health systems in low- and middle-income countries.
The program will select mature start-ups and solution providers who will receive financial, technical and methodological support from the WFP Innovation Accelerator, and other partners. Together with the brightest and best minds globally, they will be able to support the COVID-19 vaccination campaign.
Benefits
- Funding:Projects will also be considered for the WFP Sprint Program, a six-month acceleration program with access to up to US $250,000 in equity-free funding, mentorship, and access to a global network of relevant partners in the public health space.
- Scaling:Mature innovations that have proven their concepts and value for social impact may qualify for further funding and support.
- Hands-On Support:Selected teams will be invited to participate in a fully virtual WFP Innovation Bootcamp in January 2022.
Eligibility
- Your organization must be an established legal entity (for-profit, non for profit, social enterprise).
- The proposed solution should follow open standards, open-source or open data approaches towards creating global goods (e.g. OSI approved licenses, Creative Commons licenses).
- The developed or implemented solution should use data and information exchange mechanisms based on global standards (e.g. openHIE).
- The applicant organization must have a presence in the country of implementation (country office or other permanent presence, subsidiary, long-term operations, or partnerships in the country, specifically with the relevant Public Health government agencies).
- Your innovation addresses one or more of the priority topics related to building pandemic preparedness in low- and middle-income countries. Your innovation should have a demonstrated proof-of-concept with initial traction and a clear path to scale.
Evaluation Criteria
Your application will be evaluated according to the following 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 they have a diverse, non-discriminatory, gender-balanced 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.
Application
Do you have an innovation that can build pandemic preparedness and accelerate the recovery of communities and health systems in low- and middle-income countries?
For more information, visit WFP.
Deadline: November 21, 2021