“We believe we can end global hunger with innovation and technology.”
Anyone watching Friday’s WFP Innovation Pitch Event, held on the sidelines of the 60th Munich Security Conference, will understand why Bernhard Kowatsch said this. The Head of the WFP Innovation Accelerator, in the Bavarian capital to showcase solutions disrupting hunger, spoke passionately about the work WFP Innovation is doing through its 20 different accelerators, to support a pipeline of startups that have attracted hundreds of millions of dollars in investment, developing products now benefiting over 60 million people suffering from chronic hunger.
One of them, Bridgefy, was in Munich to pitch a communications app, which works without the internet, to give emergency teams quick access to information, critical in a humanitarian crisis. WFP and Bridgefy are running pilots in five countries, with the aim to expand into other locations worldwide, including South America.
Another of the humanitarian innovations showcased, Rescue Card, is a fintech solution to humanitarian hardships, offering users a quick financial fix: the purchasing power to buy vital resources. And with an additional $600k, Rescue Card says it could reach another one million.
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC), already working with WFP across five locations to pilot forecasting models that speed up displacement response said, that with a little extra investment, it could also expand its work.
Read more about all the teams who pitched in Munich.
Advice to innovators
During a fireside chat at Friday’s event, a panel was asked what advice they had for innovators and Margaret Schmitz from USAID, said: “Put people first in your innovation. Make it an accessible, affordable, environmentally-based design. And remember, ‘99% of success comes from failure’ – so let’s fail together.”
Next steps
Potential investors, as well as startups disrupting hunger, can collaborate with the WFP Innovation team in a variety of ways to help accelerate solutions for ending global hunger.
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