Applications are NOW OPEN for the second edition of the IGNITE Food Systems Challenge in Rwanda.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and Impact Hub Kigali (IHK), with the support of USAID Bureau of Humanitarian Affairs (BHA) and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are looking for solutions in Rwanda that address food insecurity through strengthening food systems. The IGNITE Food Systems Challenge supports the scaling of innovative Startups, MSMEs, and cooperatives with commercially viable solutions to address gaps in the food system. Each selected venture will receive up to $30,000 in grant funding & 4 months curated technical support to address business gaps.
Applications are open from 06 March to 31 March 2023 at 11:59 pm(CAT)
What The Program Offers
Selected ventures will have access to the following benefits that will support them to implement their locally-driven solutions that strengthen food systems.
Funding: Up to $30,000 in equity-free funding per venture
Acceleration support: 4 months of curated technical support to strengthen your skills and address business gaps. Receive a tailored curriculum and connect directly with experts and mentors
Networking and exposure: connections to potential investors and leverage WFP’s strong network of public, private, and government partners.
Who Are We Looking For?
We are looking for Startups, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and cooperatives with commercially viable solutions to strengthen the food system.
While all food systems solutions are invited to apply, solutions that address the following areas are particularly encouraged to apply:
Gender Transformative Food Systems: Food systems solutions that aim to empower women, through employment opportunities or business impact.
Circular Economy Solutions: Solutions that help reduce the environmental impact of the food system, promote greater resource efficiency, and support a more sustainable and resilient food system.
Eligibility Criteria
Your entity must possess a valid registration/certificate of incorporation for operating in Rwanda and at least 1 year of operation
Have proof of a revenue-generating business (total turnover in the case of cooperatives) of at least the equivalent of USD 5,000 for the full year of 2022
Be a team of at least three full-time members dedicated to the MSME/cooperative, including the founding team
At least 50% of your founding and/or senior management team must be from Rwanda/East Africa
The entity must have existing key operations in Rwanda
If you meet these requirements, we encourage you to join us in this exciting initiative and apply today. Businesses and co-operatives that are women-led and/or have taken demonstrated action towards promoting women in their supply chain are especially encouraged to apply.
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