Application Deadline: April 4, 2026
Applications are now open for the 2026 WFP IGNITE Food Systems Challenge. Building on this track record, The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and Impact Hub Kigali (IHK), launched the fourth edition of the IGNITE Challenge. This initiative is part of the five-year partnership between World Food Programme and Mastercard Foundation which supports young women and men in building sustainable livelihoods in agriculture and agribusiness.
Ignite 4.0 supports scalable, innovative ventures within Rwanda’s agrifood value chains, with a strong focus on creating and improving jobs, especially for young women.
By combining targeted grants, tailored technical assistance, market linkages and visibility, the challenge will accelerate up to six growth-stage high-impact ventures to tackle key gaps such as increased production, enhanced post-harvest processes, access to finance opportunities, and access to markets.
Requirements
- The program is looking for Startups, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and cooperatives with commercially viable solutions to strengthen the food system and contribute to job creation and improvement, especially for young women.
While all food systems solutions are invited, solutions addressing the following areas along the agrifood value chain, and enabling young women to participate as entrepreneurs or employees, are particularly encouraged to apply:
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
All applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Business registration: Valid registration/certificate of incorporation and at least 2 years of operation in Rwanda
- Have proof of a revenue-generating business with proven market traction
- Be a team of at least three full-time members dedicated to the startup/SME/cooperative, including the founding team
- At least 50% of the founding and/or senior management team must be from Rwanda/East Africa
- The entity has to have existing key operations in Rwanda
- Be committed to support, provide mentorship and share learnings with peers and Farmer Service Centers (FSCs) participating in the program.
Youth-led businesses, particularly those led by young women are especially encouraged to apply. A business is considered youth-led if the CEO/Managing Director or at least one founder is under 35 years of age at the time of application.
A business is considered to be led by a young woman if a woman under 35 serves as CEO/Managing Director or holds significant decision-making authority as a founder.
Benefits
Funding
Up to $24,000 in equity-free funding per venture
Acceleration support
5 months of curated technical support, coaching and masterclasses to strengthen skills and business gaps.
Investment readiness + Demo Day
Structured investment and pitch preparation and exposure to the ecosystem through a Demo Day platform.
Market linkages + visibility
Connections to investors and key stakeholders, access to community events and collaboration opportunities with Farmer Service Centres (FSCs).
Program Journey
Pre-acceleration Phase
- Bootcamp (3 days): Up to 12 ventures join training with experts/coaches to strengthen skills such as storytelling, leadership, sales, and pitch readiness.
- Pitch session: The bootcamp ends with pitches to shortlist up to 8 ventures.
- Due diligence + proposals: Up to 8 ventures go through on-site due diligence to assess eligibility and program-fit, and submit proposals and budgets for the acceleration phase
Acceleration Phase
Up to 6 ventures are selected for the acceleration journey, which includes:
Technical assistance and funding
- Business diagnostics + scaling plan development
- Tailored technical assistance based on scaling needs
- 1:1 coaching and mentorship
- Thematic masterclasses
- Equity-free funding up to $24,000 per venture, plus guidance to implement the funds and scaling plans
Partnership and ecosystem opportunities
- Networking events and peer-to-peer sessions + connections to potential investors
- Peer mentorship: ventures act as peer mentors to Farmer Service Centres (FSCs), sharing lessons, tools, and insights, and exploring collaboration opportunities.
Demo Day Event
The program ends with a Demo Day to boost visibility and exposure.
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the WFP IGNITE Food Systems Challenge
- Follow us on Google Discover
- Discover more Call for Applications
