Impact Hub Kigali, in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP), will extend its support to the third edition of the IGNITE Food Systems Challenge: Empowering Refugee Communities in Rwanda, with a primary focus on empowering refugees and addressing their livelihood needs. This initiative seeks to foster entrepreneurship and investment in ventures that enhance food systems, combat hunger, and elevate food security, with a particular emphasis on serving refugee populations.
Table of Content- Impact Hub/WFP IGNITE Food Systems Challenge
- Benefits of Impact Hub/WFP IGNITE Food Systems Challenge
- Requirements for Impact Hub/WFP IGNITE Food Systems Challenge
- Selection Process
- Application Deadline
- How to Apply
Impact Hub/WFP IGNITE Food Systems Challenge
| Application Deadline | June 23, 2024 |
| Value | USD 25,000 |
| Country to study | Rwanda |
| Type | Entrepreneurs |
| Sponsor | Impact Hub |
| Gender | Men and Women |
Benefits of Impact Hub/WFP IGNITE Food Systems Challenge
Selected ventures will have access to the following benefits that will support them to scale their businesses:
- Up to $25,000 in grant funding
- 5-month tailored technical support with experts
- Networking opportunities and access to events
- Access to market and industry resources
- Exposure to potential investors and funding opportunities
Requirements for Impact Hub/WFP IGNITE Food Systems Challenge
We are seeking dynamic and impactful businesses—including startups, MSMEs, and cooperatives—operating in Rwanda to participate in our program. Applicants with commercially viable solutions aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of refugees are invited to apply. Eligible businesses must be registered in Rwanda and actively engaged in operations that are either owned by refugees or significantly benefit refugees.
- Refugee Empowerment and Livelihood Solutions
- Food Systems Innovations to Benefit Refugee Communities
- Leveraging Digitization to Improve Refugees’ Access to Food and Resources
- Facilitating Access to Financial Resources and Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Refugees
- Enhancing Refugees’ Access to Employment Opportunities and Markets
- Infrastructure Development to Support Refugee Settlements and Communities
- Providing Training and Skills Development Programs Tailored to Refugee Needs
- Promoting Social Enterprise and Cooperative Models to Benefit Refugee Entrepreneurs
Non-Refugee-Owned Businesses
- The business must directly impact refugees in Rwanda or seek to enhance the livelihoods of refugees.
- Must be a registered business in Rwanda with at least 2 years of operations.
- Provision of RDB/RCA certificate
- Must have a team of at least two full-time members dedicated to the MSME or cooperative, including the founding team.
- At least 50% of the founding or senior management team must be Rwandan.
- Must have proof of revenues of at least RWF 5,000,000 for the full year of 2023.
- Must have existing key operations in Rwanda.
Refugee-Owned Businesses
- The refugee owner must be registered in Rwanda
- Must be a registered business in Rwanda with at least 1 year of operations.
- Provision of RDB/RCA certificate
- Must have a team of at least two full-time members dedicated to the MSME or cooperative, including the founding team.
- Must have proof of revenues of at least RWF 2,000,000 for the full year of 2023.
- Must have existing key operations in Rwanda
Selection Process
The evaluation process for the IGNITE Food Systems Challenge (Second Edition) will be based on the following criteria:
- Level of innovation: The solution solves a food challenge in an innovative way
- Impact: the solution has a strong impact on strengthening food systems
- Financial sustainability: the venture has a clear business model and is financially sustainable
- Level of traction: the venture shows traction and demonstrates impact already
- Scalability: the venture has a strong potential to be scaled up
- Team: The team combines the right experience and demonstrates commitment to scale the solution
Applications are reviewed by WFP, our implementing partners, and external experts. While we welcome applicants working across all stages of the food systems, preference will be given to those who already show traction and market validation to support their growth.