AFCIA Program Launched to Reinforce Food Security in Nepal

In collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Environment, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) launched an Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA) in a bid to reinforce climate resilience and food security in Nepal.

The programme supports local startups to pilot and scale solutions across the food system, including solar-powered irrigation and clean energy solutions, digital advisory platforms for farmers, satellite-based insurance and climate data tools and market and value chain innovations for smallholders, according to a press release issued by WFP.

Assisting communities to better adapt to rising climate risks, including floods, droughts, heat waves and extreme weather is aimed by this undertaking, which further expects to minimize threats of climate change to lives, livelihoods and food systems across the country.

As part of the global AFCIA programme, WFP had launched an open call for applications in September 2025, receiving 278 applications. Four startups from Nepal -aQysta Nepal, DV Excellus, Gham Power and PlantSat -were selected as finalists and participated in an innovation bootcamp in Munich in January 2026.

With the programme now entering its in-country implementation, it will receive technical support, mentorship and funding to test and refine solutions with strong potential for impact and scalability.

“Innovation plays a critical role in helping communities adapt to the unprecedented challenges posed by climate shocks,” said WFP Nepal Country Director, Riaz Lodhi, adding, “By supporting local solutions and strengthening partnerships, we can build more resilient food systems and safeguard livelihoods across Nepal.”

Representatives from government, development partners, academia and the private sector attended the event on it in the federal capital on Monday. They explored pathways for amplifying climate-smart solutions nationwide.

The discussions focused on reinforcing collaboration, leveraging investment, and speeding up transition from pilot projects to large-scale impact. Secretary at Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Environment, Dr Govinda Prasad Sharma, observed, “The Government of Nepal recognizes urgency to augment climate adaptation solutions that are locally relevant and sustainable.

Through partnerships with WFP, we aim to empower innovators and strengthen resilience across our agricultural systems and vulnerable communities.” The AFCIA programme adopts a wide-ranging approach across the food system – from natural resource management and agricultural production to distribution and consumption.

It has aimed at strengthening local capacity, fostering partnerships and bridging gaps between current practices and climate-resilient outcomes in line with global development goals, including Zero Hunger (SDG 2).

On the occasion, British Ambassador to Nepal, Rob Fenn, “Nepal presents a unique opportunity as a living laboratory for climate adaptation and innovation. Across its diverse landscapes – from high mountain communities to smallholder farming systems – we see how local knowledge and ingenuity, combined with targeted investment, can drive transformative change. Initiatives like AFCIA demonstrate the power of partnership in scaling these solutions.”

Universities, research institutions and innovators globally could to engage with Nepal, he suggested. The AFCIA programme is a part of broader global effort supported by the Adaptation Fund to accelerate innovation and support communities most vulnerable to climate impacts. (RSS)