WFP Innovation BRIDGE provides pioneering loan to Nilus ??

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is partnering with WFP to help innovative zero-hunger solutions access finance. As part of this, UNCDF will provide a local currency loan to Nilus, a food services company, to help them expand their efforts to improve food security in Peru.

This loan will attract more than double its amount in private investments and allow Nilus to grow its operations. By 2028, Nilus aims to reach over 150,000 people through 2,500 community kitchens, government-supported canteens and restaurants for low-income communities in Lima.

The loan is part of the WFP and UNCDF funding facility called WFP Innovation BRIDGE, which is designed to scale innovations that combat hunger. The facility uses low-interest loans and guarantees to make the most of available grant funding to support impact-driven businesses aiming to scale.

Through the WFP Innovation Accelerator Scale-Up Enablement programme, Nilus has worked closely with WFP Peru to pilot its solution in the country. In 2022, we provided funding for Nilus to pilot its business model in Peru, focusing on making healthy diets more affordable through community group buying.

"Our collaboration with Nilus marks a pivotal step in transforming Peru's food systems. Through innovative finance, we are setting a foundation to ensure that those who need it most have access to sustainable solutions", said Alex Robayo, WFP Deputy Country Director in Peru.

Learn more

Meet WFP Innovation

Several WFP innovation videos were showcased at a video exhibition at the UN Headquarters during the UN Action Days and the Summit of the Future. Watch the video below to learn about Innovation at WFP.

Want more updates from WFP Innovation around the world? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Innovation Updates

• SheCan has officially launched in Iraq, aiming to address financial barriers faced by vulnerable populations. By leveraging innovative strategies and technologies, SheCan is paving the way for greater economic independence and stability in communities that need it most.
• At the second edition of Evolving for Impact, our community discussed different ways that the Munich innovation ecosystem can support impactful ventures on their path to scale.
• Supply chain innovations, like Nilus or WFP Supply Chain’s Prisma, reduce inefficiencies and waste, constituting a significant part of the puzzle of reducing food loss and waste globally.
• At the 79th UN General Assembly, we shared our optimism for the future of the UN and global humanitarian operations. WFP is a pioneer and leader in scaling innovative solutions for more efficient and effective operations and sustainably ending hunger through partnerships and innovation. At UNGA, we deepened our connections with several key stakeholders across the world.
• Monitoring, evaluation and learning are critical parts of every innovation journey. We compiled a guide for how to establish baseline and endline surveys to track your progress and demonstrate your impact. ?
• Honorable State Secretary Tobias Gotthardt, Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, joined us in our office and emphasized the pivotal role of Bavaria's thriving startup ecosystem in addressing Zero Hunger.

Stay in touch,

The WFP Innovation Accelerator team