AI-Focused Humanitarian Innovations Take Center Stage at Bay Area Pitch Event Co-Hosted by United Nations World Food Programme Innovation Accelerator and World Food Program USA at Google’s Campus

10 teams presented their cutting-edge technological innovations designed to tackle global hunger and improve humanitarian response

Mountain View, CA (June 13, 2024) – Today, 10 international teams — comprising the brightest minds in computer science, data analytics and economics — presented their innovations for eradicating hunger during a pitch event hosted by the United Nations World Food Programme Innovation Accelerator and World Food Program USA at Google’s campus. As 309 million people face acute hunger and 45 million face emergency levels of hunger, combating hunger requires strategic partnerships as well as developing, funding and scaling cutting-edge advances. The innovations presented today leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, cloud computing and data analytics to improve and expedite WFP’s supply chain efficiency, emergency coordination, data collection and even school meal delivery.

“This program serves as a reminder that the future of humanitarian response lies in strategic partnerships. Today, we saw how AI, machine learning, cloud computing and data analytics can revolutionize our efforts. With 309 million people facing acute hunger, the funding and pro bono support from organizations like Google are not just beneficial but essential. Through such support, we can develop, fund and scale innovations, ensuring a more efficient and effective response to the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges,” said Bernhard Kowatsch, Head of the WFP Innovation Accelerator.

“Google.org is excited to continue our support for WFP through this most recent grant and pro bono support for WFP’s Innovation Accelerator, and World Food Program USA. We are already seeing the ways that AI and advanced technology can help create positive impact and are hopeful that the innovative approaches supported will ultimately help WFP move the needle in eradicating hunger,” said Brigitte Hoyer Gosselink, Director of Product Impact, Google.org.

In August 2023, Google.org made a $2.8 million grant to World Food Program USA in support of the WFP Innovation Accelerator. Google provided pro bono support to assist WFP with designing a groundbreaking acceleration program, the WFP Humanitarian Ventures Accelerator, aimed at advancing and scaling 10 ventures to enhance hunger-relief response. WFP selected and funded 10 teams in January 2024 to build, scale and pilot test their solutions for six months in several of the 120 countries and territories that WFP serves, including Afghanistan, Haiti, Yemen, Somalia and Ukraine. Teams worked closely with WFP’s innovation consultants and received support from Google mentors to build their solutions and scale their impact. Today’s pitchers showcased the progress that the following groundbreaking innovations achieved:

1. DARTS (Data Assurance and Reconciliation Tool Simplified) is a web app that uses machine learning to equip WFP field staff to ensure accurate distributions by verifying that people received their assistance.

2. ETC Chatbot establishes a line of information and communication between humanitarian organizations and affected populations, ensuring easy access to critical information, offering continuous crisis assistance and facilitating coordinated emergency responses among humanitarian actors.

3. GeoTar is a user-friendly geospatial vulnerability profiling and targeting tool that reduces reliance on manually collected household data, especially in contexts where such data are scarce and hard to collect.

4. SCOUT models WFP’s supply chain for smarter sourcing and delivery decisions.

5. ML 4 AA (Machine Learning for Anticipatory Action) is an anticipatory action tool that uses AI to improve predictions of drought risk and to expedite early warnings and assistance.

6. Prisma is an operational “control tower” that boosts operational efficiency with advanced analytics for supply and risk management.

7. R2C2 (Rapid Response Connectivity Carrier) enhances emergency coordination with a tethered drone that becomes a 90-meter high communications tower able to stay aloft 24/7.

8. Route the Meals applies mathematical models to optimize delivery routes, storage and distribution systems for school meals.

9. SHAPES (Shock and Assistance Platform for Economic Simulations) is a tool that simulates crisis effects on families and suggests appropriate resources to optimize aid effectiveness.

10. UN AI Booking Hub is an AI powered mission planning tool providing shortest route itinerary suggestions, to save precious time for aid workers and boost resource efficiency..

“Today’s showcase highlighted the transformative potential of advanced technologies in the fight against global hunger,” said Dorota Amin, Chief Philanthropy and Partnerships Officer at World Food Program USA. “The innovations presented demonstrate how AI and machine learning can revolutionize our humanitarian response, improving efficiency and effectiveness. We are deeply grateful for Google’s support, which is enabling WFP to develop, fund, and scale game-changing innovations that disrupt hunger worldwide.”

Building on WFP’s legacy of innovation, the WFP Innovation Accelerator was launched in 2015 to source new ideas, sprint pilot projects, and scale high-impact innovations by connecting them with WFP’s global network in over 120 countries and territories. From its base in Munich, Germany, the WFP Innovation Accelerator has grown to become one of the world’s leading social impact startup accelerators. Since 2015, the WFP Innovation Accelerator has raised over $295 million in grant funding and organized 56 bootcamps, supporting 497 teams. In 2023 — together with its network of WFP regional innovation hubs, country office innovation teams, and portfolio ventures — the accelerator ran 14 programs addressing a wide range of social impact and sustainability issues, including climate change, primary healthcare, women’s equality, and emergency response. These programs impacted more than 60 million people across 70 countries and territories.

To learn more about WFP’s Innovation Accelerator, visit www.innovation.wfp.org

About the United Nations World Food Programme Innovation Accelerator

The WFP Innovation Accelerator was launched by the United Nations World Food Programme in 2015 to source new ideas, sprint pilot projects, and scale high-impact innovations by connecting them with WFP’s global network and field operations in over 120 countries and territories. From its base in Munich, Germany, the WFP Innovation Accelerator has grown to become one of the world’s leading social impact startup accelerators. In 2023, the WFP Innovation Accelerator ran 20 programs addressing a wide range of social impact and sustainability issues, including climate change, primary healthcare, gender equality, and emergency response. Its portfolio, comprising over 70 active innovations and 66 alumni innovation initiatives, reached over 60 million individuals across 70 countries and territories in 2023. Since its launch, innovations supported by the WFP Innovation Accelerator have secured over $295 million in grant funding.

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Website: https://innovation.wfp.org/

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WFP IA Media page: https://innovation.wfp.org/media

About the United Nations World Food Programme 

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s leading humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

About World Food Program USA 

World Food Program USA, a 501(c)(3) organization based in Washington, D.C., proudly supports the mission of the United Nations World Food Programme by mobilizing American policymakers, businesses and individuals to advance the global movement to end hunger. Our leadership and support help to bolster an enduring American legacy of feeding families in need around the world. To learn more, please visit wfpusa.org.

About Google.org

Google.org, Google’s philanthropy, brings the best of Google to help solve some of humanity’s biggest challenges combining funding, product donations and technical expertise to support underserved communities and provide opportunity for everyone. Google.org engages nonprofits, social enterprises and civic entities who make a significant impact on the communities they serve, and whose work has the potential to produce scalable, meaningful change.

Media Contact
Toula Athas
World Food Program USA
tathas@wfpusa.org