Moonshots for Development (M4D) Open Innovation Challenge
By IFAD
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Quick Answer
Open innovation challenge for growth-stage enterprises in agritech, climate, and rural development.
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 30 March 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by IFAD. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this grant
The Moonshots for Development (M4D) Open Innovation Challenge represents a significant global initiative spearheaded by an international consortium of development powerhouses, including IFAD, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), IDB Lab, CGIAR, and the European Space Agency (ESA), among others. This ambitious program is fundamentally designed to scout, nurture, and scale innovative, technology-driven solutions that directly address some of the most pressing development challenges faced by rural communities and smallholder farmers worldwide. Its overarching purpose is to foster resilience, reduce fragility, and promote sustainable practices in critical areas such as food systems, climate-resilient agriculture, and digital service delivery in underserved regions.
The challenge offers a multi-phased funding structure, providing substantial financial backing to promising growth-stage enterprises. Selected participants can receive up to 830000 INR (approximately $10,000 USD) in Phase 1, progressing to up to 8300000 INR (approximately $100,000 USD) in Phase 2, and potentially securing up to 20750000 INR (approximately $250,000 USD) in Phase 3. This tiered funding model is complemented by a robust ecosystem of support from its global partners, offering invaluable mentorship, resources for pilot implementation, and crucial opportunities for scaling successful solutions. The strategic impact of the M4D Challenge lies in its capacity to accelerate the deployment of cutting-edge technologies like AI, geospatial analysis, and various digital tools to empower vulnerable populations, enhance food security, and combat the effects of climate change. The program actively seeks solutions across specific challenge tracks, including developing insurance for resilient food systems, strategies to reduce fragility in rural communities, innovative digital extension services, and advanced agroecology practices. It specifically benefits growth-stage enterprises, including startups, SMEs, NGOs, and academic institutions, that have already demonstrated the impact of their working solutions with a validated business model, aiming to further their reach and influence globally.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1977, headquartered in Rome, Italy. Created as a major outcome of the 1974 World Food Conference, IFAD is an international financial institution that invests…
Learn moreBenefits & Funding
- Fund type
- Grant
What You Get
Selected teams receive multi-phase grant funding through the M4D Open Innovation Challenge: up to $10,000 in Phase 1, up to $100,000 in Phase 2, and up to $250,000 in Phase 3, for a combined maximum of $360,000 in funding and support. The money is structured to take a validated solution from pilot and implementation (Phase 2) toward scaling the enterprise (Phase 3), within the challenge tracks covering insurance, fragility, digital extension, and agroecology. Alongside the cash, teams get a Phase 0 virtual bootcamp, one month of personalised mentorship, bespoke coaching in Phase 1, exclusive access to M4D's resources and networks, and hands-on pilot, implementation, and scaling support from the M4D alliance.
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
