Apply Now: Bridging the Cold Chain Gap Challenge for Last-Mile Vendors

The Bridging the Cold Chain Gap Challenge is inviting organizations to develop and pilot innovative, affordable, and scalable cold chain solutions that reduce post-harvest food loss among fruit and vegetable vendors in India. Selected projects may receive up to USD 450,000 in grant funding, along with opportunities to pilot their solutions, collaborate with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and gain visibility among governments, investors, and development partners across Asia and the Pacific.

About the Bridging the Cold Chain Gap Challenge

The Bridging the Cold Chain Gap Challenge supports innovative solutions that strengthen last-mile cold chain infrastructure for small fruit and vegetable vendors in India. The initiative aims to reduce post-harvest losses by improving access to affordable cooling technologies for hawkers, pushcart vendors, footpath traders, and other informal sellers who currently lack cold storage facilities.

By supporting practical and scalable innovations, the challenge seeks to improve food security, increase vendor incomes, reduce food waste, and build more resilient agricultural value chains.

Programme Objectives

The challenge aims to:

Reduce post-harvest food loss.
Improve last-mile cold chain infrastructure.
Extend the shelf life of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Reduce distress sales caused by spoilage.
Increase the incomes of small-scale vendors.
Support women and youth engaged in fresh produce vending.
Promote sustainable and low-carbon food value chains.
Improve food and nutrition security.
Strengthen dignified livelihoods.
Build resilient agricultural supply chains.

The Challenge Context

India experiences substantial post-harvest losses of fruits and vegetables due to limited access to affordable cold storage and preservation technologies.

While existing cold chain infrastructure primarily serves aggregation centres, warehouses, and organised retail, many street vendors continue to sell highly perishable produce without refrigeration. As a result, they often face:

High levels of spoilage.
Significant food waste.
Reduced product quality.
Financial losses from unsold produce.
Lower daily incomes.

The challenge addresses this critical infrastructure gap by encouraging solutions specifically designed for last-mile vendors.

Focus Areas

Projects should contribute to one or more of the following areas:

Post-harvest loss reduction.
Mobile cold chain technologies.
Affordable refrigeration solutions.
Last-mile cold storage.
Sustainable agriculture.
Food security.
Nutrition security.
Climate-smart agriculture.
Low-carbon food systems.
Vendor livelihood improvement.
Women and youth economic empowerment.
Agricultural value chain resilience.

Funding Available

Selected pilot projects may receive:

Up to USD 450,000 in grant funding.
Financial support for piloting and validating innovative solutions.
Opportunities for scaling successful innovations.

Applicants must provide a 10% co-financing contribution toward the proposed project.

Additional Benefits

Beyond grant funding, selected participants will benefit from:

Opportunities to pilot solutions in a new market.
Collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Engagement with local and international stakeholders.
Increased visibility among governments and development agencies.
Exposure to financiers and investors across Asia and the Pacific.
Opportunities to demonstrate measurable development impact.

Who is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

For-profit companies.
Not-for-profit organisations.
Civil society organisations (CSOs).
Research institutions.
Government-owned enterprises that operate with legal and financial autonomy.

Applicant Requirements

Applicants must:

Be legally established organisations.
Be financially autonomous if government-owned.
Propose an innovative cold chain solution.
Meet the required 10% co-financing commitment.
Ensure all team members are at least 18 years of age.

Individuals are not eligible to apply.

Eligible Solutions

The challenge is looking for solutions such as:

Mobile cold storage units.
Portable refrigeration systems.
Solar-powered cooling technologies.
Affordable preservation technologies.
Innovative transport cooling systems.
Energy-efficient cold chain equipment.
Digital monitoring systems for cold storage.
Other scalable technologies that reduce spoilage for last-mile vendors.

Why This Challenge Matters

Fresh fruits and vegetables are highly perishable, making efficient cold chain infrastructure essential for reducing food loss and improving food availability.

Supporting small vendors with affordable cooling technologies can:

Reduce food waste.
Increase household food availability.
Improve nutritional outcomes.
Raise vendor incomes.
Strengthen climate resilience.
Lower greenhouse gas emissions associated with wasted food.
Improve the sustainability of agricultural supply chains.

How to Apply

Applicants should follow these steps:

Develop an innovative cold chain solution that addresses last-mile challenges.
Confirm organisational eligibility.
Prepare a detailed pilot project proposal.
Demonstrate innovation, scalability, affordability, and expected impact.
Include a co-financing plan covering at least 10% of project costs.
Submit the application with all required supporting documentation before the deadline.

Tips for a Strong Application

To strengthen your proposal:

Clearly define the problem your solution addresses.
Demonstrate measurable reductions in food loss.
Show how the solution benefits small vendors.
Present evidence of affordability and scalability.
Explain environmental and climate benefits.
Include realistic implementation and monitoring plans.
Highlight partnerships with local stakeholders where possible.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid:

Proposing solutions without clear scalability.
Ignoring affordability for informal vendors.
Failing to include the required co-financing.
Providing unrealistic implementation timelines.
Submitting incomplete technical information.
Focusing only on large commercial cold storage instead of last-mile solutions.
Applying as an individual rather than an eligible organisation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who can apply for the Bridging the Cold Chain Gap Challenge?

Eligible applicants include for-profit companies, non-profit organisations, civil society organisations, research institutions, and eligible government-owned enterprises.

How much funding is available?

Selected pilot projects may receive up to USD 450,000.

Is co-financing required?

Yes. Applicants must provide at least 10% co-financing toward the project.

What types of solutions are encouraged?

The challenge seeks affordable, innovative, and scalable cold chain technologies that reduce post-harvest food loss for last-mile fruit and vegetable vendors.

Can individuals apply?

No. Applications are accepted only from eligible organisations.

Who are the primary beneficiaries?

The initiative primarily benefits hawkers, pushcart vendors, footpath traders, and other small fruit and vegetable vendors operating without access to cold storage.

What additional benefits do selected participants receive?

In addition to funding, participants gain opportunities to pilot their solutions, collaborate with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), connect with governments and investors, and showcase their innovations across Asia and the Pacific.

Conclusion

The Bridging the Cold Chain Gap Challenge provides an important opportunity for organisations to develop innovative cold chain solutions that reduce post-harvest food losses while improving the livelihoods of India’s small fruit and vegetable vendors. With grants of up to USD 450,000, technical collaboration, and regional visibility, the challenge supports practical innovations that strengthen food security, enhance climate resilience, promote sustainable agriculture, and build more efficient last-mile food supply chains.