The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has opened the Bridging the Cold Chain Gap Challenge to identify, pilot and validate innovative solutions that can help India’s last-mile fruit and vegetable vendors reduce post-harvest food losses and protect their incomes.
The challenge is looking for practical, scalable and affordable cooling or preservation technologies that can work within the daily economic realities of informal street vendors.
Eligible nonprofit organisations, civil society organisations, research institutions and other qualifying technology providers can apply for funding of up to US$450,000 per pilot project.
The concept note submission deadline is September 4, 2026.
About the ADB Challenge
The Bridging the Cold Chain Gap Challenge is part of ADB’s Technology Innovation Challenge. It focuses specifically on India’s informal last-mile fruit and vegetable vendors, including hawkers, pushcart sellers and footpath traders.
The challenge seeks technology-based solutions that can provide affordable cooling or preservation without requiring expensive fixed infrastructure or reliable grid electricity.
The goal is to reduce food losses, extend the shelf life of perishable produce, reduce distress sales and improve the incomes and resilience of small vendors.
What Problem Does the Challenge Address?
ADB notes that a significant share of India’s fresh produce is lost between harvest and consumption. Last-mile vendors are particularly vulnerable because they often operate without access to cold storage or suitable protection from heat and rain.
The challenge therefore seeks practical solutions that can be deployed close to where informal vendors sell their produce.
Who Can Apply?
Eligible applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
- Be legally incorporated or registered in an ADB member economy at the time of concept-note submission.
- Be a for-profit or nonprofit organisation, civil society organisation, research institution or legally autonomous government-owned enterprise.
- Hold intellectual property rights to the proposed technology through ownership or a valid licence.
- Have established ties to a local partner and/or demonstrate a strong understanding of the local operating environment.
- Provide at least 10% co-financing of the total project cost.
Indian NGOs and civil society organisations can therefore be eligible, but this opportunity is specifically intended for organisations that have a relevant technology solution or valid rights to such technology.
This is not a general-purpose grant for NGOs seeking funding for ordinary food-security or vendor-support activities.
What Type of Solutions Are Wanted?
ADB is looking for innovative solutions that can provide affordable cooling or preservation for informal fruit and vegetable vendors.
The technology may be incorporated directly into the cooling or preservation system or into the associated business model.
Proposed solutions should:
- Reduce post-harvest food losses.
- Help vendors keep produce fresh for longer.
- Work within the economic realities of informal vending.
- Be affordable and practical for last-mile use.
- Have potential for replication and scale.
- Demonstrate meaningful impact for vendors and communities.
The intended beneficiaries are informal last-mile fruit and vegetable vendors operating in cities, towns and residential areas across India.
Grant Amount
Selected projects can receive: Up to US$450,000 per pilot project
ADB may select one or two solutions under this challenge.
Applicants must provide at least 10% co-financing of the total project cost. Co-financing can be provided in cash or in-kind, such as staff time and travel.
The final project budget will be agreed with ADB based on the scope, milestones, deliverables and expected results.
What Does the Funding Support?
The funding is intended to support the piloting and validation of the proposed technology solution.
Selected applicants will have the opportunity to:
- Test their solution in an Indian market context.
- Pilot the technology with intended beneficiaries.
- Generate evidence for future scale-up.
- Work with ADB and relevant local and international stakeholders.
- Build connections with governments and development partners across Asia and the Pacific.
The pilot is expected to begin from January 2027 for selected solutions.
Selection Criteria
ADB will evaluate applications in stages.
During the concept-note stage, the main criteria are:
Impact – 50% ; Innovativeness – 30% ; Scalability – 20% ;
If shortlisted, applicants will submit a full application covering the pilot design, milestones, deliverables, budget, timeline and team.
The full application will be assessed on:
- Impact – 30%; Scalability – 30%;Pilot Design – 20%;Team – 20%
Important Dates
Challenge launched: July 13, 2026
Concept note submission deadline: September 4, 2026 at 23:59 UTC-11
Shortlisting: September 7–21, 2026
Full application: September 21–October 30, 2026
Pitching: November 5, 2026
Final selection: November 9, 2026
Grant agreement negotiations: November–December 2026
Project implementation: From January 2027
How to Apply
Applicants must first register on the ADB Challenges platform and submit a concept note before the September 4 deadline.
Only shortlisted applicants will proceed to the full application and pitching stages.
Applicants should review the eligibility requirements, technology requirements and selection criteria carefully before submitting their concept note.
Official Application and Challenge Page:
https://challenges.adb.org/en/challenges/tic-coldchain
Why This Opportunity Matters for Indian NGOs
The challenge is particularly relevant for Indian NGOs and civil society organisations that have developed or hold rights to innovative technologies related to cooling, food preservation, mobile cold-chain systems, energy-efficient storage or related business models.
It is also relevant to organisations working with informal vendors that have the technical capacity or partnerships required to deploy and test such solutions.
However, organisations should not apply simply because they work with farmers, food security or street vendors. The applicant must satisfy ADB’s technology, intellectual-property, local-linkage and co-financing requirements.
Conclusion :The ADB Bridging the Cold Chain Gap Challenge provides an opportunity to pilot innovative technology solutions that can reduce food loss and improve the livelihoods of India’s informal fruit and vegetable vendors.
With funding of up to US$450,000 per pilot, the challenge could be particularly valuable for eligible Indian nonprofits, civil society organisations and technology providers with a proven or licensable solution.
Because the concept-note deadline is September 4, 2026, eligible organisations should review the official requirements and submit their concept note as soon as possible.
Disclaimer :NGOportal only disseminates information about grants, funding opportunities and related programmes. We do not guarantee eligibility, funding, partnership or selection. Applicants should verify all requirements, deadlines, funding conditions and application procedures directly with the Asian Development Bank before applying.