7 November, 2023 – The Citi Foundation has announced the grant recipients of its first-ever Global Innovation Challenge, a new model to identify and provide philanthropic support to community organisations that are developing innovative solutions to social and economic challenges facing low-income communities.
The inaugural Global Innovation Challenge is providing a total of US$25 million to 50 community organisations working to improve food security and strengthen the financial health of low-income families and communities around the world.
Open Food Network Australia is one of the recipients of this inaugural Global Innovation Challenge, receiving US$500,000. Open Food Network Australia will be establishing a pilot food voucher program that aims to increase access to food for diverse and disadvantaged communities in Australia. This project will also establish Australia's first food subsidy fund that will be implemented alongside the voucher pilot in Victoria and designed to scale and be replicated across the country.
"Citi Foundation's Global Innovation Challenge is designed to help new ideas grow and scale," said Louise Lindsay, Citi Australia Head of Corporate Affairs. "We are delighted to bring this global innovation challenge to Australia and support an innovative not-for-profit to develop a scalable program that will have a significant impact."
Prudence Rothwell, Open Food Network Australia Project Manager said, "We are incredibly grateful to be recipients of the Global Innovation Challenge grant. The grant will enable us to further strengthen our partnerships with several Community Food Enterprises across Victoria and build upon existing efforts to increase access to food with dignity."
"The funding will go toward creating a pilot program that integrates and builds on our commitment to improving food equity, connecting communities and regenerating landscapes across Australia," added Ms Rothwell.
The Citi Foundation grant will span two years and includes access to technical assistance and a global learning community. Through these wrap-around services, grantees will benefit from opportunities to collaborate, share ideas and exchange best practices with individuals and organisations from around the world.
For more information on the Global Innovation Challenge and a complete list of grant recipients, please visit citifoundation.com/challenge
About Citi
Citi is a preeminent banking partner for institutions with cross-border needs, a global leader in wealth management and a valued personal bank in its home market of the United States. Citi does business in nearly 160 countries and jurisdictions, providing corporations, governments, investors, institutions and individuals with a broad range of financial products and services.
Open Food Network Australia
Open Food Network has a vision for a world where fair, open food and farming networks reconnect people and regenerate the earth. We drive global change at a local scale through a network of 15 organisations worldwide, that are activating values-based food supply networks through our open source software platform, the Open Food Network. In Australia, our mission is to co-create and activate short food supply chains and make regenerative food more accessible through open and shared digital infrastructure. For more information, visit about.openfoodnetwork.org.au.
Media Contact:
Sam Knock Samuel.Knock@citi.com
0466 981 429
Katrina Dunnett katrina@openfoodnetwork.org.au
0402 248 300
