The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian agency focused on ending hunger and ensuring food security. Founded in 1961 by the United Nations, WFP is driven by a core mission: saving lives in emergencies, supporting recovery, and helping communities become more resilient to food shocks.
In a world where enough food is produced to feed everyone, the fact that over 343 million people remain acutely food insecure is a humanitarian crisis. WFP stands at the frontlines of this crisis – responding rapidly to disasters, preventing famine, and building long-term solutions to break the cycle of hunger.
Mission and Mandate
WFP works to:
- Deliver food assistance in emergencies such as conflict, natural disasters, pandemics, and economic crises.
- Improve nutrition, especially for vulnerable groups such as women, children, and the elderly.
- Support small-scale farmers and food producers with tools, knowledge, and market access.
- Strengthen food systems and infrastructure in fragile and developing countries.
- Adapt to climate change, helping communities prepare for and recover from climate-induced food shocks.
Global Reach and Operations
- Active in over 120 countries and territories
- More than 23,000 staff worldwide
- In 2023, reached over 100 million people
- Delivered $2.8 billion in cash-based transfers to 51.6 million people
- Uses 5,000 trucks, 20 ships, and 80 aircraft daily for food and relief logistics
WFP is often the first responder when disaster strikes, and also the last to leave, ensuring sustainable recovery.
Notable Achievements and Timeline Highlights
1961
WFP is Founded
1963
First Development Programme in Sudan
1992–1994
- Relief efforts during the Yugoslav Wars
- Massive food operations following the Rwandan Genocide (1994)
1998
Hurricane Mitch
WFP supports 600,000+ people in Central America.
2003
Launch of UNHAS
The UN Humanitarian Air Service begins transporting humanitarian staff and aid to hard-to-reach areas.
2004–2005
- WFP leads response to Indian Ocean tsunami
- Introduces cash/voucher assistance to support local markets
- Appointed global logistics lead for the UN system
2010
Haiti Earthquake
Delivered food to 4.5 million people in just weeks.
2011
Somalia Famine
Fed 1.5 million across the Horn of Africa.
2014–2015
- West Africa Ebola epidemic: Reaches 3 million people
- Begins scaling operations in Yemen, reaching 9 million in 2015, 13+ million by 2021
2020
- COVID-19 pandemic: Adjusts support for 138 million vulnerable people
- Nobel Peace Prize awarded for its role in peace-building and fighting hunger during conflict
2022–2023
- Declares largest modern food crisis, caused by conflict in Ukraine, inflation, and climate extremes
- Faces historic funding shortfall, cutting rations in many areas despite surging demand
Specialized Programs
School Meals
WFP runs the world’s largest school feeding programme, encouraging education and improving child nutrition. Over 15 million children received school meals from WFP in 2023 alone.
Nutrition Support
Focuses on preventing child stunting and wasting, improving maternal nutrition, and targeting the “first 1,000 days” of life (from conception to age two), which are critical for physical and cognitive development.
Smallholder Farming
WFP works with 1.5 million small-scale farmers worldwide to boost productivity, reduce food waste, and strengthen access to local markets.
Food Systems and Resilience
Through its Food Systems Strategy, WFP helps governments and communities build sustainable food infrastructure—from grain storage to climate-smart agriculture.
Climate Risk Insurance
WFP promotes climate risk financing, offering micro-insurance and early warning systems to protect farmers and pastoralists from droughts and floods.
Humanitarian Logistics
WFP leads the UN Logistics Cluster, coordinating deliveries and supply chains for the global humanitarian community during emergencies. It also manages UNHRD (United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot) hubs for emergency supplies.
Funding and Partnerships
WFP is funded entirely through voluntary contributions from:
- Governments (major donors include the U.S., Germany, U.K., EU, Japan)
- Private sector partnerships (e.g., Mastercard, PepsiCo, Unilever)
- Individuals and philanthropic organizations
Despite this, WFP often faces massive funding gaps, such as the 60% shortfall in 2023—the largest in its history—forcing ration cuts in multiple countries, including Burkina Faso.
Strategic Goals
WFP supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially:
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
By addressing hunger, nutrition, and food systems, WFP contributes to education, gender equality, peacebuilding, and climate action.
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