World food programme

History

September 1962, northern Iran. An earthquake strikes the area of Boein Zahra. More than 12,000 people die. Thousands of houses are destroyed. Cataclysmic for its victims, the tremor is also a baptism of fire for the World Food Programme: the institution has only existed for a matter of months. Even so, it quickly sends survivors 1,500 metric tons of wheat, 270 tons of sugar and 27 tons of tea.

Created in 1961 (at the behest of US President Dwight Eisenhower) as an experiment to provide food aid through the UN system, WFP is to be reassessed within three years. As crises multiply, the experiment proves its worth. A typhoon makes landfall in Thailand. Newly independent Algeria must repatriate and feed its war refugees. In every case, WFP rises to the task. Its mission is emergency aid, but also rehabilitation. A first development programme is launched in 1963 for Nubians in Sudan.

That same year, WFP’s first school meals project – in Togo – is approved. The principle of food aid as a central plank of emergency and development aid gains ground. In 1965, WFP is enshrined as a fully-fledged UN programme: it is to last for “as long as multilateral food aid is found feasible and desirable”.

Subsequent decades consolidate WFP’s role. Crises spill over the years, revealing hunger’s deadly prevalence, marking the conscience of humanity. But catastrophe spurs resourcefulness. The logistics of food aid are revolutionised. During the long famines which affect the western Sahel in the 1970s, WFP uses everything in its power – from car to camel, from road to river – to assist those in need. Thirty cargo aircraft, drawn from 12 national air forces, take to the airs. Ethiopia’s famine of 1984 further concentrates minds and means: WFP delivers 2 million tons of food. In 1989, Operation Lifeline Sudan is launched: leading a consortium of UN agencies and charities alongside UNICEF, WFP releases 1.5 million tons of food into the skies above was has since become South Sudan. The dawn-to-dusk, 20-aircraft, three-sorties-a-day airdrop remains, to this day, the largest in history. It saved hundreds of thousands of lives.

At the turn of the 1990s, regained freedom for many nations co-exists with hardship and fragmentation. Impoverishment forms a unifying backdrop to natural disasters, wars and the break-up of states. In WFP’s portfolio, the balance of development programmes versus emergency interventions shifts back and forth. The Rwandan genocide unfolds as Yugoslavia disintegrates. Again, WFP is there. In Kosovo in 1999, it establishes a network of mobile bakeries. As the decade closes, a global consensus takes hold that hunger cannot be fought in a void; that its underlying causes must be tackled. With the Kyoto Protocol, the world acknowledges the impact of a changing climate: a new conceptual umbrella takes shape for WFP’s longer-term aid projects. Perspectives deepen. Partnerships multiply. Non-governmental organizations consolidate their role in humanitarian and development assistance. WFP espouses this dynamic, increasingly forging alliances in an all-round effort to beat hunger.

The year 2000 brings the Millennium Development Goals, the first global blueprint for a world free from poverty, hunger and related ills. Under pressure to deliver measurable achievement, energies coalesce further. Many countries see governance standards improve, even as others grapple with conflict and insecurity. Extreme poverty recedes. The decade is not without its big humanitarian crises (the Asian tsunami of 2004 and the Haiti earthquake of 2010 both demand massive intervention), but WFP finds the space to pursue innovation. Amid intense renewal, both conceptual and technological, the agency’s mission evolves. Food aid gives way to food assistance, a more holistic, longer-lens approach to communities’ and societies’ nutritional needs. The provision of cash and vouchers emerges as an empowering complement to in-kind food distributions. The world’s first regular humanitarian air service,UNHAS is born. New, integrated monitoring systems allow WFP to assess food security landscapes with unprecedented accuracy. When emergencies strike, WFP handles frontline telecommunications and provides logistical support to all UN agencies and NGOs. Digital platforms are developed that greatly improve operational efficiency and – as seen in the Nepali earthquake of 2015 – offer those in need the ability to receive food within hours. The year before, the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa had successfully tested the humanitarian community’s ability to act as one – in no small part, thanks to a Logistics Cluster managed by WFP. The “workable scheme to provide food aid” had grown into the world’s leading humanitarian organization.

Today, WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency saving lives and changing lives. When disasters strike, it is quick off the mark and scales up in a heartbeat; when they do not, it works tirelessly to bolster nutrition and food security. Its field presence is deep; its operational understanding of food needs, unrivalled.

In October 2020, the Norwegian Nobel Committee decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize to WFP «for its efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict.»

The challenges remain stark: almost up to 811 million people are still go to bed hungry every night. And if the adoption of the 2030 Development Agenda is a cause for optimism, the persistence of conflict, in Syria and elsewhere, is one for sombre reflection. Even as it strives to assist the victims or war and want, WFP is working with national governments, civil society, other partners and sister agencies to preclude further suffering. Tomorrow can be brighter – but so should today. For the world and WFP alike, the promise of better times is tinged with a sobering urgency.

Mission

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience.

As the international community has committed to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition by 2030, one in nine people worldwide still do not have enough to eat. Food and food-related assistance lie at the heart of the struggle to break the cycle of hunger and poverty.

For its efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict, WFP was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

On any given day, WFP has 5,600 trucks, 30 ships and nearly 100 planes on the move, delivering food and other assistance to those in most need. These numbers lie at the roots of WFP’s unparalleled reputation as an emergency responder, one that gets the job done quickly at scale in the most difficult environments.

WFP’s efforts focus on emergency assistance, relief and rehabilitation, development aid and special operations. Two-thirds of our work is in conflict-affected countries where people are three times more likely to be undernourished than those living in countries without conflict.

In emergencies, WFP is often first on the scene, providing food assistance to the victims of war, civil conflict, drought, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, crop failures and natural disasters. When the emergency subsides, WFP helps communities rebuild shattered lives and livelihoods. We also work to strengthen the resilience of people and communities affected by protracted crises by applying a development lens in our humanitarian response.

WFP development projects focus on nutrition, especially for mothers and children, addressing malnutrition from the earliest stages through programmes targeting the first 1,000 days from conception to a child’s second birthday, and later through school meals.

WFP is the largest humanitarian organisation implementing school feeding programmes worldwide and has been doing so for over 50 years. In 2021, WFP provided school meals to 15.5 million children, often in the hardest-to-reach areas.

In 2021, WFP provided 4,4 million metric tons of food and US$2.3 billion of cash and vouchers. By buying food as close as possible to where it is needed, we can save time and money on transport costs, and help sustain local economies. Increasingly, WFP meets people’s food needs through cash-based transfers that allow the people we serve to choose and shop for their own food locally.

WFP also provides services to the entire humanitarian community, including passenger air transportation through the UN Humanitarian Air Service, which flies to more than 280 locations worldwide.

Funded entirely by voluntary donations, WFP raised a record-breaking US$9.6 billion in 2021. WFP has almost 21,000 staff worldwide, of whom over 90 percent are based in the countries where the agency provides assistance.

WFP is governed by a 36-member Executive Board. It works closely with its two Rome-based sister organizations, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Fund for Agricultural Development. WFP partners with more than 900 national and international NGOs to provide food assistance and tackle the underlying causes of hunger.

Where
we work

The World Food Programme (WFP) works in over 120 countries and territories. We bring life-saving assistance in emergencies and support sustainable and resilient livelihoods to achieve a world with zero hunger.

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

WFP is a first responder to emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide food, cash and other assistance where people have been left destitute and at risk of going hungry.

Food distribution, Aleppo, Syria. Photo: WFP/Khudr Alissa

As countries have less than 10 years to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals, WFP is working with governments, partners, communities and families to break persistent cycles of hunger and malnutrition, strengthen resilience to shocks, and build prosperous, sustainable futures.

Who
we are

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

In a world of plenty, where enough food is produced to feed everyone on the planet, hunger should be a thing of the past. However, conflict, climate change, disasters, inequality and – most recently – the COVID-19 pandemic mean one in nine people globally is still going to bed hungry and famine looms for millions.

Powered by the passion, dedication and professionalism of almost 21,000 staff worldwide, the World Food Programme (WFP) works in over 120 countries and territories to bring life-saving food to people displaced by conflict and made destitute by disasters, and help individuals and communities find life-changing solutions to the multiple challenges they face in building better futures.

We work to enhance nutrition in women and children, support smallholder farmers in improving productivity and reducing losses, help countries and communities prepare for and cope with climate-related shocks, and boost human capital through school feeding programmes.

In conflict situations, we bring relief to exhausted populations and use food assistance to build pathways to peace and stability – work for which WFP was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.

For millions of people worldwide, WFP assistance is what makes the difference between life and death. Our timely intervention at times of heightened crisis has helped pull people back from the brink of starvation. Our work to build resilience, adapt to a changing climate, promote good nutrition and improve food systems is helping lay the foundations for a more prosperous future for millions.

Executive Director David Beasley. Photo: WFP/Michael Dakwa

A member of the UN family, WFP is governed by an Executive Board consisting of 36 Member States, which provides intergovernmental support, direction and supervision of WFP’s activities. The organization is headed by an Executive Director, who is appointed jointly by the UN Secretary-General and the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Feeding millions of the world’s hungriest people and helping millions more cope with the effects of conflict, climate change and entrenched poverty requires billions of dollars every year – our funding requirement for 2022 stands at US$22.2 billion to reach 152 million people.

Our operations are entirely funded through the generous voluntary contributions of donor governments, institutions, corporations and individuals. A total 93.5 percent of all government contributions go directly to supporting life-saving and life-changing operations.

Agenda 2030 clearly states that sustainable development will only be possible through effective partnerships. True to its spirit, WFP works with governments, other UN agencies, NGOs, private companies and others to mobilize resources, find innovative solutions and reach vulnerable communities with the assistance they need, when they need it.

Photo: WFP/Giulio d’Adamo

WFP holds itself and its staff to the highest standards of integrity and behaviour. We are committed to full transparency and accountability to the people we serve and to the donors who generously fund our operations.

We carry out objective and independent audits, as well as investigations and inspections into suspected wrongdoing, misconduct and fraud, as well as sexual exploitation or abuse.

To ensure that we are fit for purpose, and that we remain so in a constantly and rapidly changing environment, we carry out periodic independent evaluations that provide donors and partners with greater detail about the effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, impact and sustainability of our work, and that help us to continue improving.

Photo: WFP/Kauser Haider

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Our
work

Our support to over 120 countries and territories spans a broad range of activities to save and change lives, with the ultimate goal of a world with zero hunger.

Fighting famine

WFP has the expertise, deep-field presence and operational scale to stop famine in its tracks, and steer people away from the edge of starvation. We do so by providing emergency food assistance; employing cutting-edge technology to alert about the risk of famine and determine the most appropriate response; and mobilizing our supply chain capabilities, including airlifting food or dropping it from planes when all other avenues are blocked. We also work to prevent situations deteriorating into famine by strengthening education, nutrition, livelihood resilience and social protection systems such as school meals programmes.

Emergency relief

Early-warning systems, a skilled emergency workforce ready to deploy, and our global supply chain capacity enable WFP to be one of the first on the scene when disaster strikes. Every year, WFP to assists millions of people displaced, made homeless or deprived of basic resources by conflict, the effects of climate change, pandemics and other cataclysmic events.

Food assistance

WFP’s food assistance goes well beyond the immediate alleviation of hunger. To achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2 – zero hunger – we provide tailored, multi-year support programmes designed to lift a nation’s nutritional indicators. Wherever markets and the financial sector are functioning, we provide cash transfers to enable the people we serve to buy nutritious food of their own choice.

Supply chain

On any given day, WFP has 5,600 trucks, 100 aircraft and 30 ships on the go to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most. With six decades of experience, WFP works with governments and NGOs, with suppliers and local communities. We engage businesses and smallholder farmers, and invest in local economies, markets and the private sector.

Humanitarian support and services

In the face of tight funding and high expectations of efficiency, the humanitarian community is increasingly required to act in sync, streamline processes and pool resources. WFP puts its vast expertise and capacity in supply chain, engineering and emergency telecommunications – often in the most challenging environments – at the service of other humanitarian actors. In addition, WFP leads the multi-agency Logistics Cluster and the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC), and co-leads the Food Security Cluster.

Disaster risk reduction

Disasters are amongst the main drivers of hunger and malnutrition in the world. Among these, extreme weather events are picking up pace as a result of the climate crisis. WFP’s country programmes integrate dedicated actions to address the risks of climate disasters and mitigate their repercussions on food security. These include soil and water conservation, the development of flood protection and drainage infrastructure, the construction of communal ponds and reservoirs, and the terracing of slopes that are prone to erosion and landslides.

Sustainable livelihoods and ecosystems

Food insecurity is highest in the most fragile and degraded environments, prone to disasters and exposed to recurrent shocks and crises, including extreme weather events caused by climate change. WFP helps countries and the most vulnerable and food insecure communities manage natural resources sustainably, so they can meet today’s livelihood needs and safeguard these resources for future generations.

Climate action

Due to climate change, communities are facing more frequent and extreme weather events. WFP helps offset the impact these have on lives and livelihoods. Forecast-based Financing uses improved early warning based on weather forecasts to alert communities ahead of disasters and pay out insurance so they can take preparatory measures such as evacuating assets and livestock, reinforcing homesteads, and buying food and essential items. Index insurance uses remote sensing and hydrometeorological data to determine more precisely when crop losses occur, for the triggering of payouts.

Nutrition

Malnutrition prevents people and communities from developing their full potential and threatens their future. WFP addresses all forms of malnutrition including vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and overweight and obesity, in all contexts. We act early, with programmes focusing on the first 1,000 days from pregnancy to a child’s second birthday, and we provide access to healthy and adequate diets, targeting young children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people living with HIV.

School-based programmes

WFP is the largest humanitarian organization implementing school feeding programmes, which improve children’s nutrition and health and increase access to education, reducing risks such as child labour and early marriage in some countries. This helps shape better futures for children and communities, and build countries’ human capital. By buying food locally wherever possible, WFP school feeding programmes contribute to increasing incomes for smallholder farmers and boosting local economies.

Gender equality

Gender equality is a necessary precondition for a world with zero hunger. With more than 50 percent of the people we serve being women, WFP works to ensure that food assistance policies and programmes create conditions that advance, rather than undermine, gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Asset creation

Under WFP’s Food Assistance for Assets programme, people receive food or cash to meet immediate food needs as they work on community assets or livelihood resources such as roads, bridges, and reforestation, water conservation or land rehabilitation projects.

Smallholder farmers support

Smallholder farmers produce most of the world’s food and are critical in achieving zero hunger. WFP helps build sustainable food systems by facilitating smallholder farmers’ access to productive assets and efficient post-harvest handling and storage techniques. The private-sector focused Farm to Market Alliance also connects smallholders to markets and helps them diversify their crops and increase their business potential.

Cash and market support

WFP is the largest provider of cash assistance in the humanitarian community. We also work to strengthen local markets and develop retail sectors to help reduce the price of the food basket – thus increasing the purchasing power of all customers – while maintaining or even increasing the profitability of retailers.

Food systems

Fragile, broken or distorted food systems have a devastating impact on development and the environment, as they account for one third of greenhouse gases, are exhausting soil and water, and waste one third of all food and produce (worth US$1 trillion). WFP has an unparalleled six decades of experience repairing, sustaining, and improving food systems for the world’s most vulnerable and remote people.

Resilience building

Shocks and stressors such as conflict, natural hazards and political instability can have a devastating impact on development gains. Including resilience-building measures in humanitarian programmes means reducing the need to spend on cyclical crisis response, while helping overcome a legacy of development gaps.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

THE WORLD IS HUNGRIER THAN EVER

The war in Ukraine is compounding already devastating hunger crises in places like South Sudan. We urgently need your support today: Donate now to DOUBLE your impact.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has been on the frontlines of the world’s worst hunger crises, fighting hunger and famine since 1962. Right now we’re taking on our largest scale-up ever, providing lifesaving meals to 152 million of the world’s most vulnerable people in more than 120 countries and territories this year.

What Causes Hunger?

Emergencies

When conflict erupts or natural disaster strikes, WFP is there. It feeds families on the front lines of our planet’s most dangerous and complicated crises.

WFP’s Programs

Sending emergency relief. Providing school meals. Helping small-scale farmers. WFP is providing solutions to help the world’s hungriest people.

See the Latest Stories of Hunger & Hope

Flooding and landslides caused by heavy monsoon rainfall have brought widespread destruction across Pakistan.

Following the Government of Pakistan’s request for support, the U.N. World Food Programme is rapidly expanding its food assistance to 500K people.

Since the start of the year, 9 million more people have slipped into severe hunger across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia – leaving 22 million people struggling to find enough food to eat.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Миссия

В то время как международное сообщество взяло на себя обязательства положить конец голоду, достичь продовольственной безопасности и улучшить питание к 2030 году, каждый девятый человек в мире все еще недоедает. Продовольственная помощь лежит в основе борьбы, которая ведется с целью разорвать порочный круг голода и бедности.

Ежедневно 5000 грузовиков, 20 океанских грузовых судов и 92 самолета находятся в пути, доставляя продовольствие и другую помощь ВПП ООН тем, кто больше всего в ней нуждается. Ежегодно мы распределяем приблизительно 12,6 миллиардов продовольственных рационов со средней стоимостью в 0,31 доллара США за рацион. Эти показатели лежат в основе беспрецедентной репутации ВПП ООН как организации быстрого реагирования на чрезвычайные ситуации, которая быстро и эффективно выполняет масштабную работу в самых сложных условиях.

Усилия ВПП ООН сосредоточены на оказании чрезвычайной помощи, содействии в восстановлении, проектах развития и проведении специальных операций. Две трети нашей работы проводится в зонах конфликта, где люди в три раза чаще страдают от недоедания, чем жители стран без конфликтов.

В чрезвычайных ситуациях представители ВПП ООН часто первыми прибывают на место и предоставляют продовольственную помощь жертвам войны, гражданских конфликтов, засухи, наводнений, землетрясений, ураганов, неурожаев и стихийных бедствий. По мере завершения чрезвычайной ситуации ВПП ООН помогает сообществам восстанавливать разрушенные жизни и источники средств к существованию. Мы также работаем над повышением устойчивости сообществ, подверженных длительным кризисам, учитывая аспекты развития в программах гуманитарной помощи.

ВПП ООН — это крупнейшая гуманитарная организация, которая реализует программы школьного питания по всему миру на протяжении более 50 лет. Каждый год ВПП ООН предоставляет школьное питание 17,5 миллионам детей в 59 странах, часто в самых труднодоступных районах.

В 2019 году ВПП ООН предоставила более 4,2 миллионов метрических тонн продовольствия и 2,1 миллиарда долларов США наличными и ваучерами. По крайней мере три четверти этого продовольствия поступает из развивающихся стран. Приобретая продовольствие как можно ближе к месту потребности в нем, мы экономим время и сокращаем транспортные расходы, в то же время поддерживая местную экономику. Все чаще ВПП ООН удовлетворяет потребности людей в продовольствии при помощи денежных выплат. Они позволяют людям, которым мы служим, выбирать и приобретать необходимое продовольствие на месте.

ВПП ООН также оказывает различные услуги всему гуманитарному сообществу, в том числе осуществляет пассажирские воздушные перевозки с помощью Службы гуманитарных воздушных перевозок ООН, выполняющей полеты в более чем 250 пунктов назначения по всему миру.

ВПП ООН финансируется исключительно за счет добровольных пожертвований. В 2019 году организация привлекла рекордные 8 миллиарда долларов США. По всему миру в ВПП ООН работает более 14 000 сотрудников, из которых более 90 процентов находятся в странах, где агентство оказывает помощь.

Управление ВПП ООН осуществляет Исполнительный совет из 36 членов. ВПП ООН тесно сотрудничает с двумя родственными организациями, находящимися в Риме, а именно Продовольственной и сельскохозяйственной организацией Объединенных Наций и Международным фондом сельскохозяйственного развития. ВПП ООН поддерживает партнерские отношения с более чем 1000 национальными и международными НПО для оказания продовольственной помощи и устранения коренных причин голода.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Pakistan floods: Government calls on WFP to support emergency response

How WFP is responding six months on

Story | 24 August 2022

A global food crisis like no other

Page | 24 August 2022

Women and children bear brunt of drought in Somalia

‘Our fight is now against hunger and poverty, not each other’

Story | 25 August 2022

Global food crisis

Ship sets off from Ukraine with grain for WFP in first since start of war

Story | 16 August 2022

2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

WFP in numbers

128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories

received assistance from WFP in 2021 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships

are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.

15.5 million children across the world

received nutritious meals, school snacks or take-home rations from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.

WFP Annual Performance Report 2021

Find out more about WFP’s work. Read report

Hunger Map Live

Get up-to-date information on food security in 90 countries. See the map

Saving lives
in emergencies

WFP is one of the first agencies on the ground in global emergencies caused by conflict, climate shocks, pandemics and other disasters. We provide life-saving support to people at risk of going hungry, and we coordinate the response of the global humanitarian community to large-scale emergencies.

WFP is continuously scanning the world for potential risks to vulnerable populations. When an emergency strikes, we use the information at hand to organize our response and launch our operation, rapidly deploying skilled emergency personnel and working with hundreds of partners, including sister UN agencies and local NGOs.

We organize WFP and partners’ supplies and staff to be shipped via the UN Humanitarian Air Service and network of UN Humanitarian Response Depots. We also call upon the Logistics, Telecommunications and Food Security clusters to ensure the humanitarian community’s needs are fully covered.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, emergency partners and, above all, the affected communities themselves to identify places and people in most need, using innovative methods including geospatial technology.

We provide communities with food, cash or a combination of both, depending on the emergency context and people’s urgent needs. We provide food, ideally buying it locally, or opt for cash assistance where local markets are functioning.

An emergency may last a few months or several years. When the situation has stabilized, WFP either withdraws staff and other resources, or implements longer-term programmes that protect and improve people’s livelihoods. We also review our response together with impartial assessors to inform and improve our future work.

Changing lives
worldwide

Food assistance: cash-based and in-kind

WFP distributes food in areas where it is scarce. In places where food is available but unaffordable, we give vulnerable people cash or vouchers to buy nutritious ingredients. These cash transfers give people more choice, protect them from financial exploitation, and support the local economy.

Resilience building

WFP’s long experience in humanitarian and development contexts has positioned the organization well to support resilience building in order to improve food security and nutrition. WFP helps the most vulnerable people strengthen their capacities to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of shocks and long-term stressors.

Nutrition

Chronic malnutrition has profound, long-term effects on health and life prospects. WFP works with governments and partners to help vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people receiving treatment for HIV and tuberculosis, access nutritious diets. Our programmes include distributing specialized nutritious foods, fortifying staples, designing and implementing school feeding, and enabling dietary diversification.

School health and nutrition

WFP works with partners to deliver school-based health and nutrition services. School feeding provides children with the calories they need to fuel their learning, gives parents strong incentive to keep them in school, and helps build the human capital countries need to reach their development potential.

Social protection and safety nets

As the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide far exceeds WFP’s capacity to provide assistance, we work with governments to ensure this can be done through national systems, including social protection schemes.

Climate action

Climate change is increasing the frequency of climate-related disasters, creating greater risks of hunger and the breakdown of food systems. WFP is working with governments, international partners, researchers and local communities to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. Through programmes, innovations, policy and technical support we are helping those most at risk to become climate resilient and food secure.

Smallholder farmers market support

Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to hunger. WFP collaborates with national governments to help forge sustainable food systems more inclusive of smallholder farmers along the value chain. This includes buying their produce for WFP programmes, introducing them to formal markets, and enabling access to skills, knowledge and infrastructure to develop their livelihoods and make them more resilient to risks.

Country capacity strengthening and south-south cooperation

National governments are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against hunger. WFP offers a wide range of capacity development and technical assistance services to facilitate the design and delivery of sustainable national solutions to combat hunger and malnutrition. WFP facilitates the transfer of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how, including through its Centres of Excellence in Brazil, China and Ivory Coast.

Where we work

In 2021, WFP assisted 128.2 million people in over 120 countries and territories.

International Boundary Armistice or International Administrative Line Other line of Separation

The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of WFP concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.