WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency with more than 23 000 staff, of whom 87% are field based. It was founded in 1961 and delivered its first programme in 1963. WFP has a dual mandate, often summarised as ‘saving lives’ (meeting food and nutrition needs in emergencies) and ‘changing lives’ (building resilience in communities and addressing the root causes of hunger). It aims to bring life-saving relief in emergencies and to use food aid to promote peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict and disasters.
WFP is funded by voluntary contributions, principally from government donors. Contributions received rose steadily from USD 4.4 billion in 2013 to USD 9.6 billion in 2021. Global food crises led to a record contribution for WFP in 2022 of over USD 14 billion, which was nevertheless lower than the identified budgetary needs of over USD 20 billion. WFP’s received contributions fell by over 40% in 2023 to USD 8.5 billion, which is in line with pre-COVID-19 contribution levels. In 2022, WFP reached a total of 160 million people, representing a 25 percent increase from 2021. 53% of people reached in 2022 were women and girls.
WFP is present in over 120 countries and territories, overseen by six regional bureaux. WFP works with governments, other international organisations and over 1 000 NGOs around the world to implement its programmes. In 2020, WFP was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize "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’s Executive Director, Ms Cindy McCain, has held the position since 5 April 2023.
