World Food Programme

World Food Programme
AbbreviationWFP
Formation19 December 1961 (19 December 1961)
TypeIntergovernmental organization, regulatory body, advisory board
Legal statusActive
HeadquartersRome, Italy
Executive Director
Cindy McCain
Deputy Executive Director
Carl Skau
Parent organization
United Nations General Assembly
Staff22,300+ (2023)
Award(s)Nobel Peace Prize (2020)
Websitewfp.org
Politics portal

The World Food Programme (WFP) is an international organization within the United Nations that provides food assistance worldwide. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and the leading provider of school meals. Founded in 1961, WFP is headquartered in Rome and has offices in 87 countries. In 2023 it supported over 152 million people, and it is present in more than 120 countries and territories.

In addition to emergency food relief, WFP offers technical and development assistance, such as building capacity for emergency preparedness and response, managing supply chains and logistics, promoting social safety programs, and strengthening resilience against climate change. It is also a major provider of direct cash assistance, and provides passenger services for humanitarian workers through its management of the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS).

WFP is an executive member of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group, a consortium of UN entities that aims to fulfil the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), with a priority to achieve SDG 2, "zero hunger", by 2030.

The World Food Programme was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020 for its efforts to provide food assistance in areas of conflict and to prevent the use of food as a weapon of war and conflict.