The United Nations World Food Programme (UN-WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization dedicated to addressing hunger and promoting food security. The organization was founded in 1961 and is headquartered in Rome, Italy.
The UN-WFP provides food assistance to people affected by conflicts, disasters, and other crises around the world. The organization works to support the most vulnerable populations, including women, children, and refugees, by providing them with nutritious food and other essential support.
Some of the specific areas of focus for the UN-WFP include:
- Providing emergency food assistance to people affected by conflicts and natural disasters, including distributing food rations, providing food vouchers, and supporting local food markets
- Supporting nutrition programs for children and mothers, to address malnutrition and promote healthy development
- Supporting food security and livelihoods programs, to help communities build resilience to future shocks and crises
- Providing school meals and supporting education programs, to help children stay in school and receive the nutrition they need to learn and grow
- Promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment, by supporting women’s participation in food-related activities and addressing gender-based violence.
The UN-WFP works in more than 80 countries around the world, and is funded by voluntary contributions from governments, organizations, and individuals. In addition to its emergency food assistance work, the UN-WFP is also engaged in longer-term development programs aimed at addressing the root causes of hunger and food insecurity.