David Beasley, the charismatic former South Carolina governor who steered the World Food Programme to record fundraising highs, said the United Nations is failing to connect with the public — and to reform itself.
He argued that the United Nations’ survival depends on clearer communication, streamlined agencies, and stronger leadership.
“No one cares or understands what IPC level 3, 4, or 5 means. Explain what it means — are people starving?” he told Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar at Devex’s Impact House during the U.N. General Assembly in New York, referring to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. Beasley led WFP from 2017 to 2023 and was appointed by President Donald Trump during his first administration.
Printing articles to share with others is a breach of our terms and conditions and copyright policy. Please use the sharing options on the left side of the article. Devex Pro members may share up to 10 articles per month using the Pro share tool ( ).
About the author
Ayenat Mersie
Ayenat Mersie is a Global Development Reporter for Devex. Previously, she worked as a freelance journalist for publications such as National Geographic and Foreign Policy and as an East Africa correspondent for Reuters.
