Loved by many for his Southern charm and unapologetic Christianity, David Beasley is pilloried in equal measure for his management style and unofficial diplomacy. But like or dislike him, it’s hard to deny the former governor of South Carolina has been a highly effective fundraiser for the World Food Programme.
As global hunger has soared following the COVID-19 pandemic and the increasingly dire effects of climate change and conflict on food security, Beasley has raised record amounts of money as executive director of the humanitarian organization. Last year, WFP raised $14.2 billion, more than double the $6 billion in 2017, the year he took office.
Yet the money is not enough, he laments. An estimated 350 million people in 49 countries are “at famine’s door,” and WFP is forced to cut rations amid budget shortfalls. We’re “taking away from the hungry to feed the starving,” Beasley often repeats.