World Food Programme (WFP)

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. On average, WFP aims to bring food assistance to more than 80 million people in 75 countries. As the United Nations frontline agency in the fight against hunger, WFP is continually responding to emergencies. They save lives by getting food to the hungry fast. But WFP also works to help prevent hunger in the future. They do this through programmes that use food as a means to build assets, spread knowledge and nurture stronger, more dynamic communities. This helps communities become more food secure. WFP has developed expertise in a range of areas including Food Security Analysis, Nutrition, Food Procurement and Logistics to ensure the best solutions for the world's hungry.   Mission Statement WFP is the food aid arm of the United Nations system. Food aid is one of the many instruments that can help to promote food security, which is defined as access of all people at all times to the food needed for an active and healthy life. The policies governing the use of World Food Programme food aid must be oriented towards the objective of eradicating hunger and poverty. The ultimate objective of food aid should be the elimination of the need for food aid. Targeted interventions are needed to help to improve the lives of the poorest people - people who, either permanently or during crisis periods, are unable to produce enough food or do not have the resources to otherwise obtain the food that they and their households require for active and healthy lives.   Consistent with its mandate, which also reflects the principle of universality, WFP will continue to: use food aid to support economic and social development; meet refugee and other emergency food needs, and the associated logistics support; and promote world food security in accordance with the recommendations of the United Nations and FAO. The core policies and strategies that govern WFP activities are to provide food aid: to save lives in refugee and other emergency situations; to improve the nutrition and quality of life of the most vulnerable people at critical times in their lives; and to help build assets and promote the self-reliance of poor people and communities, particularly through labour-intensive works programmes.    WFP in Numbers A total of 80 million people in 75 countries were reached by WFP assistance in 2013. Of which, 67.9 million are women and children 4.2 million are refugees 8.9 million are Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) 1.3 million are affected by HIV/AIDS