Founded in 1961 and headquartered in Rome, Italy, its primary mission is to provide life-saving food assistance during emergencies and to work with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. In recognition of its extensive efforts to combat hunger, foster peace in conflict-affected areas, and prevent the use of food as a weapon of war, the WFP was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.
The organization operates in more than 120 countries and territories, delivering critical assistance to over 150 million people annually who are victims of conflict, climate shocks, epidemics, and poverty. WFP’s emergency response infrastructure allows it to deploy food, cash transfers, and medical supplies to disaster zones within hours. Beyond immediate crisis relief, the program actively runs long-term development initiatives, such as school feeding programs, which incentivize education while ensuring children receive necessary daily nutrients to thrive.
As a completely voluntarily funded agency, the WFP relies entirely on donations from governments, corporations, and individual donors to sustain its global operations. It acts as the backbone of international humanitarian logistics, managing complex supply chains that transport aid by air, land, and sea to the most remote corners of the globe. By aligning its operations with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals—specifically Goal 2: Zero Hunger—the WFP continues to lead the global fight to eliminate malnutrition and achieve food security for all.
