World Food Programme (WFP)
The World Food Programme is the United Nations' food assistance agency, which describes itself as the world's largest humanitarian organisation. It works in over 120 countries and territories, has about 20,000 staff, and says two-thirds of its work is in conflict-affected countries. WFP says it assisted 121 million people in 2025. It is funded entirely by voluntary contributions, which totalled US$6.5 billion in 2025, and its 2026 requirement is US$13 billion to reach 110 million people. A 36-member Executive Board is its supreme governing body, and an Executive Director is appointed jointly by the UN Secretary-General and the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization for a five-year term. Luke J. Lindberg was named the next Executive Director in September 2026.
Who leads it
- Acting Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director: Carl Skau (since 2026-06-01) (wfp.org)
- Executive Director-designate: Luke J. Lindberg (named 18 September 2026; start date not stated) (wfp.org)
- President of the Executive Board: Carla Barroso Carneiro (Brazil) (wfp.org)
- Chief Financial Officer: Christophe Monier (since 2026-08) (wfp.org)
The UK and the WFP
The UK was WFP's fourth-largest donor in 2025, giving US$435,167,050 according to WFP's contributions page as of 16 February 2026. For 2026 to 19 October it ranked seventh with US$211,148,110. WFP does not list the UK's seat on its Executive Board on the pages reviewed.
Key figures
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| People assisted (2025) | 121 million | WFP, read 23 October 2026 |
| Voluntary contributions received (2025 (as of 16 February 2026)) | US$6,520,399,307 | WFP, read 23 October 2026 |
| Contributions year to date (2026 (as of 19 October 2026)) | US$5,718,535,914 | WFP, read 23 October 2026 |
| Funding requirement (2026) | US$13 billion to reach 110 million people | WFP, read 23 October 2026 |
| Staff and presence (Current) | About 20,000 staff in over 120 countries and territories | WFP, read 23 October 2026 |
| Executive Board (Current) | 36 member states | WFP, read 23 October 2026 |
| Executive Director's term (Current) | Five years, appointed jointly by the UN Secretary-General and FAO Director-General | WFP, read 23 October 2026 |
| Largest 2025 donor (2025) | United States, US$2,065,857,846; Germany third at US$570,005,126; UK fourth at US$435,167,050 | WFP, read 23 October 2026 |
| Government contributions going to operations (Current) | 93.5 per cent | WFP, read 23 October 2026 |
What it decides
- The Executive Board, WFP's supreme governing body of 36 member states, oversees WFP's policies, programmes and management.
- The UN Secretary-General and the FAO Director-General jointly appoint the Executive Director for a fixed five-year term.
- WFP decides where to run emergency food, cash and voucher assistance, within its funding requirement of US$13 billion for 2026.
- WFP runs school meals programmes and serves as secretariat of the School Meals Coalition.
- WFP leads the Logistics Cluster and the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster for the humanitarian system.
- It operates the UN Humanitarian Air Service, which carried 239,000 passengers in 2025.
Timeline
- 1962: WFP is launched; A.H. Boerma becomes the first Executive Director in May 1962. (wfp.org)
- 1992: Catherine Bertini begins ten years as Executive Director. (wfp.org)
- 2017: David Beasley becomes Executive Director. (wfp.org)
- 2020: WFP receives the Nobel Peace Prize. (wfp.org)
- 2023: Cindy McCain becomes Executive Director. (wfp.org)
- 2026-06-01: Carl Skau becomes Acting Executive Director after McCain leaves in May 2026. (wfp.org)
- 2026-09-18: Luke J. Lindberg is named the next Executive Director. (wfp.org)
How it is held to account
- WFP says it conducts independent audits and evaluations and publishes financial data through IATI (WFP overview).
- The 36-member Executive Board is WFP's supreme governing body (WFP governance page).
- The Executive Director has a fixed five-year term and is appointed jointly by the UN Secretary-General and FAO Director-General.
- WFP publishes contributions by donor and year, with the date each figure was taken.
- Independent evaluation and internal audit and investigations functions are listed on the WFP website.
Records you can check
- WFP contributions in 2025Donor-by-donor contributions for 2025 with totals
- WFP contributions in 2026Year-to-date donor contributions, updated regularly
- Governance and leadershipExecutive Board, Executive Director and senior leadership
- Previous Executive DirectorsEvery Executive Director since 1962
- WFP at a glance2025 results by sector and 2026 requirement
- WFP overviewScale, funding model and accountability statement
Common questions
What is the World Food Programme?
WFP describes itself as the world's largest humanitarian organisation and the UN's food assistance agency. It saves lives in emergencies and uses food assistance to support peace, stability and recovery. It has about 20,000 staff in over 120 countries and territories and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.
Who runs the World Food Programme?
Carl Skau has been Acting Executive Director since 1 June 2026 after Cindy McCain stepped down. Luke J. Lindberg was named the next Executive Director in September 2026 by the UN Secretary-General and FAO Director-General. WFP's Executive Board of 36 member states is its supreme governing body.
How is WFP funded?
WFP says it relies entirely on voluntary contributions from governments, institutions, corporations and individuals. Contributions totalled US$6,520,399,307 in 2025 as of 16 February 2026, and US$5,718,535,914 for 2026 as of 19 October. It says 93.5 per cent of government contributions go directly to operations.
How much does the UK give to WFP?
WFP's contributions page shows the United Kingdom as the fourth-largest donor in 2025, at US$435,167,050 as of 16 February 2026. For 2026 up to 19 October it ranks seventh at US$211,148,110. The United States remains the largest donor in both years.
How many people does WFP help?
WFP says it assisted 121 million people in 2025 and delivered 15.8 billion daily rations. For 2026 it aims to reach 110 million people with a funding requirement of US$13 billion, against 266 million people it describes as acutely hungry.
Who appoints the WFP Executive Director?
The UN Secretary-General and the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization appoint the Executive Director jointly, for a fixed term of five years, according to WFP. Guterres and Qu Dongyu named Luke J. Lindberg in September 2026 after consulting the Executive Board at a special session in Rome.
How is WFP held to account?
WFP says it conducts independent audits and evaluations and has published financial data through the International Aid Transparency Initiative since 2012. Its Executive Board is the supreme governing body, and WFP publishes contributions by donor each year on its website.
Other bodies at level 8
- Commonwealth of Nations
- International Court of Justice
- International Criminal Court
- International Labour Organization
- Interpol
- NATO
- UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
- United Nations (General Assembly and Security Council)
- United Nations Children's Fund
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- United Nations Security Council
- World Health Organization
- World Trade Organization
Sources
- WFP overview, read 23 October 2026
- Governance and leadership, read 23 October 2026
- Previous Executive Directors, read 23 October 2026
- Statement by Executive Board President on appointment of new Executive Director, read 23 October 2026
- Contributions to WFP in 2025, read 23 October 2026
- Contributions to WFP in 2026, read 23 October 2026
- WFP at a Glance, read 23 October 2026