WFP’s ultimate goal is to help communities move from food assistance to self-sufficiency
Through programs like Food For Assets, WFP provides food in exchange for work on vital infrastructure projects
like water reservoirs and irrigation systems that build resilience against future food shortages.
Take, for example, Halwo lives in Somalia. In 2011, Halwo and her neighbors were devastated by a drought that forced them to trek nearly 6 miles every day to fetch water. It was not uncommon for women to be attacked on the long journey alone. But by supporting Halwo‘s community with food aid in exchange for work on a new water reservoir, WFP and a local partner called Alliance Organization Aid have enhanced the community’s resilience against future droughts. Today, the water reservoir, known as the Dawaacale pan, provides enough water for 3,000 people and their livestock. In fact, plans are already underway to expand the reservoir’s capacity so it can serve an even greater number and help the community become self-sufficient. “It is really a blessing for us,” Halwo says.
Because half of the world’s hungry people are small-scale farmers, WFP is also leveraging its power as one of the world’s major food buyers by purchasing from local farmers whenever possible. The program— called Purchase for Progress— offers small-scale farmers a reliable buyer and a fair price for their crops, as well as technical assistance and support. Since the program’s inception in 2008, WFP has contracted $145 million worth of food from small-scale farmers. By raising farmers’ incomes and expanding local markets, Purchase for Progress drives agricultural growth in 20 of the world’s poorest countries and empowers communities in the fight against chronic hunger.
More than 90% of WFP’s 13,500 employees are based in the field, where they coordinate relief efforts, monitor progress and help communities achieve self-sufficiency
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