Emergency Food Support in Africa - World Food Programme 2012

February 2012 - Established in 1961 the World Food Programme (WFP) is the food assistance arm of the United Nations and is the largest humanitarian organization fighting hunger in the world. WFP provides food assistance to vulnerable populations as a means of addressing hunger and global food insecurity. WFP has demonstrated knowledge and capacity to address the urgent food needs of vulnerable populations and to contribute to fighting global hunger. Given WFP’s presence and capacity there are no other agencies that are able to perform the same functions on a similar scale as WFP. CIDA funding is supporting WFP food assistance operations in various countries in Africa in 2012. WFP’s main programming areas in humanitarian contexts are the provision of food assistance to address acute malnutrition and food insecurity and the protection of livelihoods.

Expected outputs include: the provision of safe water and sanitation facilities through the rehabilitation of water points and latrines and the provision of hygiene kits; and cash grants and livestock provided for female-headed households and farmers. The expected intermediate outcome is reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected people especially women and children.