WFP 2013

This report presents the results of an assessment of the World Food Programme (WFP) conducted by the Multilateral Organisation Performance Assessment Network (MOPAN). The MOPAN Common Approach
examines organisational systems, practices, and behaviours that MOPAN believes are important for aid effectiveness. It also examines the extent to which there is evidence of an organisation’s contributions to
development and/or humanitarian results, and relevance to stakeholders at the country level.

WFP, established in 1961, is the largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. It is characterised by a dual mandate to avert starvation in humanitarian crises through food assistance delivered through
emergency operations that fill food gaps in the short-term, and also via programmes that promote longterm development and thereby break the deeply rooted hunger-poverty cycle.
In response to the changing and evermore global nature of the hunger challenge, WFP’s Strategic Plan for the 2008-2013 period repositioned the organisation from a food aid to a food assistance agency, expanding
the range of approaches and instruments WFP uses to help the food insecure, such as vouchers and cash transfers, new food products, and local purchase schemes.

WFP relies entirely on voluntary contributions to carry out its programme of work, having no pre-existing budget generated by assessed contributions, dues, core funding or financial endowments (unlike most
other UN funds and programmes). Other than for a small proportion of funding received through multiyear agreements, WFP must raise the bulk of the resources required to meet its projected needs on an
annual basis.

Since 2012, WFP has been undergoing reforms to strengthen the organisation. Major change processes currently underway include a restructuring of the organisation to better align its design around strategic
priorities, the strengthening of resource management at the country level, the comprehensive review of human resource core processes, development of new approaches to communication and learning, and
implementation of a single, streamlined system to improve performance monitoring and reporting.

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