The World Food Programme (WFP) is the United Nations frontline agency mandated to combat global hunger. The WFP seeks to reduce chronic hunger and undernutrition around the world, especially in emergency and post-disaster contexts. It also works to strengthen the capacity of countries to reduce hunger by improving infrastructure, teaching about nutrition, and connection farmers with stable markets. WFP is well placed to play a major role in the continuum from emergency relief to development. WFP will give priority to supporting disaster prevention, preparedness and mitigation and post-disaster rehabilitation activities as part of development programs. Conversely, emergency assistance will be used to the extent possible to serve both relief and development purposes.

The core policies and strategies that govern WFP activities are to provide food aid:

• To save lives in refugee and other emergency situations;
• To improve the nutrition and quality of life of the most vulnerable people at critical times in their lives;
• To help build assets and promote the self-reliance of poor people and communities, particularly through labour-intensive works programs.