WFP was created in 1961 as an experiment to provide food aid through the UN system and in 1965, it was enshrined as a fully-fledged UN programme. It launched its 1st development program in Sudan.
Headquarters: Rome, Italy
Since then, WFP has been forefront at the conflict-ridden countries like for humanitarian assistance to the hungry and needy people. Globally, WFP functions in more than 83 countries including India, reaching 86.7 million people.
Aim: To eradicate hunger and malnutrition with the ultimate goal of eliminating the need for food aid itself.
It is a member of the United Nations Development Group and part of its Executive Committee.
Funding: Its operations are funded entirely by voluntary donations from world governments, corporations and private donors. It raised US$8 billion in 2019
WFP is governed by a 36-member Executive Board and partners with more than 1,000 national and international NGOs to provide food assistance and tackle the underlying causes of hunger.