The Pacific Island Countries and Territories are among the most disaster-prone in the world, facing frequent and compounding hazards including tropical cyclones, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis and coastal flooding.

These recurrent shocks intensify underlying structural vulnerabilities. Supply chain and logistical constraints impede emergency response, service delivery and access to markets, while under-resourced telecommunications systems limit the reach and coordination of disaster efforts.

At the same time, fragile, import-dependent food systems contribute to a growing triple burden of malnutrition (undernutrition, overnutrition or obesity, and micronutrient deficiency) and non-communicable diseases. Together, these interlinked challenges not only deepen the region’s exposure to crisis but also erode its capacity to recover. Strengthening local systems, particularly in supporting governments in managing and mitigating disasters, is therefore central to advancing resilience and reducing disaster risks across the Pacific.

The World Food Programme provides government partners with technical assistance, coordination and training in supply chain and logistics, emergency telecommunications, and food security and nutrition. We enhance access to disaster risk financing and inclusive shock-responsive social protection systems that focus on those most at risk of being left behind.

What the World Food Programme is doing in the Pacific

Emergency preparedness and response
WFP Pacific plays a central role in enhancing emergency preparedness and response across the region, enabling governments and regional partners to act with greater speed and efficiency. Through its leadership in the Logistics, Emergency Telecommunications, and Food Security Clusters, WFP provides critical technical assistance, information management, and coordination support before and during emergencies. We also lead cash coordination and readiness efforts, ensuring flexible, people-centred solutions are in place ahead of disasters.
Supply chain and logistics
Through the WFP-led Pacific Logistics Cluster, WFP supports governments and partners across the region in strengthening emergency logistics preparedness and responding effectively to crises. This includes technical guidance and coordination support in humanitarian logistics and supply chain operations. WFP assesses logistics capacity, improves structural preparedness and enhances business processes to foster more efficient and resilient humanitarian operations and supply chains, while also supporting national stocks and capacities through pre-positioning. Additionally, WFP partners with the Pacific Community to build local capacity in humanitarian logistics and strengthen warehousing systems.
Emergency telecommunications
Leading the Pacific Emergency Telecommunications Cluster, and working with Pacific governments and global and regional partners, WFP delivers targeted technical support, coordinates emergency telecommunications efforts, and strategically pre-positions critical assets. To improve disaster readiness, WFP conducts ICT capacity assessments that inform national coordination frameworks and disaster risk reduction strategies. These assessments have guided the development of tailored training programmes, including the launch of the Pacific Waves Training Alliance – a regional initiative aimed at cultivating a skilled emergency telecommunications responder community.
Food Security and nutrition monitoring
Using its mobile Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping tool, WFP has supported governments and partners in accessing real-time data on food security and nutrition, with a focus on vulnerable populations. This enables more targeted and evidence-based responses. To further build national capacity, WFP provides training to governments in digital data collection, analysis and visualization. Ultimately, these efforts aim to enable Pacific governments to independently and sustainably integrate food security and nutrition monitoring into their national systems.
Disaster risk financing
WFP partners with the private sector to offer market-based disaster risk financing solutions, helping governments cover disaster losses and enabling faster, more cost-effective, and predictable responses to climate and disaster shocks. WFP works with the governments of Fiji and Tonga on pilot initiatives to deliver anticipatory cash assistance to vulnerable populations ahead of tropical cyclones. Building on these successes, WFP aims to expand and tailor anticipatory action approaches across other Pacific Island countries, enhancing regional resilience and preparedness against climate-related hazards.
Anticipatory action
WFP supports Pacific countries in reinforcing food systems, from local production to emergency response. WFP supports the design of nutritious, context-specific emergency food baskets and conducts training to enhance preparedness across government agencies. These activities foster more coordinated, locally led and effective responses to both slow- and sudden-onset shocks. Moreover, WFP promotes nutritious diets as a key strategy to address the high rates of Non-Communicable Diseases in the region. This includes supporting governments with enhanced data on the cost of a healthy diet and providing technical assistance in the design and delivery of school-based programmes that promote healthy eating habits from an early age.
Services upon request
In response to sudden-onset shocks and at the request of governments, WFP has delivered vital support to national emergency efforts. A recent example is WFP’s support following the 2024 Vanuatu earthquake, where we swiftly activated the Pacific Humanitarian Air Service to transport humanitarian personnel and cargo. In coordination with the National Disaster Management Office and key government clusters, WFP deployed experts to bolster logistics, emergency telecommunications and food security efforts. At the government’s request, WFP also provided vital telecommunications equipment and mobile storage units.

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Partners and donors

Achieving Zero Hunger is the work of many. Our work in the Pacific is made possible by the support and collaboration of our partners and donors, including:
Australia European Union France Japan Republic of Korea

Operations in The Pacific

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Contacts

Office

• Address: Level 2, Ra Marama House, 91 Gordon Street
Suva,
Fiji

Email
Pacific.Contact@wfp.org
For media inquiries
Pacific.Contact@wfp.org
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