WFP Executive Director calls on world leaders to bring an end to man-made famines
ROME – United Nations World Food Programme’s (WFP) Executive Director, Cindy McCain, this week kicks off the agency’s 2026 efforts to push back on rising levels of extreme hunger at a time when humanitarians confront escalating risks and severe resource constraints.
According to WFP’s 2026 Global Outlook, a staggering 318 million people around the world face crisis levels of hunger or worse. WFP’s early warning systems are sounding the alarm about growing levels of food insecurity due to violent conflicts, extreme weather, and harsh economic downturns. Hundreds of thousands of people are already experiencing famine-like conditions.
“Barely two weeks into the new year the world is already confronting the risk of a dangerous and deepening global hunger crisis,” stressed Executive Director McCain. “WFP’s resolve remains unshaken. We will seize every opportunity to rally the support and resources needed to reach those who depend on us for their survival.”
Executive Director McCain will address WFP’s global team, laying out its top priorities to combat hunger in 2026, in a meeting at the organization’s Rome-based headquarter. These priorities include expanding WFP’s funding base, harnessing the transformative potential of new technologies, and ensuring frontline teams have the support they need to do their jobs safely and effectively. McCain will reiterate the importance of the organization’s four-year Strategic Plan, recently approved by consensus, by the agency’s Executive Board, which equips WFP to achieve the greatest impact with maximum efficiency.
Executive Director McCain, who travels to many of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones and pressing hot spots, will stress that reaching the most vulnerable faster, and scaling impact and efficiencies in increasingly complex environments is more important than ever.
“WFP has proven time and again that early, strategic, and innovative solutions can halt famine, stabilize communities, address the drivers for migration and enable families to recover,” says Executive Director McCain.
However, current forecasts put WFP’s funding at just under half of its needed US$ 13 billion budget to reach 110 million of the world’s most vulnerable, while more complex and dangerous operating environments are making it harder and more dangerous to be a humanitarian. As a result, millions of people may be cut off from vital assistance, threatening lives and the stability of regions.
Executive Director McCain, who regularly speaks on the linkages between hunger and conflict, called on world leaders to prioritize addressing global food insecurity and avert man-made famines.
“WFP can’t end hunger on its own,” said McCain. “Today’s crises require swift, strategic and decisive action. I call on world leaders to step in earlier during humanitarian crises, rid our world of man-made famines, and most importantly, end these devastating conflicts which drive hunger and desperation.”
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The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
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