Cuba country strategic plan (2026–2030)

CSP approved by the EB June 2026 session

Cuba's long-standing policy of providing free and universal access to basic services has historically reduced poverty and hunger. People's right to food is enshrined in the constitution approved in 2019, which also sets the goal of achieving food security for all people, reinforced by the law on food sovereignty and food and nutrition security of 2022. 

Nonetheless, significant food security and nutrition challenges remain. In the aftermath of the 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic, Cuba has been experiencing an economic crisis with high inflation and eroded purchasing power which – combined with the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed on Cuba and the repeated exposure to and increased occurrence of disasters and natural hazards – has hindered the availability of and economic access to food for the overall population. As a result, the diet of the average household is often inadequate in terms of energy intake and is insufficiently healthy or diverse. Micronutrient deficiencies, overweight and obesity are growing health concerns, especially among population groups who are nutritionally vulnerable. 

Against this backdrop, WFP has formulated a five-year country strategic plan for Cuba which is fully aligned with the United Nations sustainable development cooperation framework for 2026–2030, the Government’s national economic and social development plan 2030 and other national priorities. Through the plan, WFP seeks to address the needs of the most vulnerable populations in a context of growing needs and resource constraints.

The country strategic plan comprises four fully integrated outcomes: 

➢ Outcome 1. Populations affected by and vulnerable to crises meet their food needs before, during and after shocks. WFP will provide nutrition-sensitive food assistance, before, during and in the aftermath of shocks. In parallel, it will strengthen country capacity in disaster risk management and improve the shock-responsiveness of the social protection system. 

➢ Outcome 2. Nutritionally vulnerable groups have improved access to diverse and nutritious diets throughout their life cycle. WFP will leverage its expertise to enhance the capacity of the social protection system and ensure the optimal use of increasingly scarce public resources. This support is aimed at facilitating the delivery of nutritious food and nutrient supplements to people whose food security and nutrition status are most at risk throughout their life cycles. 

➢ Outcome 3. Food systems actors are increasingly able to meet local food demand and enhance their resilience to climate stressors and shocks. WFP will support food system actors by promoting their access to private and institutional markets, including school meal programmes, and assisting them in becoming more resilient. 

➢ Outcome 4: Disaster-affected people and vulnerable populations benefit from enhanced supply chain and on-demand services provided to emergency response actors delivering assistance during, in the aftermath and in anticipation of shocks. WFP will support emergency response actors in reaching shock-affected populations. 

Building on evidence from the implementation of previous activities, WFP plans to scale up innovative initiatives, such as locally sourced school meals for children in rural primary schools, as well as digital solutions and disaster risk financing. WFP will also reinforce measures to enhance accountability to affected people, nutrition integration, protection from sexual exploitation and abuse, and efforts to advance equality