Republic of Türkiye country strategic plan (2026–2028)

CSP approved at the EB June 2026 session

The Republic of Türkiye, an upper-middle-income country with robust institutions, a dynamic private sector and a diverse food system, has achieved significant economic and social progress, ranking as the world’s 17th largest economy. As a major agricultural exporter, the Republic of Türkiye plays a vital role in regional and global food security, supplying WFP operations worldwide and actively engaging in humanitarian diplomacy to support global relief efforts in several countries where WFP operates, including through the Black Sea Initiative.

Despite these achievements, the Republic of Türkiye faces ongoing challenges, including the hosting of 2.3 million refugees, which for the past 12 years has strained public resources and social cohesion. Although the Government has recorded more than 600,000 voluntary returns between December 2024 and December 2025, most refugees have thus far adopted a “wait and see” approach due to uncertainty around security, limited financial means and humanitarian implications. While the Government has implemented inclusive refugee policies, sustained international support is essential. Inflation, food price fluctuations and income disparities affect access to nutritious food, particularly among people on low incomes and refugees. The country’s exposure to hazards, especially earthquakes, and regional instability present further challenges, underscoring the need for strengthened disaster preparedness and emergency response capacities.

Through this country strategic plan, WFP seeks to strengthen strategic partnerships with the Government and the private sector to enhance the effectiveness of humanitarian interventions, both within the Republic of Türkiye and globally, enabling greater impact with fewer resources. 

Recognizing the strong capacities of the Government, WFP will focus its efforts on filling prioritized gaps by capitalizing on the organization’s comparative advantages in support of refugees, emergency preparedness and response, institutional capacity strengthening and service provision. The plan will also leverage the complementary strengths of WFP and the Republic of Türkiye to enhance global emergency response efforts, combining WFP’s expertise in food assistance and humanitarian supply chains with Türkiye’s geostrategic location, humanitarian leadership and competitive logistics sector in order to work towards the shared goal of addressing global food insecurity. 

Aligned with the Republic of Türkiye’s twelfth national development plan, covering 2024–2028, and the United Nations sustainable development cooperation framework for 2026–2030, WFP’s country strategic plan will contribute to ending hunger. It will be implemented through two interconnected country strategic plan outcomes: 

➢ Outcome 1. Targeted refugees and other crisis-affected people in Türkiye can meet their basic needs, including nutritious food, all year round. Under this outcome WFP will continue working alongside the Government of the Republic of Türkiye to ensure that targeted refugees in camps (temporary accommodation centres or container cities) or in transition, as well as other crisis-affected people, can meet their basic food, nutrition and other essential needs.

➢Outcome 2. By 2028, enhanced strategic partnerships are leveraged to facilitate efficient support to crisis-affected and at-risk people inside and outside of Türkiye, enabling them to meet their basic needs and build resilience. Under this outcome WFP will strengthen strategic partnerships with public and private sector entities, collaborating to improve emergency preparedness and response capacities and reinforcing safety net programmes. WFP will also provide services to humanitarian and development actors. These efforts will enable more efficient and effective support of crisis-affected and at -risk people both within and beyond the Republic of Türkiye. 

This country strategic plan will pave the way for WFP’s responsible exit from programming after June 2028, allowing WFP to leverage the partnerships consolidated under this plan to reposition its presence in Türkiye through a WFP strategic food hub.