Innovation and technology

Every minute and every dollar matter in a humanitarian emergency. The World Food Programme (WFP) uses innovation and technology to respond faster, reduce operational costs and direct more resources towards tackling hunger. Across the organization, employees identify, adapt and scale solutions using technologies such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, blockchain and digital finance.

Practical solutions saving time and money

Innovations are tested in real-world settings and then scaled when they make assistance faster, more efficient or more accessible. Example of solutions include:

More efficient school meal programmes

School Connect replaces time-consuming manual reporting with real-time digital monitoring. Schools can record food deliveries, stock levels, attendance and meal consumption through a centralized system, enabling WFP and governments to address problems more quickly.

Since 2020, the platform has expanded to more than 11,000 schools in 26 countries, tracking over 350 million meals for 3.6 million children. By digitizing manual school meals monitoring processes, School Connect has saved US$2 million in 2025 alone.

Better coordination between humanitarian organizations

In major emergencies, several organizations may assist the same communities. Without effective coordination, support can overlap while other needs remain unmet.

Building Blocks is the world’s largest blockchain-based humanitarian platform. It gives participating organizations a secure way to coordinate assistance while protecting personal data.

Since 2022, the platform has helped avoid US$324 million in unintended overlapping assistance and coordinated support for 6.3 million households. In 2025, 159 organizations used Building Blocks across Palestine, Syria and Ukraine.

Emergency cash within 72 hours

Setting up cash assistance in a new emergency can take months, particularly where banking infrastructure is limited.

Rescue Card is a prepaid and reloadable payment card that enables WFP to provide emergency cash within 72 hours, including to people without access to conventional bank accounts.

In 2025, Rescue Card reached more than 88,000 people in five countries. It delivered operational savings of between 70 and 85 percent during the first 3 months of an emergency.

Making it easier for people to support WFP

Traditional fundraising methods do not always offer people a quick and direct way to support humanitarian operations.

ShareTheMeal is WFP’s fundraising app, enabling people to support families facing hunger with just a few taps on their phones. Users can choose the fundraising goals they care about, make secure donations and follow the impact of their contribution.

Since its launch in 2015, ShareTheMeal has built a community of more than 2 million supporters, who have shared over 300 million meals with people in need.

Investing in digital transformation and innovation

WFP is investing in digital technology to make our operations faster, better connected and more cost-effective. Our Digital Business Transformation Plan will improve access to real-time data for faster and more accurate decision making, strengthen supply-chain visibility and scale solutions that work across WFP and the wider humanitarian sector.

Over five years, the plan is expected to generate savings of up to US$259 million, helping WFP direct more resources towards life-saving assistance.

WFP works with governments, United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations, universities, companies and innovators to develop and scale solutions to humanitarian challenges.

Partnerships help WFP turn innovative ideas into practical solutions. Through the UN Innovation Network and the UN System Advisory Alliance, WFP shares knowledge, builds connections and creates opportunities for collaboration across the UN system.

WFP is seeking more partners who can contribute funding, technology, research and specialist expertise to help improve operational efficiency, strengthen emergency response and support locally led solutions.

Innovation rooted in local needs

WFP develops innovation around the needs of communities and the operational challenges identified by teams on the ground. Country and regional innovation teams work with communities and partners to design and test solutions suited to local contexts.

Promising approaches receive expertise, funding and mentoring from the WFP Innovation Accelerator, helping them grow and reach more people. Guided by the WFP Innovation Strategy 2026–2028, this country-led approach helps WFP scale proven solutions and integrate innovation across programmes and operations.

From promising ideas to impact at scale

Established in 2015, the WFP Innovation Accelerator supports WFP employees, entrepreneurs, start-ups, companies, and non-governmental organizations to source, implement and scale high-impact innovations rooted in local needs.

Its support includes:

sourcing solutions through innovation challenges;
developing solutions through innovation bootcamps;
providing funding and technical support through sprint programmes;
helping proven innovations scale; and
exploring emerging technologies and financing approaches.

In 2025, the Accelerator ran 14 programmes addressing challenges including emergency response, climate change, primary healthcare and gender equality. The WFP Innovation Accelerator is a four-time winner of the Anthem Awards, which recognize social impact work worldwide. The WFP Innovation Accelerator has also been named in several Fast Company Lists, including Innovation Team of the Year, Best Workplaces for Innovators, Most Innovative Companies (Not-For-Profit) and Innovation Leader of the Year finalist