Social protection

Every year, the World Food Programme (WFP) provides vital food and nutrition assistance to around 100 million people. Yet, the number of people who do not have enough to eat worldwide is much higher – currently estimated at up to 811 million.

National social protection systems reach billions of people across the globe. Investing in strengthening those systems can improve outcomes among the several hundred million hungry and malnourished—and those at risk—whom we don't reach directly.

Helping governments to scale up and enhance social protection is a key pathway towards a zero-hunger world. WFP works with governments and partners to ensure that by 2030 people will have substantially increased access to national social protection systems that safeguard and foster their ability to meet their food security, nutrition and associated essential needs, and to manage the risks and shocks they face. 

WFP has a long history of supporting the design and delivery of nationally led social protection, providing technical advice and/or implementing programmes on governments’ behalf as needed.  In addition, WFP’s own programmes are often implemented in ways that are complementary to national social protection. 

Leveraging its presence and experience, WFP offers expertise across all elements of policy and programme design and delivery within the limits of our mandate and capacities. WFP’s new strategy for Support to Social Protection consolidates our approach to social protection for the years ahead.