The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) received $419 million in flexible funding in 2019, representing 5 percent of WFP\u2019s total contributions \u2013 well below the high-watermark of 19 percent in 2002.<\/p>\n
Flexible \u2013 or unearmarked \u2013 funding means that WFP can determine where and how money is used. It gives WFP the flexibility it needs to respond quickly to unparalleled needs and multiple large-scale hunger emergencies across the world. It also allows WFP to fund neglected crises and deliver vital food assistance to those most in need.<\/p>\n
\u201cFlexible funding allows us to be more effective and efficient. We can respond more quickly, save costs and ensure maximum impact for every dollar we receive. Put simply, this mode of funding means that we can save and change more lives every year,\u201d says WFP Executive Director David Beasley.<\/p>\n
The levels of flexible funding for WFP are falling and represented just five percent of the total resources provided to the agency in 2019. The decrease goes against the aspirations of the agreement known as the \u201cGrand Bargain,\u201d which was concluded at the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016. Here, leading government donors committed to progressively increase flexible funding with the aim of reaching a global target of 30 percent of humanitarian funding by 2020.<\/p>\n
\u201cDonors of flexible funds are true champions \u2013 promoting effective cooperation and ambitious partnerships to make a permanent difference in the lives of the people we serve. I urge all WFP donors to increase the proportion of flexible funding they provide as part of their generous support,\u201d says WFP Executive Director Beasley.<\/p>\n
In 2019, the top donors of flexible funds included Sweden, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Australia, Canada and Ireland, while Switzerland, Belgium and Germany were top donors to WFP\u2019s Immediate Response Account \u2013 which is WFP\u2019s life-saving funding facility that allows WFP to respond rapidly to emergencies.<\/p>\n
In Zimbabwe, flexible funds are helping WFP to save lives as 7.7 million people are caught up in the country\u2019s worst hunger crisis in a decade.<\/p>\n
In Cox\u2019s Bazar in Bangladesh, where one million Rohingya refugees have sought sanctuary, flexible funding has allowed WFP to continue its life-saving assistance in the camps through food distributions and electronic vouchers with which beneficiaries can pay for their essential needs.<\/p>\n
In Colombia, flexible funds are helping provide food assistance to address the vulnerabilities of Venezuelan migrants.<\/p>\n
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The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) received $419 million in flexible funding in 2019, representing 5 percent of WFP\u2019s total contributions \u2013 well below the high-watermark of 19 percent in 2002. Flexible \u2013 or unearmarked \u2013 funding means that WFP can determine where and how money is used. It gives WFP the flexibility it […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":410,"featured_media":51252,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[984,6030],"tags":[6990,6331],"yoast_head":"\n