World Food Program USA’s Top Advocacy and Policy Moments of 2022

In 2022, the world faced the largest global hunger crisis in modern history. In response, thanks to the support of our advocates, the United States government provided a record $7.2 billion in total to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) through a combination of cash and U.S.-grown commodities (like corn and wheat). This historic funding allowed the U.N. World Food Programme to provide lifesaving assistance to people facing severe hunger in over 55 countries across the globe. And our work didn’t stop there.

Let’s take a look back at what our Public Policy team and supporters accomplished together in 2022.

1) Congress Approved $5 Billion for Global Food Security

By May 2022, three months after the war began in Ukraine, global food prices and hunger levels had risen to record levels. Tens of millions of people around the world stood on the precipice of starvation.

In response to this unprecedented crisis, World Food Program USA joined a coalition of more than 20 advocacy partners to call on Congress to approve $5 billion in funding for the global food security and humanitarian crisis. Through 1,730 letters, World Food Program USA advocates asked over 400 Members of Congress to pass this emergency funding bill.

As a result, Congress approved the single largest amount of supplemental funding for a global hunger emergency in U.S. history.

The U.N. World Food Programme serves over 100 million people in more than 120 countries and territories.

2) World Food Program USA Public Policy Delegation Visited Kenya

In November, our Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer Rebecca Middleton led a delegation to see the U.N. World Food Programme’s life-changing work in Kenya. The delegation spent time at the Kakuma refugee settlement, met with small-scale farmers in central Kenya and learned about nutrition and skill-building programs in Kibera.

Thanks to the $5 billion in supplemental funding, the U.N. World Food Programme was able to increase ration sizes for beneficiaries at the Kakuma refugee settlement. As a result, the settlement saw a decline in conflict and malnutrition rates.

In 2022, the U.N. World Food Programme rapidly scaled up operations in Kenya to the meet the needs of communities affected by the devastating drought.

3) House of Representatives Passed McGovern-Dole Resolution

In December, the House of Representatives passed H. Res 1156 which reaffirmed their support for the George McGovern-Robert Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program. This program has improved the food security and nutrition of millions of schoolchildren around the world.

The United States is the largest donor to the U.N. World Food Programme’s school meals program, primarily through McGovern-Dole. Throughout 2022, World Food Program USA advocates took action and asked their Members of Congress to co-sponsor and support the resolution for this vital program.

Did you know World Food Program USA has a long history with the McGovern-Dole program? Click here to learn more.  

School meals are key to breaking the cycle of hunger and poverty by increasing school enrollment and improving the overall health of children.

4) World Food Program USA’s Advocacy Network Grew

In 2021, our advocacy program began with only 500 advocates. Since then, we have grown our network to over 6,000 advocates across the country – that’s 12 times more people using their voices to bring attention to issues like gender equity and hunger.

Along with thousands of others, our advocates brought the issue of the global hunger crisis to the forefront of the U.S. Congress.

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Our work is only possible because of your support and advocacy. Stick with us in 2023 and beyond to help build a world without hunger. Visit our Advocacy Hub to learn more and get involved today.