When war broke out in Syria, Muna—an Iraqi refugee—was forced to flee to Lebanon with her family. Her grocery list transformed overnight—from the fresh foods she loved to buy in local markets to what she and her family had no choice but to eat to survive.
This is the story about how Muna’s family found their way back—thanks to ZeroHunger Heroes like you who are helping the World Food Programme (WFP) save and change lives.
The image most associated with food aid is one of distribution points, long lines and bags of rice. But as the world evolves, so too does the assistance provided by WFP.
The world’s leading humanitarian agency fighting hunger is striving to make food assistance a dignified and human experience. In developed markets bags of rices have transformed into simple electronic cards, allowing refugees far from home to define their own food preferences at local shops.
Take Lebanon, where WFP operates entirely on cash assistance. The humanitarian agency has established a retail team to support its 500 contracted shops in providing quality products, fair prices and kind customer service. With the support of WFP’s Innovation Accelerator and staff in the Lebanon Country Office, the Dalili — or ‘my guide’ in Arabic — smartphone app was created as part of this commercial approach to humanitarian assistance.
Dalili provides information on nearby shops, food prices and promotions at stores where refugees like Muna can redeem their assistance. While the platform is simple, its effect is multifaceted: It has a positive impact on refugees, encourages competition among retailers and strengthens the local economy.
And now, its benefits are available nationwide.
