The Executive Board reconvenes from 24 to 26 February for Part II of the first regular session, following Part I held in January for the election of the Bureau.
The 2026 First Regular Session marks the 30th anniversary of the WFP Executive Board. Established following General Assembly resolution 48/162 and FAO resolution 9/95, the 36‑member Board held its first regular session on 22–23 January 1996, replacing the former Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes (CFA) and ushering in WFP’s modern era of intergovernmental governance.
The session will open with the Executive Director’s remarks, outlining current and future opportunities and challenges for WFP and setting the tone for the two‑and‑a‑half‑day meeting.
The afternoon begins with the Oral global overview of humanitarian needs and operational concerns, with the Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer providing the latest operational picture across regions. The Board will also receive an oral update on the UN80 initiative, highlighting UN‑wide reforms to strengthen coherence, efficiency and collaboration, and their implications for WFP’s operations.
The Board will consider the Compendium of policies relating to the strategic plan, a consolidated reference tool outlining all policies that support the implementation of WFP’s strategic plan. The Board will also review the update on the implementation of the Changing Lives Transformation Fund, which highlights progress in transitioning activities from humanitarian assistance to resilience.
Oversight discussions give the Board a consolidated view of WFP’s performance, risks and learning. Among the reports tabled for discussion are:
- Summary report on the evaluation of WFP’s Supply Chain Strategic Roadmap (2022–2025): the evaluation notes strong ambitions and important efficiency gains, while identifying opportunities to strengthen integration, uptake and resourcing. Findings recommend updating the roadmap to guide WFP’s evolving supply chain work.
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Summary report on the strategic evaluation of WFP’s approaches to targeting and prioritization for food and nutrition assistance: the evaluation finds approaches broadly fit for purpose and increasingly data‑informed, while highlighting the need for greater consistency, transparency and systems support to help WFP better reach those most in need.
The Board will review several Country strategic plans, each presented alongside findings from their respective evaluation reports.
The Board will receive an update on the implementation of the governance review recommendations, noting that 65 percent of recommendations were implemented by end‑2025, with 79 percent expected by the close of this session—strengthening governance across strategy, policy, oversight and accountability. It will also consider measures to streamline documentation and processes, including defining the categories of items submitted to the Board under for decision and for information, reinforcing word limits, and introducing deadlines for documentation for informal meetings to improve the strategic value of Board feedback.
Side events and exhibit launch
Advancing food security in the Sahel: Reflections and pathways forward
24 February, 13:30-14:30, Auditorium (livestream available)
The side event on the Central Sahel will explore the evolving humanitarian context, challenges, and pathways to strengthen food security and resilience across Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. The event will open with reflections from WFP leadership and draw on perspectives from WFP’s Country Director in Burkina Faso, the Permanent Representative of Mali, and WFP’s Regional Director for Western and Central Africa, formerly Country Director for Niger.
Launch of the exhibit: Building resilient food systems: Youth at the heart of change
25 February, 09:20-09:40, Red Foyer
The exhibit highlights WFP’s flagship partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and its impact across eight African countries, featuring youth stories, multimedia and interactive displays on food systems transformation. It will open with remarks from WFP leadership and a keynote by Assistant Executive Director Rania Dagash‑Kamara, followed by reflections from the Foundation before delegates explore the week‑long display.
Africa Day of School Feeding: strengthening learning through nutritious, healthy home-grown school meals
25 February, 13:30-14:30, Auditorium (livestream available)
The event will spotlight African leadership in expanding home‑grown school meals and the importance of integrated approaches linking nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene. Moderated by France, it will open with remarks from the Executive Director and include reflections from representatives of Angola, the African Union, FAO and IFAD. The discussion will examine how political commitment is driving progress across the region, where over 86 million children now receive school meals and school feeding has seen the world’s fastest growth.
The session will conclude with closing remarks by the Executive Director, offering her reflections on the Board’s deliberations during the session.
Follow the proceedings via https://executiveboard.wfp.org/live.
Executive Board session agenda and background documentation: https://executiveboard.wfp.org/meeting/1981