WFP Executive Board Gears Up for its 2024 First Regular Session

As the world grapples with ongoing crises ranging from conflict and climate change to the persistent challenges of hunger and food insecurity, the Executive Board will convene for its first regular session.

The session, scheduled to take place from 26 to 28 February, will be a crucial platform for member states to provide strategic guidance as WFP confronts rising global needs with pre-COVID levels of funding.  In this context, the Executive Board is gearing up to discuss a range of critical items, including an update on the organization structural review and 2024 budget, the reassurance action plan, 8 Country Strategic Plans (CSPs) and 3 evaluation reports and related management responses.

• Adoption of the Agenda, Election of the Bureau and appointment of the Rapporteur: The session will commence with the adoption of the agenda and then move to the election of the 2024 Executive Board Bureau. The Executive Board will elect among its members a President, a Vice-President and three other Bureau members, as well as their alternates. As per the rotational cycle, the Presidency will now move to List A, and the Vice-Presidency to List D in 2024; List B for the Rapporteur.  
• Opening remarks by the Executive Director: The Executive Director will make her opening remarks addressing the Board highlighting the organization's achievements, challenges and strategic priorities. 
• CSPs: The session will feature presentations and discussions on 7 CSPs (Chad, Gambia, Mauritania, Madagascar, Burundi, Bhutan and the Philippines) and 1 interim CSP (Moldova), focusing on priority areas for WFP interventions and collaboration with national governments and partners to address food insecurity and malnutrition. Additionally, three of these will feature presentations on evaluation reports and management responses regarding past CSPs. Following the approval of each CSP, government representatives will deliver interventions in support of the newly approved CSPs. 
• Implementation of the Doha Programme of Action for the least developed countries (DPoA): The DPoA is a comprehensive framework adopted by the international community to address the unique development challenges faced by the world's least developed countries. Integrated into WFP’s activities, the DPoA has the potential to enhance efforts to address food insecurity and promote sustainable development in the world's poorest countries.  
• Oral update on the organization structural review and the 2024 budget: As announced by the Executive Director, the launch of WFP’s new organizational structure, effective as of 15 February, “marks an important new phase in WFP’s realignment as we adapt to the new realities facing the entire humanitarian sector”. An oral update will be delivered for information.  
• Oral update on the governance review: In mid-2022, the Executive Board Bureau agreed to assess WFP’s governance frameworks and processes to identify opportunities for practical ways to enhance governance efficiency and effectiveness. The review, conducted under the oversight of a Bureau-appointed steering committee, produced a final report and 14 recommendations. This item will provide an update on the progress made thus far. Among the key developments is the establishment of a working group dedicated to advancing the discussion around the implementation of the governance review recommendations.

The following events will take place in the Auditorium during the week of the Board:

• WFP in SIDS: Perspectives from the Caribbean and the Pacific | Tuesday 27 February, from 13:30 to 14:30 

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean face unique challenges due to their small size, remoteness, and vulnerability to global environmental challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic and climate crisis have exacerbated food security issues in these nations, highlighting the urgent need for targeted support and interventions. 

This event represents an opportunity to highlight WFP's efforts in SIDS countries, focusing on capacity strengthening and disaster risk management, while shedding light on opportunities for WFP to further support SIDS in achieving climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods. 

For this side event, the Minister of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment of Saint Lucia, H.E. Joachim Henry, will address the Board.

• Africa day of school feeding: enhancing education and human capital in Africa | Wednesday 28 February, from 13:30 to 14:30 

With Africa being the most youthful continent globally, focusing on youth education is paramount. Since the pandemic, learning poverty has increased, with nearly 90% of 10-year-olds in Africa unable to understand a simple written text. Recognizing this urgency, the African Union has prioritized education, dedicating its next Theme of the Year to this cause.  

This event underscores the critical role of school meal programmes in driving education outcomes and human capital development in Africa, celebrating progress and fostering collaboration among stakeholders.  

The Executive Director will deliver opening remarks, setting the stage for the discussion. Leading the moderated roundtable discussion will be Valerie Guarnieri, Assistant Executive Director, alongside distinguished guests such as representatives from the governments of the Gambia, Madagascar, Chad, and Burundi, representatives from the AU and NEPAD, Ms. Lynnette Neufeld, Director of Food and Nutrition Division of FAO, and Ms. Gérardine Mukeshimana, Vice-president of IFAD.  

During the week of the Board and for the following two weeks, visit the exhibit “A green wall against hunger: partnerships for resilience building to decrease humanitarian needs” at the Red Foyer.  

The multi-media exhibit will showcase personal stories, drone shots, and virtual reality experiences highlighting WFP's resilience efforts. The event aims to build momentum for scaling up WFP's resilience activities, demonstrating their impact in reducing humanitarian needs, restoring ecosystems, and improving livelihoods ahead of COP16 on desertification. 

A high-level special event on “Sudan cross-regional update: strategic insights into WFP’s humanitarian operations” will take place on Wednesday, 28 February, immediately after the closure of the Board session. The event aims at shedding light on Sudan's escalating humanitarian crisis and its impact on neighboring countries. With over 25 million Sudanese requiring assistance, urgent action is needed to prevent further catastrophe.  

Speakers include the Executive Director, UN representatives, and government officials from Chad and Sweden.  

More details available here.