The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is closing its Southern Africa bureau, citing significant funding constraints during a severe regional drought.
The agency, heavily reliant on U.S. funding, will consolidate its operations in Nairobi.
It comes as Southern Africa grapples with an El Nino-induced drought, prompting several nations to declare national disasters.
The WFP’s budget is significantly impacted by cuts to U.S. foreign aid, a consequence of the “America First” agenda.
The U.S. is the WFP’s largest donor, providing $4.5 billion of its $9.8 billion budget last year.
The agency faced pre-existing funding challenges, raising only a fraction of its drought response needs in the prior year.
Despite the bureau closure, the WFP states that country operations in Southern Africa will continue.
The agency aims to maximize resource allocation to frontline teams.
The WFP emphasizes that a majority of its procured food is utilized within the regions where it is purchased.
The closure reflects the agency’s need to adapt to a constrained funding environment while addressing critical food security needs.