Rabat – The World Food Program’s (WFP) Second Regular Session of the Executive Board opened Monday in Rome, under the leadership of Youssef Balla, Morocco’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UN agencies in the Italian capital.
The WFP Executive Board, which meets twice a year for regular sessions and once for an annual session, serves as a forum for approving strategic documents, policies, and budgets that guide the agency’s worldwide operations.
The current session runs through November 21.
Ambassador Balla described the session as a pivotal moment in the global fight against food insecurity and a step toward creating sustainable food systems.
Speaking to MAP, Morocco’s news agency, he emphasized the North African country’s role as coordinator for African nations in highlighting the continent’s priorities on the global stage.
This week’s agenda includes the adoption of strategic plans, such as Senegal’s 2025–2029 blueprint, and evaluations of initiatives in Mali and Rwanda.
According to Balla, these documents reflect Africa’s commitment to tailored solutions for food security challenges.
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In addition to country-specific strategies, the board will discuss cross-cutting issues such as resilience, climate adaptation, and school meal programs.
The session aims to draw lessons from past initiatives to enhance alignment between the WFP’s strategies and the urgent needs of regions like Gaza, Sudan, the Sahel, East Africa, and Haiti.
A key focus of the session is the approval of a governance review report, a process described by Balla as the WFP’s most comprehensive in two decades.
Morocco played an instrumental role in the review, contributing to recommendations outlined in the May 2023 report by an independent consultant.
The Moroccan presidency, Balla noted, will advocate for inclusive and transparent decision-making to ensure alignment between the governance recommendations and the WFP’s institutional goals.
This reflects Morocco’s broader commitment to championing African interests while supporting global food security initiatives.
As the largest humanitarian organization combating global hunger, the WFP provides food assistance in emergencies and works with communities to enhance nutrition and resilience.
The agency supports 80 million people annually across nearly 80 countries. It was awarded the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize for addressing hunger in conflict zones.
