Financing Resilience: Addressing Hunger in the Face of Climate Change

At WFP, we are dedicated to achieving a world without hunger. But to get there, we urgently need financial and diplomatic support from the international community to reverse the rising tide of global needs and help vulnerable communities build long-term resilience against food insecurity”

-Cindy McCain, WFP’s Executive Director

5 Key Stats:

343 million people worldwide are acutely food insecure, a staggering 200 million more than pre-pandemic levels.

1.9 million individuals are on the brink of famine in hotspots like Sudan, Gaza, and South Sudan.

Food prices have more than doubled in 26 countries over the past four years due to inflation and climate disruptions.

WFP aims to empower 23 million people in 2025 through resilience-building against climate shocks.

60% of WFP food is procured locally, boosting regional economies and reducing carbon footprints.

In a world increasingly shaped by climate challenges, the 2025 Global Outlook by the World Food Programme (WFP) paints a sobering picture of the escalating food insecurity and climate vulnerability crises. Acute hunger is on the rise, driven by conflicts, economic instability, and the intensifying effects of climate change.

With over 343 million people facing acute food insecurity, including 1.9 million on the brink of famine, the need for coordinated global action has never been more urgent. 

The Role of Climate Change in Global Food Insecurity

Climate change is a leading driver of the hunger crisis, disrupting agricultural systems and livelihoods worldwide. Extreme weather events, including droughts, floods, and hurricanes, are growing in intensity and frequency, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations in developing regions. The WFP’s data highlights the widespread impacts:

• El Niño and Crop Failures: The 2023–2024 El Niño phenomenon caused a regional drought in Southern Africa, cutting maize production in Zimbabwe and Zambia by 50%. This loss depleted food reserves and drove prices to unaffordable levels, leaving over 30 million people needing assistance.
• Floods and Displacement: Regions such as South Sudan, the Sahel, and parts of Asia have experienced catastrophic flooding, which has affected 12 million people. These disasters destroy crops, displace communities, and undermine long-term food security.
• Droughts and Wildfires: South and Central America are reeling from prolonged droughts and wildfires. In Guatemala, subsistence farmers face irregular rainfall and extreme temperatures, compromising food production.

The situation is compounded by climate-driven displacement. In 2024, the number of forcibly displaced people globally reached 122.6 million, double the figure from a decade ago. Displacement destabilizes communities and increases dependency on humanitarian aid, straining already limited resources.

Regional Insights: Climate and Hunger

The WFP report provides a granular look at how different regions are grappling with the dual crises of climate change and hunger:

Asia and the Pacific

The region is home to 88 million acutely food-insecure individuals, with countries like Afghanistan and Bangladesh at the forefront. Frequent flooding and typhoons exacerbate the crisis, displacing millions and destroying agricultural systems. WFP has launched regional plans focused on shock-responsive social protection and sustainable agriculture to counter this.

Eastern Africa

Conflict and climate shocks have left 62 million people acutely food insecure. Sudan, a global hunger hotspot, is witnessing famine in camps housing internally displaced persons. WFP’s resilience-building efforts, including malnutrition prevention and anticipatory climate actions, aim to provide long-term solutions.

Southern Africa

El Niño-induced droughts have plunged 52.8 million people into food insecurity, prompting countries like Lesotho and Malawi to declare national disasters. WFP’s anticipatory climate measures, such as climate insurance, have helped mitigate the impacts of these crises by providing early financial support.

Latin America and the Caribbean

The region faces unique vulnerabilities due to its susceptibility to hurricanes, rising sea levels, and prolonged droughts. In the Caribbean, Small Island Developing States are especially at risk. WFP is leveraging disaster risk financing and early-warning systems to strengthen community resilience.

Middle East, Northern Africa, and Eastern Europe

Prolonged conflict and climate change have compounded food insecurity for over 41 million people. High inflation—140% in Gaza—and drought conditions further undermine food access. WFP’s prepositioning of food and strategic partnerships have ensured rapid response during emergencies.

The Funding Gap: Challenges and Opportunities

Despite the scale of the crisis, humanitarian funding is failing to keep pace. As of November 2024, only 38% of global humanitarian funding needs were met. This shortfall has forced organizations like WFP to scale back assistance, leaving millions of vulnerable individuals underserved.

WFP emphasizes the need for innovative financing and partnerships to address this gap. The agency actively engages the private sector and explores climate finance solutions to bridge funding shortages. One such initiative is WFP’s Corporate Climate and Resilience Investment Pipeline, designed to help governments and communities access financing for adaptation and resilience-building projects.

Climate Finance: A Pathway to Resilience

Climate finance plays a pivotal role in reducing humanitarian needs by addressing the root causes of hunger and strengthening resilience against climate shocks. The WFP underscores several key strategies for leveraging climate finance effectively:

• Integrated Programming: Sustainable change requires multi-year, multi-disciplinary approaches adaptable to local contexts. Resilience programs must integrate climate protection, livelihood improvement, and risk financing.
• Early Warning Systems and Anticipatory Action: By investing in early warning mechanisms, climate finance can enable preemptive actions that mitigate disasters' worst impacts, reducing the need for costly emergency interventions.
• Conflict-Sensitive Adaptation: Climate finance must consider the unique challenges of conflict-affected regions, where climate and political instability contribute to hunger.
• Support for Local Economies: WFP prioritizes local food procurement, strengthening local economies and reducing carbon footprints. In 2023, 60% of WFP’s food purchases were sourced from local markets.

Resilience in Action: WFP’s Innovations

WFP’s global footprint demonstrates its commitment to leveraging innovative solutions to tackle hunger and climate vulnerability. In 2023 alone, the organization assisted 152 million people, including 25.3 million, through climate and resilience interventions. Key achievements include:

• Cash Transfers and Local Impact: WFP transferred $2.9 billion in cash and vouchers, directly supporting local economies while meeting immediate food needs.
• School Meals and Nutrition: WFP reached 107 million children through school meal programs, fostering education and nutrition while creating stable markets for smallholder farmers.
• Anticipatory Climate Actions: Early-action initiatives, such as climate insurance programs, have enhanced WFP’s ability to respond swiftly to disasters, reducing long-term costs and suffering.

A Call for Collective Action

The interplay between climate change and food insecurity presents a complex challenge requiring coordinated global action. Governments, private sectors, and humanitarian organizations must work together to scale up climate finance and resilience programming investments. We can chart a path toward a more sustainable and food-secure future by addressing the root causes of hunger, empowering local communities, and leveraging innovative solutions.

What Role is the United States Expected to Play?

The United States has historically been one of the largest donors to the WFP and a leader in addressing global food insecurity. Its financial contributions and diplomatic influence are crucial in mobilizing international action to combat hunger and climate-related challenges. The U.S. also plays a significant role in climate finance initiatives, such as funding for the Green Climate Fund and support for sustainable agriculture technologies. These efforts align closely with WFP’s strategies to build resilience, address root causes of hunger, and strengthen local food systems in vulnerable regions.

The recent U.S. election results could shape the nation’s involvement in these global efforts. Leadership or policy priorities changes may influence funding levels for international aid, commitments to climate finance, and diplomatic engagement on global food security issues. If the new administration prioritizes climate action and humanitarian aid, it could enhance the U.S. role in addressing the intertwined hunger and climate change crises. Conversely, shifts away from multilateral collaboration could pose challenges for organizations like WFP that depend on strong international partnerships.