World Food Programme Geneva Liaison Office |
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WFP logo |
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| Org type | UN Humanitarian Programme |
| Acronyms | WFP |
| Head | Lauren Landis (Geneva Office) |
| Status | Active |
| Established | 1992 |
| Headquarters | Rome, Italy |
| Website | www.wfp.org |
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation fighting hunger worldwide. With its headquarters based in Rome, Italy, WFP is composed of Country Offices, Regional Offices and Liaison Offices, including the one located in Geneva, Switzerland. WFP Geneva plays an important role in representing the organisation in various inter-agency fora, strengthening its relationships with Geneva-based organisations, interacting with Member States and the donor humanitarian community and advising the other WFP offices on the ongoing debates in the various Geneva-based humanitarian agencies. The Liaison Office also plays a strategic role in conveying WFP’s messages to the media.[1]
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WFP’s mission strives to eradicate hunger and poverty across the globe. To this end, the organization responds to urgent needs and promotes economic and social development. In addition, it aims at reducing child mortality, improving maternal health and combating diseases, including HIV and AIDS. On average, WFP distributes food to 90 million people across 70 countries per year.[2]
The WFP Geneva Liaison Office maintains close contacts with the international community and with traditional and non-traditional donors, in order to keep them well informed about WFP’s policies and strategies, as well as to keep them abreast of WFP’s emergency operations.[3]
Through liaison with other prominent UN agencies and NGOs, and the strengthening of both inter-agency and Member States partnerships, the Geneva Liaison Office has fostered an important collective framework. This has enabled the office to effectively contribute to the accomplishment of WFP’s objectives and ultimately, to reduce dependency and to support governmental and global efforts to ensure long-term solutions to the hunger challenge. Some of WFP’s most important partners in Geneva include the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),[4] the World Health Organization (WHO), the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and many others.
Geneva is an unavoidable and strategic media hub for WFP’s work. The Geneva Spokesperson is present at most bi-weekly UN press briefings, providing accredited journalists with information derived directly from the field or WFP’s headquarters.[5]
DJ Bobo, Swiss music artist - Rene Baumann started out as a DJ in 1985, quickly establishing his reputation as DJ BoBo in Switzerland, as well as in Germany, Austria and Eastern Europe. DJ BoBo became a WFP National Ambassador against Hunger in October 2006.[6]
The Geneva Liaison Office is composed of five professionals and two support staff, who are assisted by interns. Among the fixed personnel, there is the Director of the Liaison Office, Liaison Officers, a Public Information Officer and two Administrative Assistants.
The Liaison Office is situated at the International Environment House in Chatelaine, Geneva, Switzerland. WFP shares the same building as other UN agencies such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Address: International Environment House, 11/13 Chemin des Anémones, 1219 Châtelaine, Geneva, Switzerland.
WFP and the European Union food facility (2011) [7]
WFP's operational relationship with NGOs and National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - Annual Report(2011) [8]