The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is shutting down its Southern Africa bureau due to funding constraints, the agency announced on Monday. The decision comes as the region faces a severe drought, exacerbating food insecurity for millions.
The WFP relies on the United States for nearly half of its budget, but the Trump administration’s foreign aid cuts have significantly reduced available funds. While the agency did not specify the exact financial impact, regional spokesperson Tomson Phiri acknowledged that the donor funding outlook had become constrained.
The United States is the WFP’s largest donor, contributing $4.5 billion of its $9.8 billion budget last year. However, the Trump administration has drastically reduced foreign aid contracts and UN funding as part of its America First policy. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) alone has cut over 90% of its foreign aid contracts, with a $58 billion reduction in global assistance.
Last year, an El Niño-induced drought forced Lesotho, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Namibia to declare national disasters. The WFP, already struggling with funding shortages, was able to raise only one-fifth of what it needed for drought relief.
To maximise resources, the WFP will consolidate its eastern and southern African operations, relocating its Southern Africa bureau to Nairobi, Kenya.
“The goal is to stretch every dollar and target maximum resources to our frontline teams,” Phiri stated, assuring that country-level operations in Southern Africa will not be affected.
More than 60% of WFP’s food procurement is used within the same region where it is purchased. However, without adequate funding, the agency faces increasing challenges in delivering food and cash assistance to communities affected by crop failures, climate change, and conflict.
With worsening drought conditions and continued funding cuts, the future of food security in Southern Africa remains uncertain.
