The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is shutting down its Southern Africa bureau due to a lack of funding, the agency announced Monday, as the region faces worsening drought conditions.
The WFP, which relies on the United States for nearly half of its budget, has struggled with financial shortfalls following cuts to U.S. foreign aid under former President Donald Trump. While the agency did not specify the exact impact, regional spokesperson Tomson Phiri said donor funding had become “constrained.”
The U.S. contributed $4.5 billion to the WFP’s $9.8 billion budget last year, making it the agency’s largest donor. Broader reductions in U.S. assistance have affected global humanitarian efforts, including UN food aid programs.
An El Niño-driven drought has led Lesotho, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Namibia to declare national disasters. The WFP will now manage both its Eastern and Southern Africa operations from Nairobi. Phiri said the closure would not affect country-level programs in the region.
