NAIROBI, Kenya- The Executive Director of the World Food Programme, Cindy McCain, has announced her resignation, bringing her tenure at the helm of the UN’s largest humanitarian agency to a close.
McCain, who assumed leadership of the Rome-based agency in 2023, said she was stepping down after guiding the organization through a period marked by escalating global hunger crises, funding shortfalls, and complex emergency responses across conflict-affected regions.
During her tenure, the World Food Programme (WFP) expanded emergency operations in countries facing food insecurity due to war, climate shocks, and economic instability, while also advocating for increased international support to address record hunger levels worldwide.
An official statement on my tenure as the Executive Director of the World Food Programme:bit.ly/3OxllTz
In a brief statement, McCain thanked WFP staff and partners for their commitment to saving lives in some of the world’s most fragile settings, noting that humanitarian needs remain at historic highs.
The United Nations is expected to announce interim leadership arrangements and outline the process for appointing a successor in the coming weeks.
WFP, which provides food assistance to tens of millions of people annually, continues to face significant funding gaps as global humanitarian demands rise.
“With a heavy heart, I announced my intention today to step down as @WFP‘s Executive Director. Leading this incredible organization and our dedicated teams has been the honor of a lifetime. I remain deeply committed to advocating for the millions struggling with hunger worldwide,” she said in a Tweet.
