DELHI, India — With 318 million people facing acute hunger globally and humanitarian resources stretched thin, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is urging leaders at India’s AI Impact Summit to support its efforts to scale artificial intelligence solutions that are already proving effective in the fight against hunger. WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain emphasized that speed and precision are critical in addressing food insecurity, and AI enables the organization to reach vulnerable families faster, deliver assistance more accurately, and make the most of limited resources.
In Delhi, WFP Deputy Executive Director Carl Skau highlighted the organization’s successful deployment of AI in humanitarian operations and outlined the need for partnerships, investment, and technical expertise to expand these capabilities. He stressed that scaling AI could help millions more people struggling with hunger.
WFP has applied AI across multiple operational areas with measurable results. Machine learning enables the prediction of food security crises up to 60 days in advance across more than 90 countries, allowing for early interventions. AI-driven satellite analysis has accelerated damage assessments, reducing the time required from three weeks to just 48 hours, supporting government disaster response efforts. Data processing has also been streamlined, enabling quicker delivery of food and cash assistance. The organization’s AI-based supply chain planning tool, SCOUT, has optimized procurement, storage, and distribution, generating significant cost savings. Additionally, AI automation has helped maintain the integrity of assistance by reducing duplication errors, ensuring resources reach the maximum number of people in need.
These initiatives are guided by WFP’s Global Artificial Intelligence Strategy, the first of its kind for a United Nations agency, which provides standards and governance for humanitarian AI applications while incorporating appropriate safeguards.
WFP is calling on public and private partners to help advance its AI initiatives through collaboration in three key areas. The organization seeks to co-build responsible AI for humanitarian use, combining industry and research expertise with its operational reach. It aims to modernize humanitarian and development systems by sharing scalable platforms and proven tools. Finally, WFP offers guidance to strengthen national systems, helping governments integrate AI into food security, social protection, and climate preparedness programs.
Skau emphasized that WFP’s frontline presence provides unique data from some of the world’s most challenging environments, and AI transforms this data into faster, smarter action. Partnerships with the private sector and governments are critical to scaling these solutions effectively.
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, providing lifesaving assistance during emergencies and using food aid to support recovery, peace, stability, and resilience for communities affected by conflict, disasters, and climate change.
