World Food Programme to Shut Southern Africa Office Amid US Aid Cuts

The United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) has announced the closure of its southern Africa office in Johannesburg following major aid cuts by the Trump administration.

In a statement, a WFP spokesperson confirmed that the agency will merge its southern and east African operations into a single regional office based in Nairobi, Kenya. While the WFP had already begun streamlining its structure in 2023, the spokesperson said, “as donor funding becomes more constrained, we have been compelled to accelerate these efforts.”

Food Aid to Continue Despite Funding Cuts

Despite the closure, the WFP assured that food assistance programs will continue. “Our commitment to serving vulnerable communities remains strong, and we will continue to ensure our operations are as effective and efficient as possible,” the agency stated.

The full impact of the US aid cuts on the WFP remains unclear, but last year, the agency received $4.4 billion from the US—accounting for roughly half of its annual budget. The Trump administration recently announced it would halt 90% of USAID’s foreign aid contracts, cutting $60 billion in funding for global humanitarian efforts.

Southern Africa Faces Hunger Crisis

Southern Africa has been grappling with a severe drought, the worst in decades, which has devastated crops and left 27 million people at risk of hunger. Even before the US aid cuts, the WFP had appealed for $147 million to help those affected.

The WFP, which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, provides food assistance to over 150 million people across 120 countries. Its leadership has historically been American, with its current executive director, Cindy McCain, widow of late US senator John McCain, continuing this tradition.

Uncertain Future for UN Aid Programs

The WFP is not the only UN agency affected. The International Organization for Migration has reportedly cut 3,000 jobs related to US resettlement programs, while the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) anticipates disruptions to its projects. Many agencies are still assessing the full impact of the funding cuts, with some holding out hope for waivers that may allow limited US aid to continue.