Press statement by UN Development Programme Administrator Achim Steiner on the World Food Programme’s Nobel Peace Prize

October 9, 2020

On behalf of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) I would like to congratulate the World Food Programme (WFP) on being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize today. The essential aid that WFP provides - assisting 97 million people in 88 countries last year alone - is saving millions of lives around the world and provides food security for millions more. Indeed as I write this tens of millions of people affected by war and natural disasters will have a meal today because of the passion and commitment of our colleagues in WFP - and the support of their partners.

WFP’s mandate to end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition is an essential element in breaking the cycle of poverty that afflicts the world’s poor and vulnerable, and is central to both the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

I salute the decision of the Nobel Prize Committee to award the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize to our UN sister agency - WFP - which every day gives practical expression to the notions of global solidarity and compassion. In these challenging times this decision is an inspiration to people across the world who believe in the ideals that 75 years ago led ‘We The Peoples’ to create the United Nations.