The World Food Programme (WFP) of the United Nations, which significantly depends on funding from the United States, announced on Monday the closure of its southern African office due to financial constraints.
Historically, the U.S. has provided nearly half of WFP’s annual funding; however, it is currently scaling back foreign aid contracts globally as part of President Donald Trump’s “America First” initiative.
Tomson Phiri, a spokesperson for the region, noted that the agency will consolidate its eastern and southern African operations, with both being managed from Nairobi.
He reassured that this transition would not affect the ongoing operations in Southern Africa, where WFP is providing assistance to millions impacted by drought.
Phiri highlighted the objective of optimizing resources for frontline teams to ensure that every dollar is utilized effectively.
He did not directly associate the decision with Trump’s aid reductions, merely stating that “the donor funding outlook has become more constrained.”
The Trump administration is reducing over 90% of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s foreign aid contracts, amounting to more than $58 billion in total U.S. assistance globally.
