This strategic evaluation assessed the relevance, appropriateness and effectiveness of WFP’s approaches to targeting and prioritization for food and nutrition assistance in a time of rising needs and shrinking resources, covering the period from 2019 to 2025.
WFP normative framework for targeting and prioritization is largely fit for purpose and global and regional support capacity facilitated its implementation. However, sharper prioritization creates ethical dilemmas over who to assist, where and for how long. As vulnerability-based targeting improves fairness but raises costs, country offices seek clearer corporate guidance on how to navigate these trade-offs.
Recommendations:
- Support country offices in prioritization decisions by providing a clearer articulation of WFP’s strategic focus and positioning to strengthen their targeting and prioritization rationales.
- Uphold targeting and prioritization standards by making guidance and tools more accessible, enforcing compliance with minimum standards, and safeguarding capacity.
- Support country offices in adopting more transparent, more agile and more cost-effective targeting and prioritization approaches.
- Strengthen the interoperability of WFP’s own data systems and common data systems or data sharing with other humanitarian agencies for targeting and prioritization.