A Year of Transformation: How Efficiency Gains Extended Our Reach in West Africa
In 2026, the Global Food Programme achieved a critical milestone by reaching 23% more children across West Africa than the previous year. This expansion of our reach was driven by significant operational efficiency gains, including the modernization of regional data systems and the strengthening of local distribution networks. These improvements allowed us to stretch every resource further, bringing life-saving support to over 1.2 million additional people in the region's most vulnerable communities.
Strengthening Local Networks
The biggest change in our operations was how we buy and move food. By increasing our network of local partner organizations by 73% to 204, we empowered local suppliers, transporters, and community groups to handle procurement and last-mile delivery. As a result, the share of staple goods sourced regionally grew from 38% to 61%.
This shift had a dramatic effect on our speed and efficiency. Average delivery time from port to community was cut from 19 days to just 11, with new transport corridors keeping food moving even during the rainy season. This localization was the key driver in reducing the cost per beneficiary by 18%, while better tracking and storage with our partners cut warehouse losses by nearly 60%.
Better Data for Faster Decisions
In 2026, we completed the rollout of our mobile data collection system. Field teams now use digital tools for 87% of monitoring visits, a major leap from 22% the previous year. This investment in technology has closed the gap between field reality and programme coordination.
Reports that previously took six weeks to compile now reach coordinators in near real-time, with data reporting lag cut to less than a week. For the first time, we can view distribution coverage and nutrition indicators on live dashboards, allowing us to adapt and respond as needs change, not a season later.
Reaching More Children and Communities
Our efficiency gains directly translated into broader reach. In 2026, our assistance reached 4.2 million people across sixteen countries. Our focus on child nutrition saw significant expansion, with 1.29 million children under five enrolled in nutrition monitoring—a 23% increase from 2025.
We also grew our network of community-based support systems:
- The number of community kitchens in operation grew by 52% to 472, many linked to schools.
- The number of school districts receiving daily meals expanded to 151, a 57% increase.
Ready When Crisis Hits
Our operational improvements also strengthened our emergency response capabilities. In 2026, we activated nine emergency responses, including for the flood response in river basin communities. In every case, we met our target of mobilizing assistance within 72 hours, ensuring that support arrived swiftly when it was needed most.