Editing World Food Programme (section)

===Governance, leadership and staff===
WFP is governed by an executive board that consists of representatives of 36 member states and provides intergovernmental support, direction, and supervision of WFP's activities. Of the 36 board members, 18 are elected by the [[United Nations Economic and Social Council]] and 18 by the [[Food and Agriculture Organization]].<ref>[https://undocs.org/en/E/2001/L.2/Add.8 UN Document E/2001/L.2/Add.8] Election of 6 members of the Executive Board of the World Food Programme : note : addendum / by the Secretary-General</ref> The [[European Union]] is a permanent observer in WFP and, as a major donor, participates in the work of its executive board.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/rome/eu_united_nations/work_with_3_un_agencies_rome/index_en.htm|title=European Union|access-date=17 May 2016|archive-date=10 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610002023/http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/rome/eu_united_nations/work_with_3_un_agencies_rome/index_en.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> WFP is headed by an executive director, who is appointed jointly by the UN Secretary-General and the director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. The executive director is appointed for fixed five-year terms and is responsible for the administration of the organization as well as the implementation of its programmes, projects, and other activities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Governance and leadership |url=https://www.wfp.org/governance-and-leadership |publisher=World Food Programme |access-date=13 January 2021}}</ref> [[Cindy McCain]], previously Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the United States Mission to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Agencies in Rome, was appointed to the role in March 2023.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cindy McCain tapped to lead UN World Food Programme |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/02/politics/cindy-mccain-un-world-food-programme/index.html |access-date=3 April 2023 |publisher=CNN |date=2 March 2023}}</ref>

In March 2023, WFP had over 22,300 staff.

[[File:World Food Programme.jpg|thumb|The headquarters in [[Rome]]]]

==== List of executive directors ====
Since 1992, all executive directors have been American. The following is a chronological list of those who have served as executive director of the World Food Programme:<ref>{{cite web|title=Previous WFP Executive Directors|url=https://www.wfp.org/previous-executive-directors|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812190439/https://www.wfp.org/previous-executive-directors|archive-date=12 August 2019|access-date=16 April 2012|publisher=World Food Programme}}</ref>

#[[Addeke Hendrik Boerma]] ({{Flag|Netherlands}}) (May 1962 – December 1967)
#[[Sushil K. Dev]] ({{Flag|India}}) (January 1968 – August 1968) (acting)
#[[Francisco Aquino]] ({{Flag|El Salvador}}) (July 1968 – May 1976)
#[[Thomas C. M. Robinson]] ({{Flag|United States}}) (May 1976 – June 1977 acting; July 1977 – September 1977)
#[[Garson N. Vogel]] ({{Flag|Canada}}) (October 1977 – April 1981)
#[[Bernardo de Azevedo Brito]] ({{Flag|Brazil}}) (May 1981 – February 1982) (acting)
#[[Juan Felipe Yriart]] ({{Flag|Uruguay}}) (February 1982 – April 1982) (acting)
#[[James Ingram (diplomat)|James Ingram]] ({{Flag|Australia}}) (April 1982 – April 1992)
#[[Catherine Bertini]] ({{Flag|United States}}) (April 1992 – April 2002)
#[[James T. Morris]] ({{Flag|United States}}) (April 2002 – April 2007)
#[[Josette Sheeran]] ({{Flag|United States}}) (April 2007 – April 2012)
#[[Ertharin Cousin]] ({{Flag|United States}}) (April 2012 – April 2017)
#[[David Beasley]] ({{Flag|United States}}) (April 2017 – April 2023)
#[[Cindy McCain]] ({{Flag|United States}}) (Since April 2023)