The World Food Programme (WFP) was founded in 1961 as the food aid agency of the UN system and is the world's largest humanitarian agency. WFP was jointly established and is subordinated to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). WFP pursues a vision of the world in which every man, woman and child has access at all times to the food needed for an active and healthy life. Since April 2012, WFP is headed by the American Executive Director Ertharin Cousin.

WFP is governed by the Executive Board (EB) which consists of 36 UN member states. Switzerland is currently an observer. For the period 2013/14 Switzerland will be again a member of the EB.

Among all UN Agencies, WFP receives the largest amount of Swiss Humanitarian Aid. In 2011, Switzerland contributed a total of USD 46 million to WFP and was Nr. 14 in the donor ranking.